Amy Wildermuth steps down as School of Law dean

Amy Wildermuth stepped down from her role as dean of the Pitt School of Law, returning to the faculty effective Jan. 23. A national search for a new dean will begin in the fall semester.

Vice Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi will serve as interim dean. Professor Hamoudi, an expert in Middle Eastern and Islamic law, has served as vice dean since 2018 and joined Pitt in 2007.

Wildermuth was appointed dean of the School of Law in 2018. During her tenure, the school achieved a record passing rate for the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in 2019, unveiled a new online Master of Studies in Law and created the school’s stackable graduate certificate programs in corporate compliance, health care compliance, human resources law and international business law and dispute resolution. As dean, Wildermuth also devoted significant thought to equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives during her time at the helm.

“The school has made important progress — even as it navigated a global pandemic,” Provost Ann E. Cudd wrote in an announcement. “All of this is meaningful work — and I am deeply grateful for Amy’s efforts.”