The College of Law Celebration Honoring LeRoy Pernell was
hosted by FAMU Provost Marcella David, who also served as a pseudo-MC of the
event, welcoming students, faculty, staff and community members who attended to
congratulate the former dean on his accomplishments.
The brief program included remarks from the Honorable
Emerson Thompson, Senior Judge, Ninth Judicial Circuit, and long-time supporter
of the College of Law and its programs. Thompson, who also serves on the
College’s Board of Visitors, was the keynote speaker for the second graduating
class of the reestablished College of Law in 2006.
Pernell also received recognition from Chester Glover,
Congressional Caseworker for Congresswoman Corrine Brown. Glover provided a
statement on behalf of the congresswoman, praising Pernell for his leadership
and vision during his tenure as dean.
In addition, the City of Orlando recognized Pernell with a
Proclamation signed by Mayor Buddy Dyer and all City Commissioners, recognizing
August 26, 2015 as “LeRoy Pernell Day.” The Proclamation was delivered by
Reginald McGill, City of Orlando Constituent Relations; and Regina Hill,
District 5 Commissioner.
LeRoy Pernell assumed the deanship of the FAMU College of
Law in January 2008. For 10 years prior, he served as law dean at Northern
Illinois University. He served as Vice Provost of the Office of Minority
Affairs at The Ohio State University from 1994 to 1997, and as professor at The
OSU College of Law from 1975 until leaving for NIU.
Pernell earned his bachelor’s degree from Franklin and
Marshall College, and his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College
of Law. He is an elected member of the American Law Institute and past-trustee
of the Law School Admissions Council.
Pernell helped the FAMU College of Law achieve full
accreditation by the American Bar Association in 2009, and again in 2014. Under
his leadership, the College of Law was consistently ranked in the top five for
diversity by US News & World Report, and achieved the number one ranking on
several occasions.
The College was further heralded for diversity by the
National Jurist magazine and “On Being A Black Lawyer” — where the College was
also named a Best Bargain for Black and Latina/o students. The school was also
ranked and recognized for its Clinical opportunities and jobs in Government
with Pernell at the helm.
Caption: LeRoy Pernell, the longest serving dean of the
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Law, addresses
attendees during a program held in his honor at the law school. Pernell served as Dean of the FAMU College of
Law from January 2008 until June 2015, and was presented with a Dean’s Chair
and also a portrait that will be placed in the school’s atrium.