Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book publicly thanked the interim dean for his leadership on April 18, 2023, and led a loud round of applause by students, faculty, and staff who celebrated his contributions to the downtown Greensboro law school.
A longtime legal educator and administrator who has served Elon Law as interim dean over the past year and a half was lauded for his integrity and his contributions to the law school during an April celebration led by Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book.
Book recognized Interim Dean Alan Woodlief on April 18, 2023, before students, faculty, staff, and other Elon University senior administrators who applauded Woodlief’s law school leadership in the transition between Dean Emeritus Luke Bierman and incoming Dean Zak Kramer, who begins his new role in July.
The lunch hour program took place in a crowded Cemala Foundation Commons and was accompanied by food and Elon apparel for the law school community.
“I want to acknowledge his contributions and our gratitude to Alan,” Book said. “I truly mean ‘gratitude’ because leadership is challenging in general. Alan assumed his leadership during a really critical period during the pandemic, when we were emerging back to face-to-face classes and getting back up to speed.
“His contributions have allowed the law school to continue to not to miss a beat, and to prosper during this challenging period.”
Book said she also appreciates Woodlief as a “constant beacon of integrity.” She pointed to his passion for the law school’s guardian ad litem clinic and his understanding of “the power of one person to change another person’s life.” At the same time, Book said, Woodlief has been instrumental in developing Elon Law’s moot court program, and he continues to oversee a robust admissions office that builds increasingly larger and stronger applicant pools year over year.
Woodlief thanked Book for her compliments shortly after she presented him a gift of pottery crafted by North Carolina potter Ben Owen III.
“I’m humbled by this,” Woodlief said. “Thank you, President Book, and other senior leadership of the university. I appreciate your support. I appreciate all the support from our faculty and staff. It’s really all about our students, and I look forward to working with you in the future, and working with Dean Kramer and others here to take Elon Law to the next level, as we provide our students a truly exceptional experiential legal education.”
Woodlief joined Elon Law in May 2005, serving as an associate professor and associate dean for admissions and administration. In addition to his teaching role, he oversees the law school’s admissions efforts, facilities, budget, and other administrative functions.
Woodlief has directed a variety of administrative and academic roles and developed knowledge about all facets of the law school’s operations. He established Elon Law’s nationally recognized Moot Court Program in 2008, coaching numerous award-winning teams and guiding the Moot Court Board in hosting the annual Billings, Exum & Frye National Moot Court Competition.
Woodlief will resume his role in July as senior associate dean and professor of law.