Chapman Law Welcomes New Associate Deans

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law is pleased to welcome two new associate deans to its senior administrative staff, along with a new role for the law school’s longest-serving associate dean.

Fowler Law Professor Marisa Cianciarulo has been named the law school’s new Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Dean Cianciarulo is a passionate member of the law faculty who is a specialist in immigration law with a human rights focus. She previously directed the law school’s Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic, which she founded in 2007. She has published numerous articles in the nation’s highest ranking academic journals and has earned Professor of the Year honors at Chapman as well as the Valerie Scudder Award for outstanding achievement in teaching, scholarship and service. “I am excited to take this position of leadership and responsibility, supporting a dean who is dedicated to the success of this law school,” she said. “It is a privilege to serve our faculty in this capacity.” Dean Cianciarulo is responsible for academic and faculty-related matters at the law school, including scheduling classes, hiring adjunct professors, and maintaining compliance with ABA standards.  She takes over for outgoing Associate Dean Daniel Bogart, who returns to his full-time teaching position after serving as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (2012-2017) and Associate Dean for Administration (2010-2012).

Jayne Kacer, who previously served for six years as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration, will now serve as the school’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Her new role allows her to focus exclusively on student matters, providing counseling on academics and personal issues, the expansion of student programs, and leadership of the school’s Career Services Office (CSO). “The CSO team’s goals include increasing job opportunities for our students and increasing student awareness and use of the many resources Fowler Law has to offer,” she said. “The CSO team will also increase events and student outreach and has already begun working with student organizations to connect members with relevant job opportunities.” As both a professor and associate dean, Dean Kacer has been a longstanding advocate and dedicated mentor to the Fowler Law students and alumni. She previously taught Pre-trial Civil Practice, Legal Research and Writing, and the Mediation Clinic, and is a former partner at Rutan & Tucker, LLP.

Amy Rogan-Mehta joins the Fowler Law family as the school’s new Associate Dean for Administration. Dean Rogan-Mehta oversees Admissions, Marketing and Communications, Events, Facilities, and a host of other operational areas of the law school. She also works closely with Fowler Law Dean Matt Parlow on budget matters and serves as the point person for various university departments. “I am excited and honored to join the Fowler Law team at a time when the school is experiencing such momentum,” she said. Dean Rogan-Mehta comes to Chapman after previously serving as Associate Dean for Student Development at Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and as an associate at the Milwaukee firm of Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

By creating a dedicated administrator for student affairs and another for the administration of the law school, the Fowler School of Law has positioned itself to enhance student programs and provide even greater personalized student services while strengthening and streamlining law school operations.

Learn more about Fowler School of Law’s Administrative team.