Frank Harris
In 2015, the Mitchell Hamline School of Law was formed from the merger of Hamline University School of Law and William Mitchell College of Law, and eight influential leaders began their terms on the Mitchell Hamline Board of Trustees, the governing body of the independent, ABA-accredited law school. After nine years of dedicated service, they ended their official board service on June 30, 2024. All eight trustees will have completed their terms of office dedicated to the improvement and well-being of the law school, its students, and their communities.
Frank Harris ’75 is one of those trustees, who completed his service this summer. “My nine years on our Board of Trustees have been both rewarding and inspiring, and have given me the opportunity to work with so many talented leaders in legal education – our other trustees, administration, and members of our faculty,” he said of his experience. Harris is familiar with leadership roles in the legal field, as he is the retired executive director of Minnesota Continuing Legal Education and former chair and vice chair of the Mitchell Hamline Board of Trustees.
(Clockwise, from top left) Judge Donovan Frank, Steve Kirsch, Wendy Watson, Susan Rhode
Five of the former trustees graduated from the same predecessor school, Hamline University School of Law. In addition to Harris, Judge Donovan Frank (graduated 1977) is a senior U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota, and his well-known work aims to make the law more fair for people with special needs. Judge Frank has also been featured in Mitchell Hamline Law magazine for conducting naturalization ceremonies in people’s homes. Steve Kirsch (graduated 1976) is a partner at Larson King and practices product liability. He was one of three special counsel appointed to the I-35 Survivor Compensation Fund following the 2007 I-35 bridge collapse. Kirsch also served as Mitchell Hamline’s longtime secretary during his tenure on the board. Susan Rhode (graduated 1985) is a retired partner at Moss & Barnett who specializes in family law and is a frequent author and lecturer. Wendy Watson (class of 1997) is the Education Coordinator at The Arc Minnesota and focuses on children’s education and employment promotion.
(LR) Dr. Linda Hanson, Jeanne Forneris, Jean Holloway
The other departing board members have also served Hamline University and its law school through years of service and leadership. Dr. Linda Hanson is President Emeritus of Hamline University after serving in that role for a decade since 2005. Jeanne Forneris is a member of Hamline University’s Board of Trustees and a member of the Presidential Search Committee. She currently serves as Senior Vice President of Strategy and General Counsel for CorFigo. And Jean Holloway is the former Dean of Hamline University School of Law and the institution’s first female Dean. She currently serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary for Artivion.
The legacy of those eight trustees will live on in Mitchell Hamline and his board, which welcomed 11 new members this summer.
“The way legal education is designed and delivered is changing, and Mitchell Hamline is at the forefront of that,” Harris said. “It’s been an honor to be a small part of all that’s happening.”
