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Wendy Scott Resigns as Mississippi College Law Dean


Wendy Scott

Mississippi College School of Law Dean Wendy Scott is resigning, with plans to become a professor on the Jackson campus in January.

The MC Law dean since August 2014, Scott will step down on December 1. Under her leadership, MC Law stabilized its enrollment, including an increase in first-year students this fall, and strengthened ties with the metro Jackson community through her service on various local boards. Scott worked effectively with alumni, and members of the Mississippi Bar.

“We appreciate Wendy Scott’s service to the MC Law School during a very challenging time in legal education,” President Lee Royce said. “Dean Scott’s Christian devotion, care for students, and impressive scholarship will serve the Law School well as she returns to the faculty.”

An interim MC Law dean will soon be announced, say officials at the Baptist-affiliated university.

MC’s 8th law dean, Scott became the first African-American to lead the institution since its creation in 1975. Celebrating its 40th anniversary a year ago, MC Law School today enrolls nearly 400 students.

“I have enjoyed the challenge of leading MC Law School over the last two years,” Scott said. “I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve as the dean of such a fine law school and look forward to returning to the classroom.”

A graduate of Harvard University and New York University School of Law, Scott succeeded Jim Rosenblatt, who served 11 years as MC Law dean. He remains Dean Emeritus and professor at MC Law.

MC leaders noted that Scott advanced MC Law private giving, including the creation of the late Professor Jeffrey Jackson, and Anthony Scardino scholarship funds. She is a recognized leader in the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools.

Before joining MC Law, Scott served as a professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law for eight years. In addition, she worked as associate dean for academic affairs at the school. Earlier during her legal career, Scott served as a professor at the Tulane University Law School in New Orleans for 17 years. During part of her tenure, she worked as the institution’s vice dean for academic affairs.

Most recently, Scott was invited to speak at the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference by Chief Judge Carl Stewart. Her area of legal scholarship focused on constitutional theory and school desegregation.

Early in her career, Scott served as a staff attorney at the Legal Action Center for the City of New York.

Wendy and her husband, Reverend Eddie Scott, are the parents of one son, Christian Scott, 17, a senior and basketball standout at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Ridgeland.