California Western School of Law Celebrates Dean Sean Scott’s Transformational Leadership

SAN DIEGO (April 28, 2025) – Last week, the California Western School of Law (CWSL) community gathered to celebrate the tenure of President and Dean Sean M. Scott—a leader whose vision, determination, and heart have helped transform the institution over the past five years.

The reception brought together faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, donors, students, and friends to honor Dean Scott’s legacy and reflect on all that she has achieved during her historic tenure as the first woman and first African American to lead CWSL in its 100-year history.

Vice Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson opened the evening, describing Dean Scott as “our leader, our colleague, our friend,” and reflected on what it meant to work alongside her. “It is hard to express just how much I’ve learned from her as a leader,” she said. “Knowledge I will take with me on my future endeavors.”

The event featured remarks from faculty and leadership who worked closely with Dean Scott during her tenure, including past associate deans and current Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mike Whitton.
“Through it all, Dean Scott’s hand remained steady—in a way few others’ would have,” Whitton said. “Under her leadership, we’ve seen the kind of meaningful change California Western needed.”

That change has been far-reaching: from growing scholarship support and recruiting new faculty, to overseeing major upgrades in facilities, curriculum, and technology. During her tenure, Dean Scott led a successful $10 million Centennial campaign and helped secure the largest gift in school history—a $3 million investment in racial justice and academic excellence from Elaine Galinson and Herb Solomon.
Former CFO Cindy Bertrand highlighted Dean Scott’s dedication to turning CWSL into a thriving 21st century academic institution. “She didn’t just hold the role—she elevated it,” Bertrand said. “She laid out a clear, ambitious platform centered on financial sustainability, modernization, and raising the academic profile—and she delivered on all three with purpose and precision.”

Bertrand also remarked on Dean Scott’s efforts to strengthen the school’s intellectual life. She supported faculty-led initiatives that brought major national voices to campus— including California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Louis Menand, renowned Harvard professor Randall Kennedy, and trailblazing civil rights attorney George Fatheree. Her leadership also made space for public programming on issues like algorithmic bias, privacy law, and Artificial Intelligence regulation, helping prepare students for the evolving legal landscape.

Throughout the evening, the message was clear: Dean Scott has left an indelible mark on CWSL. One of progress, equity, and excellence.

When it was Dean Scott’s turn to speak, she reflected on the collective effort that made her tenure possible. “Everyone who spoke tonight made it clear that I couldn’t have done any of this without such a dedicated team,” she said. “From day one, I told our faculty and staff, ‘I will never ask you to do anything I won’t do myself.’ And they rose to meet that promise.” Dean Scott praised the faculty as “brilliant in their teaching” and commended the staff for their “tremendous dedication to creating a mature law school.”
“It has been a great honor to serve as your Dean,” she added, before looking ahead. “I’m looking forward to my sabbatical, and I’m eager to return to the classroom—to teaching 1Ls, teaching contracts, and having the opportunity to learn from my students every day.”

The evening closed with a toast from Professor Brenner Johnson, who said, “Dean Scott, those of us who’ve had the privilege and honor of working with you over the past five years have been made better for it. So, we thank you—and we wish you the most heartfelt congratulations on an incredible tenure.” 

About California Western School of Law   
For 100 years, California Western School of Law (CWSL) has trained practice-ready lawyers and thoughtful advocates for justice. As the first and longest-running law school in San Diego, CWSL remains committed to providing students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. CWSL enrolls a student body representative of our diverse society, amplifying access to opportunities for social and economic mobility. Tailored programming allows students to focus on specific areas of interest, and distinguished faculty are dedicated to student growth and scholarship on critical social issues. The law school emphasizes practical, hands-on training through clinics, internships, externships, and pro bono service. CWSL is committed to excellence in education, nurturing compassionate legal professionals who use the law effectively and creatively to solve complex human and societal problems. For more information, visit www.CWSL.edu.