Law professor Christopher Schroeder picked to head the Office of Legal Policy as assistant AG

21 May 2009, Posted by Eugene Wang in Faculty and Staff, National Politics, News, 0 Comments

Christopher Schroeder, Charles S. Murphy Professor of Law and Professor of Public Policy Studies, has been named assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Policy by President Barack Obama, according to a White House press release.

“I’m grateful that such experienced and dedicated individuals have joined my administration at a time when our nation faces great challenges,” Obama said in the press release, which also announced several other administrative appointments. “Their deep commitment to their individual areas of work gives me confidence that they will help us put America back on a path to prosperity and security.”

David Levi, dean of the School of Law, said Wednesday night at a Duke alumni event in Chicago that Schroeder would be picked to lead the OLP.

“Chris Schroeder is a brilliant legal scholar and a gifted teacher,” Michael Schoenfeld, Duke’s vice president for public affairs and government relations, wrote in an e-mail. “His selection for this critical position means that President Obama will have the best possible person working on legal policy issues.”

The Legal Times, a legal newspaper in Washington, D.C., reported in mid-April that Schroeder was under consideration.

The White House had initially planned to tap Mayer Brown partner and Duke alumnus Mark Gitenstein to the post, the Blog of the Legal Times reported, but thereafter reconsidered the nomination following opposition to his potential nomination, according to Roll Call.

Schroeder previously served as acting assistant Attorney General in the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel during the Clinton administration. He was also a member of Obama’s transition team. Schroeder has taught courses on constitutional law, environmental law and civil liberties.

Kevin Jones is currently the acting assistant attorney general for the OLP.

Schroeder will continue to have a relationship with the University if he is confirmed by the Senate, Schoenfeld said.

If confirmed, Schroeder will be the second Duke law professor to head to Washington this year. Sen. Ted Kaufman, who was appointed to Vice President Joe Biden’s vacated Senate seat in January,  is also a senior lecturing fellow in the School of Law.

Be sure to check out the Thursday, May 28 issue of The Chronicle for more coverage.

Forbes: Durham No. 3 college town for jobs

21 May 2009, Posted by Emmeline Zhao in Durham News, News, The Economy, 0 Comments

Forbes magazine has ranked Durham third in its Top College Town for Jobs list Tuesday.

With  7.4% of workers in university jobs and 2.49 employment growth since last year, Durham is one of the top cities seeing “business booms,” the magazine reports. Although job availability decreased by 3.5% over the course of 12 months from March 2008, 62 college towns reportedly saw employment growth. The magazine also considers Duke Durham’s primary university.

Forbes defines “college town” as an area where “employment from universities, four-year colleges, two-year community colleges and university medical teaching hospitals supplied 2 percent or more of area jobs.”

The magazine also considers research universities “great environments” for employment and businesses because of the availability of recent college graduates, providing talent and inexpensive labor.

Mexico removed from Restricted Regions list

19 May 2009, Posted by Chelsea Allison in Academics, Health & Science, News, student life, 0 Comments

The University’s International Travel Oversight Committee, a body comprising faculty and administrators to set travel policy, voted Friday to remove Mexico from the Restricted Regions list.

Though this decision clears the path for student travel, the call did not come in time to reverse the decision to move the Duke in Mexico study abroad program, according to a news release. The program has already begun in Durham. DukeEngage in Tucson, which features stints in Mexico for service work, will proceed as planned.

Officials announced April 29–at the height of news about the H1N1 virus–that they would relocate Duke in Mexico to Durham.

Students had until last week to decide whether or not they would participate despite the change of scene, and an intermediate-level program began May 15. Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the 19 students who had planned to go to Mexico, only five chose to pursue the project in the Bull City, according to the release. Two transferred to other study abroad programs.

Photo Slideshow: Commencement 5/10/09

13 May 2009, Posted by Michael Naclerio in Academics, News, Photos, 1 Comments

For more of Michael Naclerio’s photos from the Commencement Ceremony, check out a photo slideshow by following this link.

Photo Slideshow: Baccalaureate Service 5/9/09

13 May 2009, Posted by Michael Naclerio in Alumni, News, Photos, student life, 0 Comments

For more of Michael Naclerio’s photos from the Baccalaureate Service, check out a photo slideshow by following this link.