SOUTH ROYALTON — Vermont Law School has named its first female leader: Beth McCormack, a professor and dean at the law school since 2011 became interim president and dean on Saturday after a vote by the school’s board of trustees.
McCormack takes over from Thomas McHenry, who announced in November that he planned to resign this year. McHenry took action to rein in the school’s finances, including revoking tenure from 14 faculty members, in 2018.
McCormack, who has been VLS’s vice dean for students since 2017, said in a statement that working at the law school has been the highlight of her career.
“One of the things I have always loved most about our school is the resilience and innovation of our students, faculty and staff,” she said. “Even as the pandemic has provided numerous challenges, our work has carried on and we’ve accomplished quite a bit over the past year. I am honored to lead the school as interim president and dean and to be the first of many women to do so.”
Prior to VLS, McCormack worked in commercial litigation at the Boston firm Mintz, Levin, and from 2003 to 2011 was an adjunct professor at Boston University School of Law, where she had earned her law degree.
The law school is currently working on a plan to restructure that would keep it in South Royalton, but is also considering whether to move to Burlington.
“Vermont Law School is going through a strategic planning exercise that will better prepare and position the law school for the future,” Glenn Berger, chairman of the school’s board, said in a statement. “Beth’s insight and leadership through this time will be absolutely critical to the process.”
When McHenry’s departure was announced in November, he was to serve until June. VLS said McHenry will now work with McCormack until June as a consultant.
Alex Hanson can be reached at ahanson@vnews.com or 603-727-3207.
