Roger Dennis, founding dean of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law, will retire at the end of the 2016–17 academic year.
Dennis helped build the law school from the ground up. He joined in the 2006–07 academic year — its first — and led the school through the American Bar Association accreditation process in the shortest amount of time possible. Under his leadership, the Kline School introduced programs like the accelerated two-year JD, a professional practice requirement for JD students and the creation of a professional development fund to support students as they enter the bar and undertake their career search.
He also built connections with the Philadelphia legal community, including the relationship that gave the law school its name: because of Dennis’ work, noted trial attorney Thomas R. Kline made the largest gift in Drexel history, which included the landmark Center City building that will house a new Thomas R. Kline Institute for Trial Advocacy expected to open next year.