Yale law dean moves to Ford Foundation
Updated: After eight years as Yale Law School’s dean, Heather Gerken will leave next month to become president of the Ford Foundation, one of the largest U.S. charitable organizations.
Yale’s first woman to serve as dean, Gerken is known as an expert on constitutional law and democracy, and she fought to improve need-based aid, support veterans and low-income students and expand access to legal education while leading the law school.
“Heather has led the law school through unprecedented times with grace and determination, and a bold vision,” Yale University President Maurie McInnis said in a statement.
A search committee has been formed to find Gerken’s permanent replacement. Meanwhile, Yair Listokin, a professor with expertise in tax law, corporate law and Jewish law, has been named interim dean.
During Gerken’s tenure, Yale Law faced two controversial incidents: In 2022 students disrupted a speaker from a conservative group in March, and a year earlier the school tried to get a law student to apologize for what it deemed to be an offensive invitation to a “trap house” Constitution Day bash in connection with the Federalist Society.
Two federal appeals judges, both appointees of President Donald Trump, later said they would no longer hire Yale Law graduates as clerks because of concerns the school stifles conservative views.
In 2023, Gerken was appointed to the ABA’s Task Force for American Democracy. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and a former clerk for Justice David Souter.
When she takes her new post in November at the Ford Foundation, which has a $16 billion endowment, she will succeed Darren Walker.
Updated July 23 at 11:57 a.m. to report that a search committee has been formed to find Heather Gerken’s permanent replacement, and that Yair Listokin has been named interim dean of Yale Law School.
Write a letter to the editor, share a story tip or update, or report an error.
