Boston University School of Law Hosts AALS President and Penn State Dickinson Law Dean Danielle Conway for a Fireside Chat

BU Law recently welcomed Danielle Conway, president of the Association of American Law Schools and dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law at Penn State Dickinson Law, for a fireside chat.

The event was sponsored by the BU Law Women of Color Collaborative (WoCC) and Women’s Law Association (WLA) and was led by WoCC Co-President Abigail Soriano (’27), who introduced Dean Conway, and WoCC Co-President Kimberly Mohabeer (’27) and WLA President Hannah Lynch (’27), who moderated the conversation.  

Before an eager audience of BU Law students, faculty, and staff, Dean Conway reflected on her career, offering advice on how to navigate difficult career choices, be an effective and engaging leader, and stay committed to one’s beliefs in the face of adversity. BU Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig noted how fortunate BU Law students are to have had an opportunity to learn from such an exceptional leader and lawyer. “Dean Danielle Conway exemplifies what principled leadership in legal education looks like—courageous, visionary, and unwaveringly committed to justice. It is evident in her theme for her 2026 Association of American Law Schools Presidency term: ‘Emancipate. Academic. Freedom.’” Dean Onwuachi-Willig shared. “It is wonderful to have had her at BU Law to continue to inspire our students, helping them understand how to lead with purpose, empathy, and an unshakeable commitment to justice.” 

The conversation began with Dean Conway’s memories of her time as a law student at Howard University School of Law, where she was inspired not only by the portraits of influential graduates like Thurgood Marshall and Pauli Murray, but also by the friendships and support she found among her peers, many of whom she has maintained relationships with to this day. She encouraged BU Law students to take the time during their own legal education to develop strong connections with their classmates and build a support system for one another. 

Dean Conway went on to share lessons learned from her 27 years of service in the United States military and the ways those experiences impacted her academic and leadership career, stating that she greatly appreciated “the capacity to disagree with people but to stay on task [and] disagree with people and stay wedded to a mission.” She was transformed by her time in the military through the instillment of discipline and camaraderie, both of which she credits with boosting her confidence and sense of identity. 

The student moderators were also curious as to how Conway balances authority and approachability as a leader and in her roles as dean and president of AALS, prompting her to counsel audience members to never minimize themselves or over-apologize. “When we walk into a room, why do we have to be the ones who shrink?” she said. “I have a booming voice. Why? Because I spent 27 years speaking in what they call a ‘command voice.’ That’s who I am, that’s who I have become, and it would be inauthentic for me to be anything else.” 

In response to a question on facing adversity and attacks on equality, Dean Conway cautioned listeners to find empathy with those that disagree with them, but to be strategic and prepared when doing so. She shared her experience of speaking up in meetings to correct statements and behaviors, even when it meant standing alone, to honor her value system and defend others not present. “If you accept that there will be precarity in your life, it makes it a whole lot easier to then meet the challenges that are ahead of you,” she said, emphasizing the importance of being intentional when engaging with others and that practicing respectful disagreement can demonstrate the value of diverse perspectives. 

Looking to the future of legal education and the field of law as a whole, Conway shared several of her priorities as dean and AALS president, including the discussion of and engagement with the rule of law; the access and affordability of legal education in order to make the field more welcoming to students of all backgrounds; and the need for a collective commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as fundamental tenants of 14th Amendment to the Constitution. “We’ve got to make sure that people know that they were envisioned in that document,” she said, “that a multiracial democracy was envisioned in that provision, and that provision is there for you.” 

Dean Conway continued to discuss the ways in which she carries visibility where representation is still needed, urging students that feel like outsiders in the legal field to practice active listening and learn what they can from others, but to walk with their heads held high. “I don’t care who you are,” she said. “You belong in that room.”  

Preparing to embark on their own legal careers, students in the audience also wanted to know how the dean has balanced career choices with her personal values, especially those choices that may not seem immediately beneficial. In response, she shared her experience choosing her commitment to the military over an offer to join a Big Law firm. While the corporate role would have offered her more financial stability, Dean Conway chose to follow her instincts and lean on her sense of loyalty, honor, and the opportunity to learn from an experience, even a challenging one. She continued to encourage students to take risks and make decisions that align with their values, even if they are not immediately rewarding. 

Dean Conway also praised several influential women who have helped shape different aspects of her life, including BU Law Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig. In 2020, Deans Conway and Onwuachi-Willig were co-recipients of the inaugural Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Impact Award for creating the Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project, which provides resources to address systemic racism in legal education and the greater profession. They were honored alongside former Dean of Rutgers Law School Professor Kim Mutcherson, former Dean of Washburn University School of Law Professor Carla D. Pratt, and President of Mount Holyoke College Danielle R. Holley.  

Lastly, Dean Conway offered students guidance on balancing the desire to advocate for social justice causes they believe in with career paths that may not offer direct opportunities to do so, advising them to learn the craft of their chosen field thoroughly to have a greater impact and open opportunities. “Practice, practice, practice,” she said, “because the more you practice, the more you refine; the more you become comfortable, the easier it is.”