Owensboro native Emily Janoski-Haehlen has been named as the next dean for The University of Akron School of Law (Akron Law) after a national search. She will begin on Feb. 21, 2022, pending approval by the UA Board of Trustees.
Janoski-Haehlen grew up two blocks from Owensboro High School. She attended to Sutton Elementary, Owensboro Middle and Owensboro High School, where she graduated in 1998.
“I am excited to serve as the next dean of The University of Akron School of Law and am encouraged by the support I have already received from the Akron Law and University communities,” she said. “In our centennial year, I look forward to building on Akron Law’s strengths and leading us into the next century of excellence and opportunity.”
Janoski-Haehlen said she plans to reinvest in Akron Law’s strengths in intellectual property, advocacy, producing practice ready graduates, and bar passage.
“I want to reimagine the law school’s mission from 100 years ago, which was to produce lawyers who might affect ‘the destiny of the city and the nation.’ I love legal education,” she said. “I come from a family of educators — my mom taught at WKU-Owensboro and my sister is a teacher at Daviess County Public Schools— and am excited to help shape the next generation of attorneys.”
In her new role, Janoski-Haehlen’s primary responsibility will be to provide executive oversight of the day-to-day operations and all routine functions of Akron Law, including increasing overall enrollment and Bar passage rates.
“She is the right leader at the right time,” said Executive Vice President and Provost John Wiencek. “Her many years in leadership and in the classroom are an asset for us, especially as we put renewed focus on student success and community.”
Janoski-Haehlen currently serves as associate dean of academic affairs and law technology programs for Akron Law, as well as director of the Law Library. She joined the faculty in 2017, teaching Technology in Law, Social Media Law, Legal Drafting and Legal Research. Her current research explores social media law, internet privacy, legal research instruction strategies and technology in the practice of law.
Prior to joining Akron Law, she served as associate dean of the Law Library at Valparaiso University Law School and as a faculty member and librarian at Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law.
Janoski-Haehlen earned a Bachelor of Science in History from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of Kentucky and a Juris Doctorate from Northern Kentucky University.
