Former Dean John M. DiPippa of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, received Dean Emeritus status June 21 during an event celebrating his success as dean and subsequent return to the classroom.
The status of Dean Emeritus was conferred to DiPippa during the celebration, during which the school also unveiled his portrait and gave him an award for his nearly 30 years of service. DiPippa was recommended for the status by former U.S. Attorney Paula Casey, who assumed the position of interim dean July 1, and Sandra Robertson, UALR’s provost.
The event was prompted by the end of DiPippa’s deanship on June 30 and featured speeches by both DiPippa and Interim Dean Casey. The event was also punctuated with a comical portrait unveiling during which a large photo of a college-aged DiPippa was unveiled. The authentic portrait was hung in the Coyne Deans Gallery following the celebration.
DiPippa joined the UALR faculty in as a professor of law in 1983. Since then, he has served the school as associate dean from 1990 to 1993 and again from 2001 to 2008. DiPippa was appointed interim dean July 1, 2008 and served in that capacity until his appointment as dean Feb. 13, 2009. He earned his bachelor’s degree at West Chester University in 1974 and his JD from Washington and Lee in 1978.
