Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi

CV / SSRN

Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi became Dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2023. Since then, he has guided the College through a period of growth and transformation marked by record enrollment, new student success initiatives, and innovations in experiential learning, professionalism, and civil discourse. Under his leadership, the U.S. News ranking of the College has risen by 17 places.

Among his key initiatives at UC Law are the following:

• Admissions and Enrollment Growth: JD applications have increased by more than 50%. Enrollment in the MLS degree has doubled, and four new online certificates and concentrations have been established.
• Student Success and Wellness: The College has implemented a comprehensive academic success and wellness program, resulting in bar passage and employment rates that are among the best in Ohio law schools.
• Curricular Reform: The curriculum now includes (i) a first year mandatory course on client centered legal practice that integrates doctrine, experiential skills, and professionalism and leadership training; (ii) a first year elective; and (iii) a strengthened writing requirement.
• Experiential Education: Live experiential opportunities have expanded, and the externship program has been reinvigorated to improve job readiness and employment outcomes.
• Innovation and Engagement: Already existing centers of excellence have risen to new level of prominence, while the College’s engagement with the practicing bar, alumni, and community partners has deepened.

In addition to his work at Cincinnati Law, Dean Hamoudi is a recognized scholar of Middle Eastern and Islamic law, focusing on the lived interaction of state, customary, and religious laws. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Arab Law Quarterly, where he has revitalized the journal’s scholarly profile and global reach. His teaching and research have included positions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served as Interim Dean, Vice Dean, and Professor of Law, as well as visiting appointments at the University of Utah, William & Mary, and Columbia Law School. Earlier in his career, he clerked for the Hon. Constance Baker Motley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton.

As dedicated as Dean Hamoudi is to serving the College of Law, and as grateful as he is to hold the position he does at this storied institution, he always places his faith, his family, and his physical, mental, and spiritual wellness first in his life. He is a proud Muslim, a committed vegan, a devoted husband and father, and a seasoned marathoner, currently working on completing all six of the Abbott Major Marathons. Accordingly, when he isn’t working, or getting his eight hours of sleep, on which he puts the highest priority, you are most likely to find him in prayer or grateful meditation, playing with his children, enjoying a coffee with his wife, or running somewhere around the great city of Cincinnati. Please see Dean Hamoudi’s welcome message to the broader UC Community here.

• BS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• JD, Columbia Law School
• JSD, Columbia Law School
• Certificate, Harvard University Graduate School of Education Management Development Program