MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The incoming dean of the West Virginia University College of Law is considering her new position as an opportunity to grow the program.
University officials last week announced Amelia Smith Rinehart will become dean on June 30. Rinehart currently is associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Utah law school.
“President (Gordon) Gee and Provost (Maryanne) Reed are really doing some amazing, innovative things there,” she said. “It’s a really good opportunity to take a small law school and think about the things that it can do here as we face some uncertain and challenging times.”
Rinehart credits her background for developing her problem-solving abilities; she has a master’s degree in biomedical engineering and previously served as an engineer at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Reed, WVU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, described Rinehart’s background and “innovative spirit” as assets benefitting the institution.
“Tying back into President Gee’s Land Grant mission, I think what legal education means at West Virginia and what the uniqueness of the place is,” Rinehart said. “And how we bring that out into the community.”
Rinehart’s legal expertise includes contract, intellectual property and patent law, which she said are pressing issues in international relations.
“All of the ways in which we think about commercialization and technology transfer,” she explained. “I think it will continue to be as relevant as now and I think it adds on that international layer.”
Rinehart plans to move to Morgantown in the spring to prepare for becoming dean.