KU News Release

Stephen W. Mazza

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• School of Law

LAWRENCE — Stephen W. Mazza, associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Kansas School of Law, will be interim dean effective July 1. Mazza will assume the post when Dean Gail Agrawal leaves to become dean at the University of Iowa College of Law.

“There are many excellent leaders within the school, and Stephen Mazza stands out for his demonstrated effectiveness,” said interim Provost Danny Anderson. “He is ideal for this moment of transition. In his current administrative role, he has contributed to curricular changes, helped develop plans for meeting budgetary challenges and participated in faculty recruitment. He is a nationally recognized scholar, a highly regarded teacher and a knowledgeable administrator.”

Mazza joined the KU law faculty in 1998. An honors graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, he received his master of laws degree from New York University School of Law, where he was managing editor of the Tax Law Review. After practicing in the tax section of a large Atlanta law firm, he returned to NYU as an acting assistant professor.

“We’re disappointed that Dean Agrawal is heading to Iowa, but she’s left the KU law school in a very strong position,” Mazza said.

U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks KU 32nd in the nation among public university law schools. In September, National Jurist magazine named KU a “best value law school” for its comparatively low price tag and for preparing students “incredibly well for today’s competitive job market.”

Mazza has expanded the number of tax offerings at KU, teaching separate courses in taxation of mergers and acquisitions, tax procedure and tax policy. He also coordinates the law school’s tax certificate program and VITA program. Mazza is a member of the tax section of the American Bar Association and a frequent speaker on tax issues. In addition to his numerous journal publications, he is co-author of the leading text on tax procedure; this text has become a standard work used at law schools throughout the United States and it was cited by the Supreme Court as authority in an important tax procedure case.

Anderson said the national search for a new dean will begin this semester.

“The opening of the dean position at KU law was big news at the American Association of Law Schools conference earlier this month,” Mazza said. “Several highly qualified candidates have already expressed interest in the position.”