Univ. of Mississippi selects Black scholar to head law school

Jet, April 4, 1994

For the first time in its history, the University of Mississippi has chosen a Black scholar to serve as an academic dean.

Louis Westerfield has been named dean of the Louis Westerfield law school at the Oxford campus, subject to the expected approval of the state board of trustees, which is scheduled to consider the nomination soon.

Westerfield, 41, is dean of Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans and is a former Ole Miss law professor. He is to take over his new dean's post July 1.

After his nomination became public, Westerfield told reporters: "I am well aware of the historical significance of the University of Mississippi selecting its first African-American dean.

"I appreciate those who are willing to give me this opportunity and the many others, Black and White, who have labored through the years to allow us to progress to this point."