Southern Methodist University has named a Florida-based expert in the inequities of public education as the new dean of its Dedman School of Law.
Jason P. Nance, currently associate dean for research and faculty development at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, has been a clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, as well as a litigation associate at Skadden Arps during the financial crisis of 2007-2010.
At Florida Law, where he joined the faculty in 2011, he has served as associate dean of academic and faculty affairs, as associate director for the school’s Center for Race Relations and as associate director for education and law at the Center on Children and Families.
Nance has deep Texas ties. He began his career in education, teaching math to middle schoolers and GED and English courses to adults in Houston with the intention of becoming a school principal. He was preparing for a career in education administration when he developed an interest in education policy and law. He earned a Ph.D. in education policy and administration before completing his law degree.
“We look forward to welcoming Dean Nance to Dedman School of Law,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. “His early public education experience combined with a distinguished legal career and passion for education equity issues bring talents that will be valuable on many levels at SMU.”
Nance earned a B.A. in history from Brigham Young University, his M.A. and Ph.D. in education and policy from The Ohio State University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.
At SMU, he succeeds Dean Jennifer M. Collins who becomes president of Rhodes College in Memphis on July 1. Thomas Mayo, senior associate dean for academic affairs, Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Professor and professor of law at Dedman Law, serves as dean ad interim until Nance’s arrival at the school, currently scheduled for August 10.