New UA law school dean Lawrence Ponoroff will strive to increase the number of scholarships, faculty members and programs supported by private donations, a challenge he's looking forward to in the face of an economic recession.
Ponoroff, whom University of Arizona officials named dean of the James E. Rogers College of Law on Thursday, said that with a recent renovation to the law school complete, he'll focus on enriching the classroom experience and the law school's prestige.
"It is no secret that a critical priority for any law school today, public or private, is to generate excitement into the institution that will translate into investments," said Ponoroff, who currently serves as dean of Tulane University's law school.
"I think that priority at the UA is to generate resources to support faculty, students and academic programs."
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Ponoroff is scheduled to become the college's 12th dean when he begins in July, taking over from Toni Massaro, who held the post for 10 years.
He will earn $315,000 a year, of which 5 percent will be covered by private funds, UA spokesman Johnny Cruz said.
UA leaders didn't return calls on Thursday, but Provost Meredith Hay said in a news release that she was excited to bring Ponoroff to campus.
"Ponoroff is a pre-eminent legal scholar and innovator, and I am thrilled that he will be leading the law college at such an important time in its history," she said.
Citing the law school's Rehnquist Center, which annually brings U.S. Supreme Court justices to campus, Ponoroff said he also hopes to expand on the tradition of connecting the UA with the nation's highest court.
Ponoroff was selected from five finalists named earlier this year, months after Massaro announced she was stepping down to return to teaching at the UA.
Serving as dean of Tulane's law school for eight years, Ponoroff specializes in private and commercial law. Before Tulane, he worked at the University of Toledo's law school and had earlier stints at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.
Ponoroff received his law degree from Stanford after earning an undergraduate degree from Loyola University in Chicago.
While having never lived in the Southwest, Ponoroff said he has visited Arizona, including Tucson, and is looking forward to moving here with his wife, Monica. The couple have been married for 27 years and have four adult children.
The opportunities to succeed, along with the law school's reputation, made the post remarkably appealing, Ponoroff said.
"I'm very honored by the appointment and the confidence shown by the president and provost," he said. "I intend to work very hard to justify that confidence."
