Michael Barry has been named the next dean of American University’s Washington College of Law, joining the institution at a moment of significant upward trajectory as it boasts top-10 national rankings in clinical training, international law, intellectual property, and part-time law.

Provost Vicky Wilkins announced the appointment on April 20 in a message to the AU community, noting that Barry, former president and dean of South Texas College of Law Houston, will join WCL on July 1.

“Dean Barry is a strategic and innovative leader who understands the unique role our institution plays at the intersection of law, policy, and global service,” Wilkins said. “With our distinguished faculty, dedicated staff, and talented student body, WCL is poised to expand its impact from our home in the nation’s capital to the global stage. Under Dean Barry’s leadership, we will continue to champion the excellence and equity that define our mission.”

During his five-year tenure at South Texas, Barry drove significant institutional improvements, including a dramatic increase in bar passage and employment rates. He also secured ABA approval to launch an online part-time JD program and was recognized earlier this year by the South Texas Student Bar Association for his excellence in the classroom. Prior to joining South Texas, Barry was assistant dean and practitioner in residence at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas.

Barry’s career bridges the gap between academic administration and private sector leadership, having served as a senior vice president and deputy general counsel at USAA and as the head of litigation for Capital One. He began his legal journey as a clerk for Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia and Chief Judge Gerald Bard Tjoflat of the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Barry earned his JD from Yale Law School—where he served on both the Yale Law Review and the Yale Law and Policy Review—and has a master’s degree in theology from the University of San Francisco. He also holds bachelor’s degrees in English and religious studies from the University of Virigina. A fellow of the American, Texas, and Houston Bar Foundations, he is a member of the bar in Texas and is admitted to practice in several state and federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Barry and his wife of nearly 36 years, Lee, have two adult daughters. An endurance athlete with a drive that extends far beyond the courtroom and the classroom, Barry has completed a marathon in under four hours in all 50 states.

In her announcement, Wilkins expressed gratitude to Heather Hughes for her contributions as interim dean since July 2024 and to the search committee, led by Professor Padideh Ala’i and supported by search firm Isaacson, Miller.