Barbara Cox and Peg Habetler celebrate as Cox is named the Clara Shortridge Folz Professor of Law in 2008

A law school is only as strong as its professors, and over the past 16 years, the quality of California Western’s faculty has improved significantly on multiple fronts, whether through the stronger credentials of new teachers, the expansion of faculty research and scholarship, and the professors' ever-increasing expertise on major national and international legal issues.

When Dean Steven Smith arrived in 1996, one of his priorities - as a legal scholar himself - was to raise the academic stature of California Western by attracting talented new professors to the school while encouraging faculty members to expand their research and scholarship.

"Thanks to years of careful planning and cultivation under Dean Smith's leadership, the academic qualifications and legal expertise of our California Western faculty have never been higher," says Associate Dean William Aceves. "And, faculty's research and service work have enhanced the quality of education our students receive and have had a positive impact on our society."

Aceves cites the breadth and depth of scholarly engagement as just one example of Dean Smith's legacy at California Western.

"The influence of our faculty can be measured by the books, articles, and essays they have published over the years. Many members of our faculty are leading experts in their fields," Aceves said. "But our faculty also recognize that research and scholarship must have a practical application. It should be used to solve real world problems. That's why many of our faculty remain actively involved in legal practice, and some have even influenced the development of the law. All this contributes to a better learning experience for our students."

Another example is the California Heritage Professorship program, which was developed as part of California Western's research initiative. The endowed professorships honor and recognize outstanding professors who are making major scholarly contributions in their area of expertise. Professor Barbara Cox recalls being deeply honored when she was awarded the Clara Shortridge Foltz Professorship in 2008.

"These professorships are a wonderful way for the school to recognize and celebrate the research and scholarship performed by our faculty. Through generous grants, they support faculty by allowing us to expand our research and increase our expertise. This, in turn, helps our students as it informs and enhances our teaching," says Cox, who specializes in women's issues and sexual orientation in the law. "The professorships signal California Western's research commitment to the academic community. A dean who introduced me at a recent conference acknowledged my professorship and told attendees how important Clara Foltz was to women's rights. I hope we can expand the professorship program so we can recognize all the scholars on our faculty."

BOB ROSS // RES IPSA ONLINE