Olympia Duhart, former SALT Co-President, named Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Development

Professor Olympia Duhart, J.D.

Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Professor Olympia Duhart, the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law Director of Legal Research and Writing has been named the Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Development for the College of Law.

Professor Duhart joined the College of Law faculty in 2005. She has served as Director of the Legal Research and Writing program since 2012 and in 2016 added the duties as Director of Faculty Development.

“Professor Duhart’s leadership will play an important role in continuing to expand NSU Law’s national reach on important legal topics and to assure that the research efforts of our faculty engage our students as well as the legal profession,” explained Jon M. Garon, Dean of the Shepard Broad College of Law.

The newly created position of Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Development reflects the evolution of Professor Duhart’s efforts at promoting the writing, scholarship, and learning effectiveness for students and faculty alike, emphasizing enrichment activities involving scholarship, teaching and service. In her new role, Professor Duhart will continue to direct the Legal Research and Writing program.

“This new appointment is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited about the possibilities ahead,” said Professor Duhart. “I look forward to supporting our excellent faculty and students.”

Professor Duhart has recently completed her two-year term as Co-President for the Society of American Law Teachers, where she continues to serve on its Board of Governors. Professor Duhart’s scholarship focuses on government accountability for historically marginalized people, and teaching methods and assessment. She is a frequent national presenter on teaching methods, assessment and diversity initiatives. She also regularly engages the public in newspaper articles and podcasts. In addition to her work with SALT, Professor Duhart holds appointed positions in the following professional organizations: the Association of American Law Schools, the Institute for Law Teaching and Learning, the Legal Writing Institute and the Association of Legal Writing Directors.

Professor Duhart earned her B.A. in English, cum laude, from the University of Miami and graduated magna cum laude in 2003 from NSU’s Shepard Broad College of Law, where she was a Goodwin Scholar. In both 2009 and 2012, Professor Duhart was recognized as NSU’s recipient for the Association of American Law Schools Award for Teaching, and she won the Stephanie Aleong Impact Award in 2014, which recognizes a faculty member who has had an impact on a law student who exemplifies compassion, industry and community service. Also in 2014, Professor Duhart was named to the Lawyers of Color’s 50 Under 50 list, a comprehensive catalog of minority law professors making an impact in legal education.

Professor Duhart continues an important new tradition within the NSU College of Law. Two of her predecessors have moved from the role of Director for Legal Research and Writing to positions of Associate Dean and later to deanships at other university law schools. In May 2017, Golden Gate University School of Law named Professor Anthony Niedwiecki as its new Dean. He previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and Director of Legal Skills and Values program at NSU Shepard Broad College of Law. In November 2016, Professor Elena Langan was named Dean of Concordia University School of Law. She had previously served as both Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean for the Shepard Broad College of Law and Director of its Skills and Values program.