FORT WORTH, Texas – When Texas A&M University School of Law Dean Andrew P. Morriss began his appointment as the law school’s dean July 1, Interim Dean Aric K. Short transitioned into the Vice Dean position.

In his nearly 12 years of service to the law school, Short served most recently as interim dean, leading the law school in its transition to Texas A&M University. Prior to that, Short was the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs where he emphasized and expanded experiential learning and professionalism training. He began at the law school as a professor of law specializing in Property and Wills & Estates law courses.

As Vice Dean, his primary responsibilities will be to help investigate, develop and implement strategic academic initiatives at the law school. “In particular, I will be looking at interdisciplinary programs with other Texas A&M colleges, like engineering, business and medicine,” he said.

“We will also explore joint degree programs, as well as any new degree programs that would be valuable for our students and our school.  In addition, my office will oversee international programs, including possible collaborations with foreign schools and study abroad opportunities for our students.”

In collaboration with Dean Morriss and faculty, one of his first efforts will be leading the development of a brand new professionalism program geared towards incoming 1L students, as well as upper-division students in the fall of 2014. In this program, a number of activities will introduce law students to the practice of law and what it means to be a professional.

“Through the course of their law school experience, our students not only learn the law and how to analyze and communicate; they also begin to form their professional identities,” Short said. “We can and should be more intentionally involved in that process.”

According to Short, the creation of the Vice Dean position will allow for resource expansion in the broader Texas A&M community. “The law school looks forward to exploring and implementing programs that will set the school apart from other law schools and provide students with meaningful training and experiences,” Short said. “In addition, some of these new programs may allow us to diversify the law school’s offerings and degrees beyond the traditional J.D.”