Aman steps down as dean

Alfred C. Aman, Jr., dean and professor of law at IU, announced this year will be his last as dean of the Law School.\nIn a letter obtained by the IDS Tuesday, Aman said this was an opportune time for a transition in the deanship. Aman, who has served as dean since 1991, plans to serve as a fellow in the Law and Public Affairs Program at Princeton University after the end of his current deanship, which ends June 30, 2002. \nAfter completing a book on globalization and democracy next year, he plans to return to Bloomington the following year and rejoin IU as a member of the Law School's faculty. He will serve as the Roscoe C. O'Byrne Professor in Law, a position he earned in 1999.\n"I've had a wonderful time as dean," Aman said. "I've enjoyed this opportunity, IU is a wonderful school, and I think it's a good time for a transition in leadership in the law school. We've just completed a good retreat process with the faculty, and next year will begin a self-study process to help reshape the future direction of the school. All of this is ideal when thinking about new directions and new leaderships."\nA graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, Aman has held numerous positions in his career, the most prestigious of which include serving as a clerk for the late Elbert Parr Tuttle, senior judge of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Ga. During his two-year term as a clerk, Aman attained first-hand experience in dealing with some of the most famous civil rights litigations.\nAman also served as founding editor for the Journal of Global Legal Studies, and held a Fulbright Chair in Trento, Italy, along with visiting professorships in Italy, France and England. In 1977, Aman joined the faculty of the Cornell Law School, where he taught until he began his deanship at IU in 1991.\nLast year Aman was one of eight candidates in line to replace former Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis -- a position, Aman said, for which he was honored to have been considered.\nAman said he's been thinking of resigning for some time, but reached his decision at the end of the fall semester.\n"It's time for a new phase in the law school; it's a great time for a transition," Aman said. "Before Cornell, I served in private practice for several years, but in many ways, the real high point of my career was to come here and be dean. The faculty, students and alumni I've worked with have been extremely supportive. I'm very happy I came here."\nMark Hilycord, assistant dean for finance and administration, said the search committee in charge of selecting a new dean is usually put together by the chancellor, though he was unsure if Chancellor Sharon Brehm had begun preparations.\nIn reference to his future at Princeton, Aman said he is looking forward to the kind of excitement that comes with intellectual discoveries and being able to write in a way that is original and beneficial to others.\nProfessor Emeritus of Law Harry Pratter has been at IU since 1950. In this time, Pratter has worked with several deans and held the position at one time in the mid-1970s as well. Although retired, Pratter at one time worked closely with Aman on several projects.\n"I've made trips with him to various areas of the country to speak with alumni," Pratter said. "On multiple occasions he asked me to accompany him to speak before alumni or the trustees. Aman is an internationally well-known scholar. He initiated a successful national campaign probably the most funds ever raised by a dean. He's been very active. He has been great for alumni relations and capital campaign"