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As the first black graduate and fulltime black faculty member of the SIU School of Law, Wenona Whitfield has been breaking barriers in the law school for more than 25 years. And this year she broke another, becoming the first black person to serve as associate dean of the school-but she isn't bragging.
"It's not something that you think about a lot," Whitfield said. "That's not what I ever set out to do."
Earlier this year, Law School Dean Peter Alexander announced the appointment of Whitfield as the school's new associate dean. Her term, which is subject to ratification by the SIU Board of Trustees, began July 2.
"She cares deeply about legal education and our students," Alexander said. "I am very pleased to have her as a member of our administrative team."
A 1977 graduate of the law school, Whitfield has been teaching at the school since 1981.
She attributes her stay with the school to a fondness and desire to see it progress.
"This is the law school that I graduated from," Whitfield said. "So I have a special feeling for seeing our law school prosper. I really believe in the law school."
As associate dean, Whitfield will handle the daily functions of the law school, addressing problems of students and faculty members.
Whitfield said the only qualm she has with her new position is the cutback in teaching and an inability to interact with first-year students due to time restrictions.
"That's going to be a real change for me," Whitfield said. "I'm probably going to have withdrawal symptoms. I love teaching too much."
With Whitfield's appointment, the SIU School of Law became one of four law schools in the nation with blacks serving as dean and associate dean.
"It's an exciting thing for SIU to be known as a progressive institution," Alexander said. "We hope we can serve as examples for other students of color and people of color, so that they know they can succeed in higher education as well."
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