On Thursday, St. Mary’s University President Thomas Mengler wrote to the university community with news that Stephen Sheppard, dean of San Antonio’s sole law school, was resigning his post.
Sheppard, who oversaw the school for the last five years, plans to return to the faculty in fall 2020, after taking a sabbatical to complete research projects.
“Immediately upon arrival, he encouraged stronger faculty and student engagement with our Catholic and Marianist mission,” Mengler wrote. “Now, every student entering the Law School is aware of our special heritage as a practitioner’s law school, committed to lawyer formation in the Marianist traditions of justice, faith and community.”
Mengler plans to work with Provost Aaron Tyler to identify a new dean for the law school. The two have already met with the St. Mary’s Executive Committee members and asked for recommendations for potential successors.
The pair plans to appoint an interim dean before the beginning of May. The St. Mary’s University president plans to appoint a search committee to begin the candidate search process this summer.
