After nearly two years of searching, a UW advisory search committee selected Kellye Testy as the new dean of the UW School of Law. Testy is the current dean of the Seattle University School of Law and was confirmed yesterday at the Board of Regents meeting.

Testy’s appointment will be effective Sept. 1, making her the first woman in the law school’s 110-year history to permanently serve as dean. UW Provost and Executive Vice President Phyllis Wise said Testy’s background made her the perfect candidate for the job.

“Dean Testy has been the dean at SU for a while now, so she’s really experienced in both leadership and management of a law school,” Wise said. “We felt that she would really be able to take our law school to that new level of respect and excellence.”

In 1982, Testy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and completed her law degree from the Indiana University School of Law in 1991. The following year she worked as a law clerk on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals for Hon. Jesse E. Eschbach.

Testy was hired at SU in 1992 as an assistant professor and became an associate professor four years later. She has served as the law school dean since 2005.

Seattle University Provost Isiaah Crawford said the school is thankful for Testy’s hard work.

“We thank Dean Testy for her outstanding contributions to the School of Law over the past 17 years,” he said. “The law school has thrived under her leadership, and she leaves us in a strong position to recruit a new dean.”

Reach reporter Katie McVicker at news@dailyuw.com.