College History: Digital Collections & Archives: Deans of the College

William F. Hunter was a member of the Law faculty when he was appointed to serve as Dean in the summer of 1893. He was the first full-time Dean and faculty member who led the College during its difficult, formative years. During his tenure, the Law department was established as a College by the University Board of Trustees in 1896, and the College joined the newly-formed Association of American Law Schools as a charter member in 1901. He oversaw the College's move to a permanent home on campus in 1903 with the construction and opening of Page Hall, which housed the College of Law for the next six decades.

College of Law Deans

Marshall J. Williams, 1891-1893*

William F. Hunter, 1893-1904**

Joseph P. Outhwaite, 1905-1907

George W. Rightmire, 1908-1909 (Acting)

John J. Adams, 1909-1926

Alonzo H. Tuttle, 1926-1928 (Acting)***

Herschel W. Arant, 1928-1939

Arthur T. Martin, 1940-1946****

Harry W. Vanneman, 1946-1947 (Acting)

Jefferson B. Fordham, 1947-1952

Frank R. Strong, 1952-1965

Ivan C. Rutledge, 1965-1970

James C. Kirby, 1970-1974

L. Orin Slagle, Jr., 1974-1978

James E. Meeks, 1978-1985

Francis X. Beytagh, 1985-1993

Gregory H. Williams, 1993-2001

Nancy Hardin Rogers, 2001-2008

Alan C. Michaels, 2008-2019

Lincoln L. Davies, 2019-2024

Kent Barnett, 2024- 

*Ohio Supreme Court Justice Marshall J. Williams was the first dean, serving on a part-time basis without compensation.

**Judge William F. Hunter was the College's first full-time dean, appointed in 1893.

***Professor Alonzo Tuttle served as acting dean from 1926 until illness forced him to step down in 1928. Professor Clarence Laylin then served as acting dean from May 9, 1928 until the end of the year. 

****Professors Arthur T. Martin, Silas A Harris and Robert E. Matthews served briefly as acting deans, 1939-1940, following Dean Arant's departure to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. 

Deans' Portraits

Moritz Law Library 

Portraits of the former deans of the College were originally displayed around the perimeter of the Moritz Law Library's 3rd floor Reading Room (pictured above). The portrait of Dean William F. Hunter, the College's first full-time dean (1893-1904), was painted posthumously decades later. No portrait exists for Marshall J. Williams, the Ohio Supreme Court justice who combined his duties on the court with voluntary, part-time service as the first dean of the law department from 1891-1893. There is also no portrait of Joseph P. Outhwaite, another early dean who served a brief tenure from 1905 until his death in 1907.

Portraits of recent, College of Law deans are currently on display in the library's Reserve Room on the 2nd floor, including Gregory H. Williams (1993-2001), Nancy Hardin Rogers (2001-2008), Alan C. Michaels (2008-2019) and Lincoln L. Davies (2019-2024). 

Marshall J. Williams* (no portrait)

Dean, 1891-1893

William F. Hunter

Dean, 1893-1904

Joseph P. Outhwaite (no portrait)

Dean, 1905-1907

George W. Rightmire

Acting Dean, 1908-1909

John J. Adams

Dean, 1909-1926

Alonzo H. Tuttle**

Acting Dean, 1926-1928

Herschel W. Arant

Dean, 1928-1939

Arthur T. Martin

Dean, 1940-1946

Harry W. Vanneman

Acting Dean, 1946-1947

Jefferson B. Fordham

Dean, 1947-1952

Frank R. Strong

Dean, 1952-1965

Ivan C. Rutledge

Dean, 1965-1970

James C. Kirby

Dean, 1970-1974

L. Orin Slagle, Jr.

Dean, 1974-1978

James E. Meeks

Dean, 1978-1985

Francis X. Beytagh

Dean, 1985-1993

Gregory H. Williams

Dean, 1993-2001

Nancy Hardin Rogers

Dean, 2001-2008

Alan C. Michaels

Dean, 2008-2019

Lincoln L. Davies

Dean, 2019-2024

*No portrait is available for Supreme Court Justice Marshall J. Williams who served as the College's first dean on a part-time basis from 1891 until 1893.

**The portrait of Professor Alonzo H. Tuttle, who served as acting dean from 1926-1928, was commissioned and donated to the College in his honor by his students.