Dean Phoebe A. Haddon: A Groundbreaker in Legal Education
Dean Phoebe A. Haddon stands as a pioneering figure in legal education, celebrated for her trailblazing role as the first African American dean of the University of Maryland School of Law. Her tenure from 2009 to 2014 marked a period of transformative change at the law school and her leadership was characterized by her unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion, and academic excellence.
Phoebe A. Haddon was born on August 29, 1950 in Washington, D.C. to Ida Bassette Haddon, a public school teacher, and Dr. Wallace J. Haddon, a dentist. Haddon was raised in Passaic, New Jersey and graduated from Passaic High School in 1968. She attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Haddon was a founding member of the college’s Black Students’ Alliance in 1969 and majored in government. She graduated from Smith College in 1972 and earned her J.D. degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1977. Haddon received her LL.M. degree from Yale University
In 1979, Haddon began her legal career at Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering in Washington, D.C. During this period, she also clerked for the Honorable Joseph F. Weis, Jr., a justice on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
In 1981, Haddon entered the field of academia by joining the faculty of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where she taught courses on constitutional law, torts and product liability, and equality
In 2009, Haddon joined the University of Maryland School of Law and became the first African American dean of the school. Dean Haddon’s leadership was instrumental in securing the largest gift in the university's history—a $30 million donation from the W.P. Carey Foundation. This monumental achievement not only led to the renaming of the institution as the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law but also underscored her dedication to financial sustainability and academic expansion.
Under her guidance, the school launched the "Making an Impact" Campaign, which exceeded its $50 million goal. This initiative funded over 40 new named endowments and significantly increased the number of legacy council members, reflecting her strategic vision and commitment to the institution's growth.
Dean Haddon’s tenure was marked by her profound commitment to enhancing diversity and accessibility within legal education. She prioritized student access by significantly increasing resources for scholarships and fellowships, ensuring that a diverse range of students could pursue their legal aspirations. Her efforts to limit tuition increases further demonstrated her dedication to maintaining affordability and inclusivity.
In 2014, Haddon was named chancellor of Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey where she continued to advance her commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable to all. Haddon was named the recipient of the 2019 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of American Law Schools and the 2019 Smith College Medal.
Dean Phoebe A. Haddon's legacy as the first African American dean at the University of Maryland School of Law set a precedent for future generations, inspiring countless individuals to pursue excellence and equity in education. Her contributions continue to ensure a more inclusive and diverse academic environment and professional legal community.
