Wolf to Lead Health Law Center in June
After 10 years, countless hours of community outreach and an incredible amount of energy spent building and expanding curricular offerings, Georgia State University College of Law’s Center for Law, Health & Society’s founding director, Charity Scott, will step down June 30. Professor of Law Leslie Wolf will assume the leadership role.
Scott, the Catherine C. Henson Professor of Law, has led the center since its founding in 2004. Instrumental in the creation of the health law program at Georgia State Law, Scott taught the first health law course in 1987.
“Ten years is a good time for a change in any organizational setting, to allow fresh perspectives and new directions to flourish,” Scott says. “I’ve put a lot of energy into program building, and I’m ready and eager to step back and watch the fruits of those labors truly blossom.”
Scott says she has always intended to step away from her leadership role when she felt much of the center’s foundation building was complete. She has been planning with Wolf during the last year to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.
“I know Leslie will be a fantastic director. She has the strong support of the center’s faculty and staff,” Scott says. “The possibilities are endless for her to decide what new areas of growth and development should be emphasized going forward.”
With a strong interest in health and public health law and ethics, the center was an important factor in Wolf’s decision to join the Georgia State Law faculty. She shares Scott’s commitment to continuing the excellent work of the center through collaboration with faculty, students and the community.
“As we go forward, I see no reason to change what we have been doing so well for our students, alumni, the bar and the community,” Wolf says. “But, I’m also excited to think about other ways we can connect with our communities, including taking advantage of our new building for additional programming, working collaboratively with colleagues across the university on important health and public health law questions and developing relationships internationally to enhance our faculty’s research and our students’ experiences.”
Wolf will continue to teach two health law classes after becoming director full time.
Scott will continue as a full-time faculty member and is looking forward to teaching and writing more, as well as completing some research projects exploring conflict management in health care settings. As she reflects on her time as director, she is proudest of bringing on new people and building new programs.
In 2004, she was the only health law faculty member—now there are 10. She helped establish the center’s six focus areas, which have shaped the more than 20 courses offered in health law.
On a personal level, her strongest sense of pride comes from hearing how important the health law program has been to students and alumni.
“It is really poignant for me when graduates recount how much their experiences in my and others’ health law classes have meant to them,” she says. “Our Graduate Health Law Network is a treasure trove of truly fine professionals.”