Boger announced last May he would step down as of July 2015 — one year before his five-year term ended. He said stepping down would allow a new dean to implement curricular reform initiatives, begin a capitol campaign and facilitate the American Bar Association’s upcoming accreditation.
“Although selfishly it might be fun to stay another year, the best thing for the institution is to hand the baton over,” Boger said.
Boger joined the UNC faculty in 1990 after a career in public law. He became the school’s thirteenth dean in 2006.
The staff has grown by about 40 faculty members under his leadership, and their curricular reforms, he said, give students more experiential training to help them transition from law school to law practice.
“I love being part of a team where the other people care about the mission, care about the outcomes and are pretty selfless about pursuing that,” Boger said.
His love for the team is mutual. Assistant Dean of Policy Catherine Pierce has worked with Boger for ten years. She said she has enjoyed working alongside him.
“Jack is full of integrity, and he truly understands what Carolina’s integrity requires — what the mission of Carolina Law is,” Pierce said. “He embraces that and reflects that back to the faculty, to the staff, to our alumni in everything he says, how he carries out his deanship, and it’s very much appreciated by everyone here.”
Second-year law student Billy Piontek, a member of the dean’s advisory council, said he couldn’t imagine anyone else serving as dean of the School.
