John Henry Glover will serve as interim associate dean while a national search is conducted to fill the position made vacant with the retirement of Tom Sorensen in December. Glover, who is also serving as interim Diversity & Inclusion Officer for the School of Law, will be on leave from Black Hills State University where he is a professor and former Center for American Indian Studies director. He has been a part of the South Dakota public higher education system since 1992. In addition to more than 20 years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience, Glover received fellowships from the Newberry Library in Chicago, was a visiting resident scholar at the American Indian Studies graduate program at the University of Arizona and an international issues instructor at the Global Youth Village, in Bedford, Va. A native of western Montana, Glover moved to South Dakota after practicing law in Minnesota and North Dakota. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. and is a graduate of Willamette University’s School of Law in Salem, Ore. Among his publications is a text entitled, “Tribal Sovereigns of South Dakota,” published by the Chiesman Center for Democracy. A photo of Glover is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/John_Glover.jpg.

Leah Piersol will lead the Law School’s enhanced experiential or “real life” practice experiences as well as job placement as the newly created career services manager. Piersol brings a wealth of experience as both a long practicing attorney and counselor. A graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Law, she has two decades experience in legal practice and legal affairs both in and outside South Dakota. More recently, Piersol received a master’s degree in counseling from South Dakota State University and has done a variety of private, nonprofit and public work as a counselor, mediator and consultant. A photo of Piersol is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Leah_Piersol.jpg.

Lee Benton will serve as the law school’s registrar with the retirement of Jean Henriques, who departs with 36 years of service at USD. Benton grew up in the region and received a B.B.A. in economics and her M.B.A. from USD. A photo of Benton is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Lee_Benton.jpg.

Nicholas McInerney joins the School of Law as its first full-time admissions and enrollment coordinator. Originally from Michigan, McInerney completed his B.S. in business administration at National American University. He also received his M.A. in political science and J.D. from the School of Law at USD. McInerney’s professional background before law school includes management and training work for Midcontinent Communications. A photo of McInerney is available for download at www.usd.edu/press/news/images/releases/Nicholas_McInerney.jpg.

“The legal profession and legal education is in the midst of transformative change. There is a window of opportunity for South Dakota's law school to help lead this transformation,” said Thomas Geu, dean of the School of Law. “These additional and new professionals at law school better position us for that leadership role in meeting the needs of the profession and the public whether those needs are a criminal prosecution, child custody, or economic development. It is a very exciting time here at the law school.”

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