Jens David Ohlin reappointed dean of Cornell Law School

Jens David Ohlinhas been appointed to a second term as the Allan R. Tessler Dean of Cornell Law School, effective July 1.

The Executive Committee of the Cornell Board of Trustees voted March 9 to approve the new term for Ohlin, who has been dean since 2021 and a faculty member of the Law School since 2008.

"Jens stepped into the role of dean during a challenging time for Cornell and higher education in general, and has guided the Law School with calm and a bold vision for the future," Provost Kavita Bala said. "His long tenure and experience at the school have served him well in his leadership position. The Law School has flourished, and will continue to do so, with Jens at the helm."

Ohlin said he is "thrilled and excited" to lead the Law School for another term.

"I feel like we've accomplished a lot in the last five years," said Ohlin, whose scholarly work spans criminal law, criminal procedure, public international law and the laws of war. "But in another sense, I feel like we're just getting started. So I'm really, really happy, honored and humbled to have another term."

Ohlin's achievements as dean include the revitalization of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which offers loan forgiveness for law graduates in public service jobs. In 2024, the Law School increased the salary cap for full reimbursement for federal loans from $80,000 to $120,000.

"I think that's a game-changer," he said. "We went from having a program that was a good idea but had long since lost its utility to a new program that is leading the way across the nation. I'd say it's the most impactful loan-repayment program amongst any of the law schools in the country."

Under Ohlin's leadership, the Law School announced the creation of the Blassberg-Rice Center for Entrepreneurship Lawin 2023, made possible by a gift from Franci J. Blassberg '75, J.D. '77, and Joseph L. Rice III. The center broadened the work of the Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, giving law students the opportunity to work with clients in New York City for the first time.

"I'm really pleased to see that entrepreneurship law ecosystem flourish. That's really exciting and brings us closer to Cornell Tech," Ohlin said. "It's another bridge to Roosevelt Island, and it's producing some real synergies already."

Ohlin also oversaw new faculty hires in environmental law and an increase in the number of courses in that area; and the launch of a yearlong, one-credit professional development course, designed to "give professionalism and soft-skills training to our students, to ensure that they succeed in the marketplace and in their careers 10 years down the road, to help them become leaders," he said.

Looking ahead, Ohlin is excited about new universitywide efforts to support and advance democracy, as well as opportunities to extend the reach of the Law School's clinical programs.

"We'll strive to maintain excellence in several key areas, including immigration, First Amendment, entrepreneurship and death penalty," he said.

Ohlin previously served as interim dean (2021), vice dean (2017-20), associate dean for academic affairs (2015-17) and director of faculty research (2013-15). He joined the faculty as assistant professor of law in 2008, was promoted to associate professor in 2011 and to full professor in 2013.

Ohlin received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University in 2002 and a J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2005.