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Incoming Akron Law dean discusses her career & vision for the school
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: February 4, 2022
It’s been just over five years since Emily Janoski-Haehlen first started at The University of Akron School of Law in January 2017.
Initially hired as the director of the law library and an associate professor of law, she is now a full professor and serves as associate dean of academic affairs, law library and the law and technology program.
But in less than three weeks, she will take on her greatest challenge yet as the first permanent female dean of the law school, replacing outgoing dean and C. Blake McDowell Jr. Professor of Law Christopher J. (C.J.) Peters, who chose not to renew his contract last June.
“I am proud to break the glass ceiling and become the first permanent female dean at Akron Law, especially during our centennial celebration,” said Janoski-Haehlen, who officially takes over on Feb. 21, 2022. “I am certainly not the first female law school dean but I am excited to join the ranks of the women before me who have shattered that invisible barrier.
“My favorite quote from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that I have hanging in my office is ‘Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception,’” she said.
“I think Emily will do a terrific job,” said Peters. “She has great experience here and elsewhere in law school administration and a national reputation in the area of law and technology. She has earned the respect of a broad range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and other members of the legal community who know and respect her and are very supportive of her as our next dean.”
While he is stepping down as dean, Peters will continue to be a full-time faculty member at Akron Law. In fact, he is currently teaching first-year civil procedure to full-time spring start 1Ls as well as the Lawyers as Leaders seminar.
“When my initial four-year contract as dean was up in June 2021, the provost offered to extend it, but I wanted to return to my first passion of teaching and writing as a member of the faculty. I was asked to stay on while administrators conducted a national search for a new dean and I was happy to do that.
“When I was hired in June 2017 part of my appointment included a tenured law faculty position and I’m looking forward to returning to full-time teaching and scholarship, which I believe are my greatest talents,” said Peters. “In addition to writing legal articles, I am hoping to write a book. I believe I’m leaving the administration of the law school in good hands with Emily.”
“I am very excited about my new position,” said Janoski-Haehlen. “I love Akron Law. I think it’s a very strong law school and I have a number of ideas that I believe will make us even more successful in the future.”
Born in Michigan City, Indiana, Janoski-Haehlen grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Janoski-Haehlen received her bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s in library science from the University of Kentucky.
While working toward her juris doctorate at Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, she was a reference specialist in the law library.
After obtaining her law degree, she began her career as the assistant director of research and online services at Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law. In 2011, she was promoted to associate director of law library services.
Prior to joining Akron Law, she served as associate dean for library and information services at Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana (now closed).
“I come from a long family of educators,” said Janoski-Haehlen. “My mother was a college professor and my sister is an elementary school teacher. My aunts, uncles and cousins are also elementary school teachers.
“In my first year of law school when I was hired as a student assistant to help with legal research at the Chase Law Library, I knew immediately that I wanted to teach future lawyers,” she said. “I had a passion for legal research and helping others learn that I recognized as my strengths.
“I began teaching legal research as an adjunct professor right after graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. I had amazing mentors in the academic law library community who helped me shape my career path.”
As the soon-to-be new dean at Akron Law, she plans to focus on improving bar passage rates, reinvesting in the school’s strengths in intellectual property and trial advocacy and forging relationships with local bar associations.
“I’m really happy to lead the law school during our centennial year,” said Janoski-Haehlen. “One of my goals is to get back to our original mission from 100 years ago of producing lawyers who might affect the destiny of the city of Akron and the nation.
“I plan to play to our strengths, which is our ability to produce practice-ready graduates and build upon our strong alumni base in the community.”