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Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Johnny Pryor and Assistant Dean of Professional Development Chasity Thompson, '02, made a presentation during the Association of American Law School's annual meeting. Their session, titled "Building and Sustaining Effective Advising Practices to Support Part-Time Students," took place on January 6 during the meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Their talk focused on the factors that part-time law students must consider when selecting courses and experiential learning opportunities so that these students can manage their professional, personal, and family responsibilities. In the photo are Dean Thompson, left, and Dean Pryor, at the annual meeting. Dean Pryor served as Chair of the AALS Section on Part-Time Division Programs.

Both deans are preparing to take on new roles at IUPUI and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

IUPUI has appointed Dean of Student Affairs Pryor, as the campus’ new Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs. His last day in the law school will be January 11. In his new role, Pryor will oversee a wide range of campus units – from recreation to student counseling and psychological services to student health services. In his eight years at the law school, he led implementation of a new advising model for J.D. students, established new orientation programs, and spearheaded IU McKinney's student wellness program, which has been recognized for excellence several times by the Indiana State Bar Association. He also co-founded the National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals and chaired its second annual conference at IU McKinney during Summer 2018.

Dean Thompson will serve as interim Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Following law school, she served for two years as a judicial clerk to Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard of the Indiana Supreme Court. Thompson currently serves as one of five representatives for the state of Indiana on the American Bar Association House of Delegates. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Governors for the Indiana State Bar Association and the Board of Directors for the Indianapolis Bar Association. In 2010, she received a presidential citation for her service to the Indiana legal community. In 2011, she was honored as one of Indy’s Best and Brightest by the Junior Achievement organization. In 2012, she became a Distinguished Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation. Also, she received the Early Career Achievement award from the IU McKinney Law Alumni Association. In 2013, Thompson was named to the 40 under 40 list by the Indianapolis Business Journal. Committed to diversity, Thompson received the Raab Emison award from the Indiana State Bar Association for diversity and co-chaired the inaugural Diversity in Practice conference. She also co-chaired the Indiana Legal Education Conclave to examine the changes in the legal profession, and she serves on the IBA Diversity Job Fair committee.