The dean who led FAMU’s College of Law to its historic accreditation victory will remain in office for another two years.At Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting, LeRoy Pernell was awarded a two-year contract extension.
When Pernell arrived at the law school in 2007, it faced huge challenges. The previous interim administration headed by Castell Bryant administration had withheld $5 million from the school’s budget and permitted it to slide into instability. Faculty also faced difficulty getting paid as a result of the Castell-inflicted payroll system meltdown.
After Ammons restored the millions Castell had kept away from the law school, Pernell used the money to hire a number of talented faculty members who helped him beef up the bar preparation training. Under Pernell, College of Law students eventually achieved about an 80 percent overall bar passage rate. The American Bar Association, which accredits law schools, requires schools to maintain at least a 75 percent overall passage rate.
On July 31, 2009, Pernell announced that the College of Law had accomplished its goal of receiving full ABA accreditation.
FAMU’s College of Law is currently ranked by the U.S. News and World Report as the #1 most diverse in America. The Pernell administration also founded an innovative Center for International Law and Justice, worked with Judge Joseph Hatchett to establish a program that pipelines FAMU law grads into the prestigious Akerman Senterfitt law firm, and opened a new bookstore and café.
So if Dr. Bryant had not withheld the alleged 5 million dollars, the incoming dean (Parnell) would not have had the resources to hire qualified faculty at market rates. If Dr Bryant had used the funds to "stabilize" ( buy off the staff malcontents and failed practitioners pretending to be academics) Parnell would have had to spend all of his time raising funds to operate the school and get through the accreditation review.
ReplyDeleteThe best decision that Dr. Bryant ever made in my opinion was to fire Billy Joe, Jimmy Joe, Derrick Hill, & that other coach that looks like Shug Knight.
ReplyDeleteYou both are in time out. Respctfully.Best thing she did was show her true colors. The vrtual tour is nice and can appreciate several other things. I look foward to big things frim the dean in the next two years. High gear bro, high gear! For the crtics, do something productive or get outta the way.
ReplyDeleteThe Carter years were unnecessary and painful. Our Hall of Fame coach was taken away and the whole thing was more than embarrassing and an opportunity missed. No better than how Bobby Bowden was handled and treated. Players and others look at that still. But some people know everything and are intent on sinking the ship.
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