Administration & Areas of Responsibility

From time to time you will find that you need help navigating your way through your law school career.

Here are a few basic facts about the people who help administer the Law School. These are the people on the front line of student services. If they can’t help you, they will direct you to someone who can.

• Adam Bushcott, Main Office Manager:

  • At the information desk, Mr. Bushcott will be able to answer your questions or point you in the direction of a person who can.

• Amy Arntsen, Registrar:
  • The Registrar maintains records relevant to your legal education and certifies you for graduation and diploma privilege.
  • If you wish to confirm how many credits you have accumulated, which requirements you have satisfied, your current grade point average, or need help planning to study abroad, become a visitor at another law school, or apply for transfer, the Registrar can help you.

  • After you graduate, Ms. Arntsen will certify your degree if you apply for bar admission in other states.

• Andrew Turner & Kim Peterson, Co-Directors of Legal Research & Writing:
  • Professors Turner and Peterson are responsible for the overall design and administration of the legal research and writing program.

  • They teach legal research, writing, and advocacy courses and are available to answer student questions about our program or courses. 

• Bethany Pluymers, Associate Dean for Administration: 
  • Associate Dean Pluymers is responsible for the overall administrative processes of the Law School.
  • She serves as the CFO and HR Director and oversees the Law School Business Office. 

  • The Building Manager and the IT Department also report to her.  

• Bonnie Shucha, Associate Dean of Library & Information Services and Director of the Law Library:
  • Associate Dean Shucha is responsible for all aspects of the Law Library, including research support and instruction, the library collection and checking out materials, and library study space and technology.

  • Ms. Shucha also teaches Advanced Legal Research.

• Daniel Tokaji, Professor and Dean of the Law School: 

  • Dean Tokaji serves as the chief academic and executive officer of the school, with overall responsibility for faculty and staff development, personnel oversight, fund-raising, budget planning and management, curriculum, and student academic affairs.

• Emilie Buckman, Engagement & Outreach Coordinator

• Emily Kite, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs:
  • Assistant Dean Emily Kite consults with students about their academic, personal or professional issues.
  • The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs can help you with accommodations for disabilities (during the semester or during exams); re-scheduling of exams; complaints about sexual or physical harassment or assault; reports of hate and/or bias incidents; or information about mental health resources.

  • She works closely with the Student Bar Association and other student groups in planning and management of organization activities.

• Eric Giefer, Director of Technology: 
  • Mr. Giefer and his staff run the Law School computer network and provide technical support for faculty, staff, and student organizations; develop applications and databases for Law School administration; and support audio-visual systems and classroom technologies.

  • He also oversees the Digital Print Shop.

• Jane Heymann, Curricular Coordinator:

  • Ms. Heymann works in many different capacities related to the curriculum such as scheduling courses, answering student questions about registering for courses, maintaining and updating curriculum-related information on the website, and assisting our many adjunct faculty members with any issues that arise in the course of their teaching. 

• Janice Toliver, Executive Assistant to the Law School Dean:
  • Ms. Toliver manages the Dean’s suite of offices that includes the Dean, Associate Dean of Research-Faculty Development, and Associate Dean of Experiential Learning.
  • Ms. Toliver is responsible for all matters concerning the Dean’s suite of offices, calendar management, and scheduling.

  • She is able to answer your questions and set appointments for meetings with the Dean and Associate Deans.

• Jennifer Gardner, Law School Accountant: 
  • Ms. Gardner handles the financial transactions for the Law School.

  • She can answer questions related to processing these transactions and policies related to purchases, travel, payments, etc.

• Jini Jasti, Associate Dean for Alumni Relations and External Affairs: 
  • Associate Dean Jasti works to foster closer connections of alumni to the University of Wisconsin Law School, to each other, and to our students.
  • She serves as the main point person in Alumni Relations for all departments in the School. 

  • She also oversees the External Affairs and the Continuing Legal Education Departments.

• John Schneider, Counselor:
  • As Counselor, Mr. Schneider provides walk-in and by-appointment counseling to help support students with mental health and wellness concerns.
  • Mr. Schneider also connects students with resources within the Law School, on campus, and in the community.

  • He works closely with the Associate and Assistant Deans for Student Affairs, serves on the Student Wellness Committee, and partners with student groups to implement wellness initiatives.

• Justin Boehm, Human Resources Manager: 
  • Mr. Boehm is responsible for administering Law School staff hiring, employee benefits, assisting with payroll, and similar matters.

  • He is also the Division Disability Representative for employees, dealing with disability accommodations, ADA and FMLA issues.

• Karen Koethe, Director of Communications:
  • As the Director of Communications, Ms. Koethe is responsible for major communication initiatives, including print publications, the UW Law School website, the Gargoyle alumni magazine, and social media accounts.
  • She serves as the school's liaison to University Communications and broader campus communication efforts.

  • Ms. Koethe provides departments and student organizations with strategic guidance for communication initiatives and outreach.

• Kelly Hallmark, Payroll & Benefits Specialist and HR Assistant for Students: 
  • Ms. Hallmark handles all the Law School payroll and is the HR Assistant for student employment.

  • She can answer questions related to student hiring, payroll, I-9 documentation, criminal background checks, timesheets and benefits. 

• Kevin Kelly, Associate Dean of Student & Academic Affairs: 
  • Associate Dean Kelly assists in the administration of the Law School with respect to academic and student affairs and the curriculum.
  • He helps plan the curriculum, including the schedule of courses, credits, and related academic matters; recruits adjunct faculty; counsels students on academic questions or concerns; and handles Diploma Privilege eligibility and JD degree requirements, including those involving transfer students and visiting students.

  • He also works closely with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs on all issues pertaining to the student experience here at the Law School, as well as with Lauren Devine ( Academic Advisor/ Academic Affairs Coordinator), Jane Heymann (Curricular Coordinator), Amy Arntsen (Law School Registrar), and Assistant Dean Moji Olaniyan (Director of the Academic Enhancement Program).

• Kimberly Raether, Communications & Outreach Specialist: 
  • Ms. Raether brings graphic design and event planning expertise to a wide range of communication and outreach projects.
  • Working closely with current students and alumni, Ms. Raether is responsible for the Legal Education Opportunities Banquet, Homecoming Cane Toss, the Kastenmeier Lecture series, and the first-year students' Community Outreach Day.

  • As the in-house graphic designer, Ms. Raether develops the UW Law School's visual identity through custom design projects, including invitations, posters, and website graphics.

• Lauren Devine, Advisor & Academic Affairs Coordinator: 

  • Ms. Devine provides academic advising to JD students, supervises the mid-term/final exam and final grade reporting functions, and assists Associate Dean Kelly in coordinating many other academic affairs matters.

• Lindsay Healless & Megan Zurbriggen, Associate Directors, Office of Career and Professional Development:
  • Ms. Zurbriggen works with students to provide career advice and career, professional development, and networking programs and events.

  • She is available for one-on-one career counseling, including review and revision of resumes, cover letters and other application materials, interview preparation, and mock interviews.  

• Megan Heneke, Assistant Dean for Career and Professional Development:
  • Assistant Dean Heneke is responsible for the overall direction of the Office of Career and Professional Development.

  • She aims to create the kind of programming and professional interactions necessary for students to succeed in the job market, emphasizing a strong start for first-year law students.

• Michelle Preston, Assistant Director of Admissions Operations: 
  • Ms. Preston works with the Admissions teams to manage the Law School's application process.

  • She counsels prospective students on admissions policies and procedures and assists applicants through every step of the process from submitting their application to matriculating as a first-year or transfer student.

• Moji Olaniyan, Assistant Dean of the Academic Enhancement Program: 

  • Assistant Dean Olaniyan works with students to provide academic enrichment and/or academic support services.

• Rebecca Scheller, Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid: 
  • Associate Dean Scheller administers, along with the Admissions Committee, the process of reviewing applications to the Law School.

  • She, along with the Director of Scholarship Administration and Recruitment, Lori Hickman, administers the scholarship program as well as short-term loans. 

• Sumudu Atapattu, Director of Research Centers and International Programs:
  • Ms. Atapattu is responsible for coordinating the study abroad program for the Law School, and works with Amy Arntsen and Dean Kelly of the Law School in implementing ABA and campus policies on study abroad.

  • She is also responsible for planning and organizing academic events of three Research Centers of the Law School (Institute for Legal Studies, Global Legal Studies Center and the East Asian Legal Studies Center).

• Susannah Tahk, Associate Dean of Research and Faculty Development: 
  • Associate Dean Tahk assists the Dean with administration, with a focus on fostering the research mission of the Law School.
  • In this capacity, she works primarily with faculty by providing support to their research goals and projects and by aiding them in seeking and administering research funds. 

  • Associate Dean Tahk also teaches tax law and policy. 

• Ursula Weigold, Associate Dean of Experiential Learning & Education Innovation: 
  • Associate Dean Weigold is responsible for the administration of experiential educational programs, including the Law School's clinics, Lawyering Skills Program, externships, Legal Research & Writing Program, moot court, mock trial and pro bono programs.

  • She also serves as the Law School's contact for educational innovation initiatives.  

• Vicky Coulter, Building Manager:

  • Ms. Coulter handles facility problems and/or requests and building renovations.