Jim Roth has been appointed as Oklahoma City University’s next law dean, OCU President Robert Henry announced today. Roth, a former Oklahoma County commissioner and Oklahoma Corporation commissioner, will begin his term as dean July 1.
He currently serves as a director of the Oklahoma City-based Phillips Murrah law firm, where he provides leadership to the firm’s natural resources department and chairs the clean energy practice group.
“Jim’s appointment follows a thorough national search process and his selection from the robust pool of applicants is a testament to his strong leadership skills and his vision to grow OCU Law,” Henry said.
Jim was advanced by the Search Committee as a finalist, was approved by vote of the law school faculty, and was appointed by President Henry and President-Designate Martha Burger. He will begin his term as dean on July 1, 2018.
President-Designate Martha Burger, who also begins her term with OCU July 1, said Roth’s background demonstrates dedicated public service and impressive legal practice.
“He will serve the School of Law and the university well as we grow forward,” she said.
Roth is an alumnus of OCU Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1994. He also holds graduate certificates from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, the United States Air War College’s National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base and the Institute of Public Utilities at Michigan State University.
Gary Homsey, co-chair of the Law Dean Search Committee and vice chairman of the OCU Board of Trustees, said he looks forward to the coming years.
“Jim brings excitement for the future, and he is the right choice to lead OCU Law,” Homsey said.
In 2017, Roth served as the OCU School of Law’s inaugural Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, teaching a class on energy regulation.
Roth serves on the boards of the United Way of Central Oklahoma, the Central Oklahoma Humane Society and the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, among others.
