Jenean Taranto selected as Associate Dean of Student Affairs

Albany Law School’s Board of Trustees and President and Dean Alicia Ouellette are proud to announce that Jenean Taranto will be the next Associate Dean of Student Affairs starting Aug. 1.

Taranto – currently a Professor of Law at Albany Law – will step into the appointment after a national search.

“She brings to the job a wealth of knowledge and a passion for supporting students through their development as emerging professionals.  She will be a terrific addition to the law school’s leadership team,” Ouellette said.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the Dean of Student Affairs and look forward to working with Dean Ouellette, Dean Queenan, my colleagues, and staff to maintain that for which Albany Law School is clearly identified: a caring and supportive community that provides students with a holistic, and meaningful educational experience.” Taranto said, “Working with the students at Albany Law School is my passion because they are exceptional people who will become exceptional attorneys and advocates engaged in work for which the ALS community will be proud. I love the students of Albany Law School and will make every effort in every possible way to support them academically, emotionally, and philosophically.”

Taranto joined the Albany Law School faculty in July 2000 and has taught Property, Introduction to Lawyering, Negotiation, and Legal Profession. Prior to joining the faculty, she was in private practice for over 10 years. She served as an associate at Thuillez, Ford, Gold and Conolly in Albany and at Jacobson, Maynard, Tuschman and Kalur in Cleveland, Ohio. She was also a consultant to law firms throughout Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts specializing in real estate issues. 

In 2019, Taranto received the Law School’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was nominated by more than a dozen students who made multiple nominations for her, noting that "she is one of the school's kindest and most thoughtful educators. She is a confidante on the days we need someone to talk to, a mentor when we need guidance, and a friendly face in the hallways when we need a hello and a smile to get us through the day." 

One student in Introduction to Lawyering described her as a teacher who, "brings both mastery of her craft and genuine passion for her students." Another said she is "tireless in her efforts" to connect with her students and transform them into quality lawyers.” 

"She is always available, will always find time for her students, and she always shows that she cares about our success," the nomination said. "She makes us better legal writers and thinkers; she makes us better in our other classes; and when we indeed go on to become quality lawyers, Professor Taranto will be a key part of the reason why."

Taranto follows Rosemary Queenan in the position as Queenan will be the new Dean of Academic Affairs after Connie Mayer decided to step down and rejoin the faculty this summer.