Monday, September 15, 2003


WRITER:    Brittany Cox, 706/542-5172; lawcomm@uga.edu
CONTACT: Rebecca White, 706/542-7140; rhwhite@uga.edu542-7140
                     David Shipley, 706/542-5184; shipley@uga.edu
                     Jill Birch, 706/542-5190; jbirch@uga.edu

FORMER DEAN AND ALUMNI DIRECTOR GAIN NEW TITLES AT THE SCHOOL OF LAW

ATHENS, Ga. – The University of Georgia School of Law has named former Dean David E. Shipley the Thomas R.R. Cobb professor of law and long-time employee Jill Coveny Birch the executive director of development and alumni programs. 

Law school Interim Dean Rebecca H. White said she was pleased to announce these title changes as both recognize the service, commitment and dedication these two individuals have shown to the institution over the years. 

After serving as the UGA law school dean for five years, Shipley decided to step down from his administrative post to resume teaching full time.  Under his deanship, Georgia Law underwent a $3.2 million dollar renovation and technology upgrade, steadily improved incoming student credentials, established a Land Use Clinic and created a director of advocacy position.

White said Shipley’s appointment to the Cobb professorship is a testament to his many accomplishments during his deanship.  “He helped to raise the law school to its present state of success and will undoubtedly continue to contribute to the school both in and out of the classroom.”

Specializing in copyright and intellectual property, Shipley also has expertise in administrative law, civil procedure and remedies.  Prior to coming to UGA, he served as law school dean at the universities of Kentucky and Mississippi. He has also taught at the universities of South Carolina, William and Mary and Ohio State.  Shipley earned his undergraduate degree in history with highest honors from Oberlin College and his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was executive editor of the University of Chicago Law Review.

The Thomas R.R. Cobb professorship is named in memory of one of the law school’s co-founders.

A member of the law school’s administrative team for over 25 years, Birch will once again apply her experience in the fund-raising arena.  Formerly the director of alumni programs, Birch will now add the oversight of the development office to her list of responsibilities as executive director of development and alumni programs. 

“For many years now, Jill has been a tremendous asset to the institution,” White said.  “She is largely responsible for maintaining and enriching the important bonds between the law school and its graduates.  There is really very little separation between alumni relations and fund raising so the extension of her duties to also cover development makes sense.  This will allow the school to proceed with a more coordinated and effective approach as we move forward in the school’s capital campaign.”

Since joining the law school staff in 1978, Birch has held leadership positions in a variety of areas including student affairs, legal career services, development and alumni programs.  She enjoyed a brief departure from the school in 1981 when she worked for a year as a recruitment administrator at a Florida law firm.  Birch earned both of her degrees, a bachelor’s in social sciences and master’s in student personnel and counseling, from UGA.

##