Burnele Venable Powell has been named dean of USC’s School of Law.

Powell is a professor and former dean of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He will assume his responsibilities at USC when the spring semester begins Jan. 8.

"I am honored to have been selected as the dean of the University of South Carolina School of Law," Powell said. "USC's law school has a long and outstanding record of service and teaching, with alumni who have earned distinction in the private sector and in public service at the local, state and national levels. Its students are among the best in the country, and I am looking forward to becoming part of this proud tradition."

Powell, 56, earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1970, his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1973, and a master of laws from Harvard Law School in 1979.

A nationally known expert on legal ethics, Powell has taught at the University of Oregon School of Law and Washington University's law school in St. Louis. He has published widely on topics related to lawyers' professional ethics and federal/state government administration. Powell was a member of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill law school faculty from 1979 to 1995 and served as associate dean for academic affairs from 1990 to 1993.

Powell joined the University of Missouri-Kansas City law school in 1995, where he served as dean until May 2003. He began his legal career in 1973 at the Department of Housing and Urban Development Boston regional counsel's office and later was promoted to associate regional counsel. He held that post until he entered Harvard, where was a graduate law teaching fellow.

Powell is chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Consortium on the Delivery of Legal Services, is the immediate past chair of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, and is a member of the board of directors of Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine. He is married to Brenda Venable Powell, and they have two children, Bradley and Berkeley.

"Burnele Powell has the right combination of administrative, teaching, and legal experience that will make him respected and admired by USC faculty, students, and staff and the legal community," Sorensen said. "We are looking forward to his leadership."

Powell will succeed Columbia attorney Francis Mood, who has served as interim dean since May.

USC's law school has 750 students and 40 full-time faculty members.

12/03