Tonya Jupiter (L'94) named Associate Dean of Tulane Law

Professor Tonya Jupiter (L’94), long-time director of the Tulane Law’s Pro Bono programs, has been named Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Public Interest Programs.

Jupiter’s oversight role in the experiential learning program had expanded substantially in recent years and included primary in-house direction of the Trial Advocacy program, Pro Bono program, the Intersession boot camps, and a variety of innovative field-learning initiatives.  She played a pivotal role in curricular development, working in consultation with adjunct and Trial Advocacy faculty to support and strengthen those programs and launch new opportunities for students to gain experience in the field. 

She succeeds Prof. Stacy Seicshnaydre (L’92) as Associate Dean.

“Learning professional skills through experience with clients and the community is a cornerstone of modern legal education and Tulane is a national leader in the field,” said Dean David Meyer. “I am grateful for Tonya’s leadership in helping to build on our impressive recent momentum.”

As a classroom teacher, Jupiter was elected by the 2021 graduating class to receive the Monte Lemann Award for Distinguished Teaching.  For her work expanding pro bono programs, she was honored last year with the Louisiana Appleseed Access to Justice Pro Bono Good Apple Award. 

She has been the force behind making sure more than 600 law students connect  with dozens of agencies and non-profits in need of assistance. Students work doing research, interviewing clients and drafting memos and briefs alongside licensed attorneys, assisting the community’s most vulnerable clients. Along the way, they gain experience with the legal process, earn mandatory pro bono hours for graduation and learn ready-for-practice skills.

Jupiter also has played a vital leadership role in efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the experiential program and at Tulane Law more generally.  She has had significant impact on diverse faculty recruitment, integrating DEI education and training into the experiential curriculum and broadening student mentorship.

Jupiter also helped organize Tulane’s successful inaugural Black Law Alumni Reunion Weekend in 2019 and serves on the planning committee for the second triennial BLA event in February 2022. 

Prior to joining Tulane in 2016, Jupiter was in private practice, working with various private firms where she concentrated on civil defense litigation, including toxic torts, general casualty, commercial and personal injury litigation. Jupiter clerked with the Hon. Michael G. Bagneris (L ’75) at Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.