UW picks new law school dean

After a search lasting two years and spanning North America, the University of Washington has finally picked a new law dean — and she comes from right across town.

Kellye Testy, Seattle University's law dean since 2005, is expected to be confirmed Thursday as UW dean by the university's Board of Regents. She would be the first female dean in the 110-year history of the UW School of Law.

The news leaked out Wednesday after Testy e-mailed Seattle U. students to tell them her "bittersweet news."

"I will be stepping down as your dean this summer and have agreed to become the next dean at the University of Washington School of Law, effective Sept. 1," she wrote. "While I look forward to the challenge of leading a public institution in these times, it will be difficult for me to leave the law school and the students I'm so fond of."

UW spokesman Norm Arkans said that, pending the regents' approval, Testy will be paid an annual salary of $352,000.

The search for a new dean began after former dean W.H. "Joe" Knight Jr. announced in January 2007 he was stepping down after a bitter internal feud over his management style. Knight remains a law-school faculty member, while Greg Hicks has served as interim dean for the past two years.

The UW's first search for a replacement ended in failure. Then, in January, the UW announced its second search had narrowed the field to four finalists, including Testy.

"Searches take time," Arkans said. "The first time, we didn't come up with anything. Then, when you find somebody, there's this courtship ... and that sometimes takes awhile."

Testy received her bachelor's degree in journalism from Indiana University in 1982 and her law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991, graduating summa cum laude.

That same year, she served as law clerk for the Hon. Jesse Eschbach on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. She joined the Seattle U. faculty in 1992, teaching courses on everything from contracts to economic justice.

Annette Clark, vice law dean at Seattle U., said the university hopes to announce an interim dean within a couple of weeks before launching a national search for a new dean. That process should be concluded by July 2010, she said.

Clark credited Testy with providing a coherent vision for the school — one of academic excellence paired with social justice — and for moving the school upward in the academic world. "We are working from a position of strength," she said.

Seattle U.'s law school has inched up the U.S. News & World Report rankings to 77th best in the country, with more than 800 full-time students. U.S. News ranks the UW law school 30th, with 530 full-time students.

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com