June 10, 2009

Cooley Law School Names Top Official Of Its Newly Announced Ann Arbor Campus

Joan Vestrand

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School announced today that Joan Vestrand, professor of law and assistant dean at the Auburn Hills campus, has been promoted to the position of associate dean and will lead the school’s efforts at its Ann Arbor campus.

“Dean Vestrand has played a vital role at Cooley already through her distinguished work in redesigning the school’s professionalism and ethics program,” said Don LeDuc, president and dean of Cooley. “This is such an exciting time in Cooley’s history and Joan’s extensive experience and enthusiasm make her an outstanding choice to head the new campus in Ann Arbor.”

Located at 3475 Plymouth Road, Cooley’s Ann Arbor campus is an 84,500-square-foot facility that includes a law library, mock appellate and trial courtrooms, and several classrooms. Classes will commence at the Ann Arbor campus in September 2009.

“I’m excited to lead Cooley’s efforts in Ann Arbor,”
said Vestrand. “Students travel from near and far to attend Cooley and we believe that a campus in an internationally known location like Ann Arbor, one of America’s leading university and business communities, will be attractive to prospective law students.”

Vestrand joined the Cooley faculty in 2002 following her six-year partnership with Moore Vestrand & Pozehl, P.C., in Southfield, Mich. A named fellow of the National Institute for Teaching Ethics and Professionalism, Vestrand assisted in the launch of Cooley’s Professionalism Plan as a member of the school’s professional responsibility department and associate professor. Vestrand became assistant dean of Cooley’s Auburn Hills campus in 2004. She is nationally distinguished in her field and a widely recognized scholar, lecturer and published author.

Vestrand is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) and the State Bar of Michigan. She received the Frances R. Avendenka award from the OCBA in 2007 and the Champion of Justice award in 2008 from the State Bar of Michigan for her professional accomplishments and pro bono service to the community.

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the country.  Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Lansing.  Today, Cooley Law School has more than 13,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs.  Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September. Additional information about Cooley can be found at www.cooley.edu.