Professor Lexi Freeman Named Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Freeman will also serve as Director of Social Justice Initiatives
After an open call to the Sturm College of Law faculty, consultation with the Faculty Executive Committee, and authorization by the University of Denver Provost’s Office, DU has appointed Professor Lexi Freeman to serve as Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Director of Social Justice Initiatives effective September 1, 2020. Among other priorities, Dean Freeman will lead efforts to further diversify Denver Law’s student body, faculty, and staff, to nurture a more inclusive community, and to leverage institutional resources to combat inequity, bias, and injustice.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Harvard Law School, Professor Freeman is a nationally recognized expert in diversity, inclusive pedagogy, social justice, and movement lawyering. Before joining the faculty at the University of Denver, she worked alongside low-income communities and communities of color as a racial justice and legal advocate. She is a member of the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals and serves on the Board of Governors for the Society of American Law Teachers, a community of progressive law faculty committed to advancing diversity, justice, and academic excellence.
The University of Denver is grateful to Professor Catherine Smith for her influential, decade-long service as Associate Dean of Institutional Diversity and Inclusiveness. When created at the Sturm College of Law in 2010, this leadership position was one of the first of its kind in any U.S. law school. Thanks to Professor Smith’s vision, dedication, and advocacy, her role — which she largely shaped — has served as a model for other academic units at DU and law schools nationwide.
Freeman’s initial efforts during the 2020-21 academic year will be supported by a $75,000 strategic initiatives fund, with the potential to expand through additional support from DU alumni and friends, to advance the cause of diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and social justice.
