NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OF DEAN JEFFERSON EXUM’S LEADERSHIP INCLUDE:

External Recognition

Detroit Mercy Law achieved recognition in the published ranking category by the US News & World Report through improvements to our peer reputation, student credentials, acceptance rate, employment rate, and bar passage rate.

MISSION-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP

Dean Jefferson Exum created dean-level leadership positions for the following areas to enhance the missioncentered work of educating the complete lawyer

• Faculty Research & Development

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

• Institutional Outcomes & Communications

New Programs

Academic Success & Bar Passage Program

We launched The Power of One, a data-driven incentive program to support graduates with financing and passing the bar exam.

Diversity Pipeline Program

We partnered with AccessLex to provide one-year deferred admission and scholarship money to promising, underrepresented candidates whose initial applications would have otherwise been denied. Students complete a preparation program to increase their chances of good outcomes in law school.

Read more about this program on page 25.

Arts & Entertainment Law Clinic

We launched the Arts & Entertainment Law Clinic. Students provide pro bono legal services to musicians, independent filmmakers, writers, artists, photographers, and other creatives under the supervision of Melissa Eckhause, Assistant Professor of Law, and Matthew W. Bower, Partner at Varnum LLP.

Read more about this program on page 17.

Current Events in Law Series

We hosted a series of virtual panels that brought together legal scholars and experts to discuss law and policy on current events. Topics included reproductive rights, climate change, global politics, and indigenous law.

RECRUITMENT OF NEW FACULTY & RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING

Dean Jefferson Exum guided us through our return to in-person learning. We look forward to new scholars and administrators joining us as we welcome all students back to campus this fall.

Read more about our new faculty on pages 10-11.

FUNDRAISING & SCHOLARSHIPS

Dean Jefferson Exum’s fundraising success is surpassing prior years. During her first year, she raised over 12% more than the most recent oneyear high of the past five years.

Dean Jefferson Exum supported the pilot transformation of the Stewart & Lysaght Scholars Award to financially support exceptional Canadian & American Dual JD students who identify as Black or Indigenous, who have strong interests in transnational law and social justice, and aspire to pursue transnational social justice careers following graduation.

Read more and meet the scholars on pages 12-13.

Dean Jefferson Exum is a nationally-recognized expert in sentencing law and procedure. She joined Detroit Mercy Law in 2019 as the Philip J. McElroy Professor of Law and became Dean in 2021.

Throughout this past year, she provided commentary on topics of national conversation to help the Detroit Mercy and wider Detroit community understand the legal impacts. She continues to publish and has discussed her work on criminal procedure, sentencing, and constitutional law in several media outlets. She received the Geraldine Bledsoe Ford Award from the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan in recognition of her work and continued commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Michigan Lawyers Weekly selected her as a member of the "Influential Women of Law" Class of 2022.