New law school dean named at Mizzou

Lyrissa Barnett Lidsky, associate dean for graduate and non-J.D. programs at the University of Florida, was announced as the University of Missouri’s new dean for the school of law Monday morning.

During Lidsky’s 25-year career, she joined the faculty of the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law in 1994 after clerking for judge Joseph T. Sneed on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Lidsky said she was thrilled to begin her new role, which starts July 1.

“I’ve always believed that our job as educators is to provide students not only with meaningful careers, but with meaningful lives as they define them,” said Lidsky. “Whether they want to join sophisticated national or international law practices; work in the public sector; dedicate themselves to public service; develop solo practices, change the world by becoming entrepreneurs; or lead at local, state or national levels. As a dean, I hope to help make the highest aspirations of our students into realities.”

According to the university, Lidksy is the co-author of the most widely adopted mass media law casebook taught in American law schools. She also has co-authored a First Amendment law casebook and a reference book on Freedom of the Press. Lidsky has also won several teaching awards.

Lidsky will replace Kenneth Dean, who has served as interim dean of the law school since the fall.