In this crucial new role, Alexis Martinez will work closely with faculty and administration to develop and support a holistic approach to excellence on the bar exam and beyond. She will develop and teach programming related to bar success and provide bar-related support for students throughout law school, especially for those studying for the bar exam.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dean Martinez as our inaugural Dean of Lawyering Excellence and Bar Success," said Interim Dean Patricia S. Abril. "Together, we will inspire excellence and innovation in bar success and beyond.”
Martinez brings a wealth of experience to the School of Law, coming from the position of the executive director of Equity & Compliance Programs at Georgia Institute of Technology. Her background includes senior leadership roles at several law schools, where she was responsible for academic support, professional development, and student services.
An accomplished educator, Martinez has taught a variety of law courses such as corporate compliance & risk management, contracts, professional responsibility, leadership, and higher education law.
A triple 'Cane, she earned a B.B.A., J.D., and Master of Education from the University of Miami. "Growing up in Miami, it was my dream school from the beginning—it's the only college I wanted to go to," she said. "Neither of my parents had gone to college, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect—but I loved the challenges in and out of the classroom, the ability to get involved, and the different people I got to know throughout my time at Miami. I couldn't imagine going to law school anywhere else—it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
"The University was where I learned that I could put my love of learning together with the law and help make legal education more accessible and a better experience," she said. "It was the first time I told someone, 'I want to do what you do,' and their response was 'OK—let's talk figure out how.' From Litigation Skills, helping me feel more comfortable talking in front of people, to the amazing law professors who taught me how to think on my feet and problem solve in real-time, as well as the administrators who supported me and taught me the importance of giving back as a legal professional. Each of them had a piece in any success I have seen over the years."
Martinez went on to earn a Doctor of Education in higher education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University.
"The opportunity to help support the next generation of legal professionals is one that I could not pass up. There are some amazing things happening at the law school & the university as a whole, and I'm so excited for the opportunity to be a part of it," Martinez said.
Read more about Miami Law's student support services.
