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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Brad Toben is concluding his remarkable 32-year |
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tenure as dean of Baylor Law School on July 1, 2023, to focus on his |
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work as the M. C. and Mattie Caston Professor of Law; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed in 1991, Dean Toben has been acknowledged |
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as the longest-serving dean of a major law school; the average |
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tenure in this demanding role is a mere four years, but Dean Toben |
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has devoted the greater part of his career to the advancement of |
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Baylor Law and legal education; under his leadership, the school |
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has risen to the top 50 in the nation, and it has been ranked No. 2 |
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in trial advocacy by U.S. News & World Report; its students have |
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regularly achieved a high pass rate on the Texas bar exam, and their |
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success in finding employment has enabled the school to earn |
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outstanding marks for placement; drawn from numerous undergraduate |
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institutions, the law school boasts a diverse enrollment; |
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presently, over 30 percent are students of color and over half are |
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women; and |
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WHEREAS, Dean Toben guided the $35 million building campaign |
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for the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center, and he has raised the |
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Baylor Law endowment from under $1 million to more than $180 |
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million; committed to maintaining small class sizes and promoting |
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mentorship, he expanded the faculty considerably; the |
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community-oriented pro bono and public service initiatives he |
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developed have won such accolades as the American Bar Association |
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Pro Bono Publico Award; moreover, he strengthened the national |
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reputation of Baylor's renowned legal writing program and launched |
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innovative programs in professional development and leadership, as |
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well as exceptional study abroad opportunities; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Dean Toben has been active in |
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accreditation and membership inspections for the ABA and |
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Association of American Law Schools; he was appointed to the |
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National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and |
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elected to the American Law Institute, and he is a fellow of the ABA |
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and the Texas Bar Foundation as well as a Master of the Bench in the |
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Judge Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court; after graduating from |
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Baylor Law with honors in 1977, he went on to earn a master of laws |
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degree from Harvard University; he taught at Indiana University |
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School of Law-Indianapolis before joining the Baylor faculty in |
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1981; and |
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WHEREAS, A leader of exceptional vision, dynamism, and |
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dedication, Brad Toben has made a profound impact on Baylor Law |
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School and the Texas legal community, and his legacy will resonate |
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for years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby honor Brad Toben for his exceptional service as dean of |
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Baylor Law School and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dean Toben as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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Senate. |