Dean Jerry Dickinson is excited to announce that Professor John Linarelli has been appointed as the new Vice Dean, effective March 1, 2025. Linarelli, a distinguished legal scholar and experienced academic leader, brings a wealth of expertise in legal education, administration, and global scholarship to the role.
A native of the borough of Koppel, between Beaver Falls and Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, Linarelli’s journey from western Pennsylvania to the global stage of legal academia is a testament to his dedication to the law. Over the course of his career, he has held high-level administrative positions at multiple institutions, including at Durham University Law School, one of Britain’s best law schools, where he was senior Chair of Commercial Law, and at Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in New York, where he was Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. He is one of only a few who has held senior leadership positions on both sides of the Atlantic. His leadership has driven academic innovation, faculty development, and international collaborations, making him uniquely positioned to oversee Pitt Law’s internal operations and academic programs.
Dean Dickinson, in announcing the appointment, highlighted Linarelli’s exceptional credentials and administrative acumen:
“Professor Linarelli is an outstanding scholar and administrator, and he has a deep understanding of what makes a law school thrive. His leadership at institutions across the world, coupled with his dedication to academic excellence and student success, makes him the ideal Vice Dean for Pitt Law. I am thrilled to bring him into the administration, and I have no doubt that his vision, experience, and collaborative approach will elevate our institution to new heights.”
As Vice Dean, Linarelli will help lead academic programming, faculty development, student success initiatives, curriculum development, academic excellence and other administrative functions, ensuring the law school’s continued commitment to excellence. His past administrative achievements include enhancing faculty scholarship, restructuring curricula to support student success, and strengthening international partnerships.
Linarelli reflected on his appointment, stating: “When Dean Dickinson asked me to take on the Vice Deanship, how could I say no! I am honored and privileged to serve as Vice Dean for this very special law school. I am very excited about working with our nationally and globally recognized faculty and our fabulous staff to achieve even more at Pitt Law. I came back to Pittsburgh after being away for many years. When I look out into the classroom and see our students, I see me, many years ago. I am truly home here at Pitt Law.”
Linarelli is a leading scholar in international economic law, commercial law, and legal philosophy, with a distinguished publication record that has earned him national and international recognition. His book, The Misery of International Law, won the European Society of International Law Book Prize, solidifying his place as a leading voice in global legal discourse. His work has been cited extensively by scholars across multiple disciplines, and his commitment to high-quality research and teaching has shaped legal education in the U.S., U.K., and beyond.
Pitt Law welcomes Vice Dean John Linarelli and looks forward to his leadership in guiding the law school’s continued growth and success.
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, founded in 1895, is a nationally recognized leader in legal education. Pitt Law is committed to academic excellence, innovative scholarship, and preparing students to become leaders in the legal profession.