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FAMU law school dean resigns as bar exam passage rates keep trending downward
Feb 2, 2024
Deidré Keller, dean of Florida A&M University’s College of Law, has resigned amid the school’s long trend of worsening bar exam passage rates.
Until an interim dean is appointed, the College of Law’s Associate Provost for Academic Programs Cecil Howard will assume the reins of leadership,” according to the university.
“The FAMU College of Law remains committed to its historical legacy of excellence and looks forward to making a lasting impact on the legal society both now and in the future,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Allyson Watson said in a prepared statement. “The success of our students, faculty and staff remains our highest priority.”
Keller stepped down Wednesday after serving as dean for nearly four years. She will remain on the law school's faculty.
At the FAMU College of Law, 25 of 60 test-takers passed last July (41.7%), making the school the lowest-performing law school in Florida on the bar exam. The passage rate was about 10 points lower than the result of 52.6% in July 2022, where 50 of 95 graduates were successful.
Bar exams generally are offered twice a year, including in Florida. Most law students traditionally take the exam in the summer, after their graduation.
But as Howard takes on a temporary role in the dean position, he hopes to help turn things around.
Bar exams generally are offered twice a year, including in Florida. Most law students traditionally take the exam in the summer, after their graduation.
But as Howard takes on a temporary role in the dean position, he hopes to help turn things around.
Howard has served as the College of Law’s associate provost since the fall, where he has been working with the college’s faculty and staff to improve the overall academic experience for law students through the oversight of faculty affairs.
The Florida State University alumnus is a Florida licensed attorney who has experience serving in executive leadership roles at the University of South Florida, the University of California, Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania and Tufts University in Massachusetts.
:His three primary objectives for FAMU’s College of Law are to:
- Enhance bar preparation and curriculum alignment for FAMU College of Law students.
- Ensure aligned and successful accreditation and operational oversight.
- Implement comprehensive strategies and initiatives to foster a supportive and conducive environment for teaching, research and administrative excellence
- Enhance bar preparation and curriculum alignment for FAMU College of Law students.
- Ensure aligned and successful accreditation and operational oversight.
- Implement comprehensive strategies and initiatives to foster a supportive and conducive environment for teaching, research and administrative excellence
