Dean Easley Set to Retire in June 2023 After Nine Successful Years at Western State

IRVINE, CALIF. (October 3, 2022) – Allen K. Easley, dean of Western State College of Law at Westcliff University, has announced plans to retire following the 2022-2023 academic year. His decision comes after nine years in the position, during which he played an integral role in the law school’s success. This year culminates with Western State welcoming the strongest academic incoming fall class in the organization’s history, the addition of five new faculty members, with more hires on the horizon and exciting program growth, including the recent addition of a JD/MBA program. Western State, the oldest law school in Orange County, Calif., is preparing a search committee to identify a new dean who will continue building upon the law school’s rich history and trajectory of success.

“We have been privileged to have Dean Easley paving the way for Western State since 2013 and are grateful for his leadership through next June to ensure a smooth transition and allow us time to find a suitable replacement who can build upon Western State’s legacy,” said Dr. Anthony Lee, president of Westcliff University. “It is a testament to Dean Easley’s leadership that Western State has reached its most successful years with him at the helm. The law school has an extremely invested alumni, faculty and student community and Dean Easley has been integral to establishing a strong reputation for the law school as an expanding and dynamic institution. While we are sad to see him retire, he has laid a solid foundation for his successor.”

Much of the law school’s success is a direct result of Dean Easley’s commitment and passion. His experience as a draft counselor during the Vietnam war led him to pursue a degree in law in order to help individuals navigate the realities of life after being drafted. Once in law school, he realized his passion for teaching and followed in his family’s footsteps as educators to continue a career in academia. During his tenure, even as dean, he consistently served in a teaching capacity, where he remained ever inspired by students’ excitement to learn.

Dean Easley has made strategic hires to support the development of the law school and ensure student access to top-notch instructors and resources. His advocacy for new programs, including the Master of Law and Compliance and a joint JD/MBA program with Westcliff University, provides students with second-to-none opportunities. In addition, he placed emphasis on building the incoming student body year over year, which resulted in Western State recently welcoming its strongest academic class.

“The choice to retire is never easy; however, after 44 years in legal education and with the great position Western State is in—with only exciting developments ahead—now is the time to step aside and let someone else take the lead,” said Allen K. Easley, dean at Western State. “I believe Western State is well poised for continued growth and this is an exciting stage for a new dean to help our law school soar into the future.”

The establishment of a search committee to help hire the new dean is already underway with a goal to have a new dean hired by July 2023. The committee will include representatives and stakeholders from the Western State community, who will be charged with finding the right candidate to continue the great tradition of inspirational leadership that Western State has known since its founding.

To learn more about Western State College of Law, visit www.wsulaw.edu.

About Western State College of Law: Western State College of Law at Westcliff University is an established institution with a more than 50-year track record of success and a reputation for producing both successful trial lawyers and more than 150 graduates who have been elevated to the bench. It offers subspecialties within the J.D. program to allow every student to find their niche and develop a unique skillset. Western State was acquired in 2019 by Westcliff University, a private university in Irvine, Calif. offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Since the acquisition, Western State has benefited from Westcliff’s ability to swiftly respond to market needs by developing innovative specialty programs in real-time. Together, the schools are now fully integrated and committed to providing advanced higher education opportunities to students both globally and nationally. Visit www.wsulaw.edu to learn more or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.