Installation of Miriam H. Baer as Dean and President of California Western School of Law
CWSL Board of Trustees Members, Roy Bell, Thomas Lofaro, Sally Wong Avery, Michael Whitton, Dean Miriam Baer, and Kenneth Greenman
Chair Michael Whitton, Justice Judith McConnell, Dean Miriam Baer, Professor William Aceves, and 3L Robert Wood
Dean Emeritus Michael Dessent, Dean Miriam Baer, and Dean Emeritus Steven Smith
CWSL Deans Poster
Monday, October 13, 2025, Miriam H. Baer was formally installed as dean and president of California Western School of Law. She is the eleventh dean of the law school. The event took place in the George N. Gafford Moot Courtroom with the board of trustees, judges, commissioners, past deans, faculty, students, alumni, and community partners in attendance to celebrate the milestone.
Four distinguished speakers, Professor William Aceves, Michael J. Whitton, Chair of the California Western School of Law Board of Trustees, Justice Judith McConnell, and 3L Robert Wood, gave warm addresses.
Dean Baer envisions four centers that highlight areas where California Western already excels:
- Trial Advocacy & Litigation, anchored by the Competitive Advocacy Program and clinics that place students directly in courtrooms.
- Democracy & Justice, focused on civil discourse and engagement with pressing constitutional debates and matters of social justice.
- Law, Technology & Entertainment, highlighting the New Media Rights Clinic and the growing number of alumni practicing at the intersection of law, technology, and entertainment.
- Global and Domestic Business Law and Regulation, connecting students and scholars to a complex economy and a globally inflected regulatory landscape.
Dean Miriam Baer, Commissioner Spencer Scott, and Justice Judith McConnell
Samantha Itazawa, Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and Jeff Chin
Mara Elliott, former City Attorney, Mikhak Ghorban, Past President Lawyers Club, 2023–2024, 2L, Janet Nguyen and Ted Holmquist
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.