Larry Kramer Is Stepping Down as Dean of Stanford Law School

Dean Larry Kramer of Stanford Law is stepping down at the end of the summer. What will he be doing next?

We have just learned that Larry Kramer, Dean of Stanford Law School, will be stepping down from his post at the end of August. Kramer took the top job at Stanford Law in 2004 and helped lead Stanford to overtake Harvard for the #2 spot in the U.S. News law school rankings just a few short weeks ago.

He is leaving his position in order to become president of the Hewlett Foundation, a grant-making organization focused on social and environmental problems. According to his statement to the Stanford Law community, Kramer does plan to continue teaching at the school.

I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more about this in the next few days. For the time being, check out Dean Kramer’s statement, after the jump.

The following memo went out this evening to Stanford law students (and a similar memo went out to SLS alumni):

From: Larry D Kramer
Date: March 28, 2012 7:50:22 PM EDT
To: [Stanford Law School Community]
Subject: [law-2013] Announcement

Dear All:

I have just shared with faculty and senior administrators the news that I have accepted the position of President of the Hewlett Foundation and so will be leaving the law school as of August 31. I will remain actively involved through the end of the academic year and will of course assist with the transition to new leadership in every way I can.

As I hope you can imagine, I make this announcement with mixed feelings. The chance to work with and lead a foundation like Hewlett is a unique and exciting opportunity, one I did not feel I could or should pass up. At the same time, I am sad to be leaving this amazing, wonderful institution and community, though I plan to continue teaching and hope always to remain a part of SLS. It has been an honor and a privilege to know and work with and teach and learn from you.

I leave with full confidence that the law school is on a positive trajectory–based on you, on the work you do, and on momentum from the changes we’ve made together over the past eight years. SLS has a strong foundation on which new leadership can build, and I can’t wait to see what the law school’s next phase looks like. For now, I simply want to say thank you for all you have done and will do.

Best,

Larry

We’ll most likely have additional commentary on this tomorrow. If you have information or opinion you’d like to share about Dean Kramer, please email us (subject line: “Larry Kramer”).

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Congratulations, Dean Kramer, on your new position. Best of luck in your new endeavor.

Stanford law school dean to step down in September [Mercury News]
Dean Larry Kramer to leave Stanford Law School to lead Hewlett Foundation [Stanford University News]

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