March 30, 2015 — Christian Johnson, a Professor at the College of Law since 2008, was named dean of the Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, effective July 1, 2015.
Johnson, currently the Hugh B. Brown Presidential Endowed Chair in Law at the College of Law, was the College’s associate dean of academic affairs from 2012 to 2014. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Utah, and his J.D. from Columbia University. After graduating from law school, he worked as an associate for law firms in New York, Las Vegas and Chicago, focusing primarily on tax law, finance, bank lending and derivatives
Johnson said he immediately perceived the opportunity at Widener Law Harrisburg as a good fit. He was attracted to the position by the collegial faculty, strong alumni base, and renowned programs in law and government and environmental law.
“The opportunity at Widener is very unique because a very fine law school is already in place,” Johnson said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to help a fine faculty develop and strengthen the programs that they have, and the university is extremely supportive in helping the law school be successful. For someone who wants to be a dean, it is a very attractive situation.”
Click here to read a taxprof blogpost on the appointment.