Courtesy photo
Leah Chan Grinvald is the new dean at UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | 3:53 p.m.
Leah Chan Grinvald will become the first Asian American dean of UNLV’s law school, the university announced today.
Grinvald, an associate dean at Suffolk University Law School in Boston, will take over July 1 as dean of UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law.
She succeeds interim Dean Sara Gordon, a law professor who served during a national search for the school’s next leader.
“We’re excited to welcome Leah to UNLV and Nevada, and we look forward to working with her to further elevate Boyd Law School’s strong reputation for excellence in legal education,” UNLV President Keith Whitfield said.
As associate dean at Suffolk’s law school for the past five years, Grinvald has overseen the school’s academic curriculum.
Prior to joining the faculty at Suffolk Law in 2013, she was an assistant professor of law at St. Louis University School of Law.
“I’ve long admired Boyd Law for its pioneering role as Nevada’s first and only law school and for its innovative programming that produces practice-ready graduates well-prepared to serve and lead in their communities,” Grinvald said.
Christopher L. Heavey, UNLV executive vice president and provost, said that during the search process, Grinvald “articulated a clear vision for the future of Boyd Law that’s innovative, community focused, and aspirational.”
He said he was confident she will lead “one of our university’s strongest programs to even greater levels of success.”
Grinvald is an intellectual property scholar and before entering academia served as global corporate counsel at TaylorMade Golf Co. She advised on legal issues including copyright, trademark, contract and employment law.
Grinvald received her law degree from the New York University School of Law.
