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IU McKinney Dean Karen E. Bravo has announced the appointment of Professor Max Huffman to the position of vice dean effective July 1.

In addition to continuing his oversight of IU McKinney’s online programs, Vice Dean Huffman will manage faculty affairs, and curriculum and scheduling for the law school’s J.D. academic program. Huffman also will collaborate on curriculum and scheduling for the law school’s LL.M., M.J., and S.J.D. academic programs with Associate Dean Tom Wilson. Huffman will continue his classroom work teaching Antitrust Law.

“I am delighted to welcome Max Huffman to the decanal team,” Dean Bravo said. “In addition to his accomplishments as a legal scholar, he has demonstrated admirable leadership as a valued faculty member and in his direction of the law school’s online initiatives.”

Huffman teaches Antitrust, Comparative and International Antitrust, Secured Transactions, Bankruptcy, and Payment Systems. He is a three-time winner of the Faculty Leadership Award and has been honored for his teaching.

Vice Dean Huffman has published his scholarship on antitrust, consumer law, bankruptcy, and related topics in a wide variety of books and law journals. His recent work has focused on artificial intelligence and the gig economy, with attention to issues of cartel behavior, labor organization, and algorithmic pricing. He is a regular speaker on antitrust and consumer law topics both in the U.S. and overseas. 

Huffman is an Order of the Coif graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law and earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Cornell University. Before returning to the academy, Professor Huffman was in private practice, was a trial attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and a Special Assistant United States Attorney (criminal), and clerked for Judge Stephen Trott on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Vice Dean Huffman replaces Professor Mike Pitts, who served four years in the role beginning in 2018. Among Pitts’ biggest accomplishments during his vice dean service are the law school’s marked improvement in bar passage and graduate employment outcomes, as well as the creation of a financial aid program for rising 2Ls who did well academically but did not receive institutional aid when they were admitted. Chief among Professor Pitts’ accomplishments is the increase in diversity among IU McKinney’s adjunct faculty, from 5% to 17%. The percentage of women in adjunct faculty roles increased from 40% to 48%. The law school committed during the last ABA reaccreditation in early 2018 to improving in that area, and Pitts ensured IU McKinney delivered.

Professor Pitts will return to the faculty after an almost year-long sabbatical during the 2022-2023 academic year.

“It would be difficult to overstate the scope and impact of Mike Pitts’ contributions to the law school during his appointment as vice dean,” said Dean Bravo. “The accomplishments mentioned above capture only a small part of his impact.”