Linda D. Jellum to Serve as Interim Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law

Linda D. Jellum will serve as Interim Dean of Gonzaga University School of Law beginning July 20, 2026. A nationally recognized legal scholar, educator, and academic leader, Interim Dean Jellum brings more than three decades of experience in legal education, scholarship, public service, and academic administration.

"As we begin this next chapter for Gonzaga University School of Law, I am excited to welcome Interim Dean Jellum and the experience, leadership, and perspective she brings to our community," said Mia Bertagnolli, Ph.D., Interim Provost. "She will provide leadership and continuity for the Law School while we conduct a national search for a permanent dean."

Before joining Gonzaga, Interim Dean Jellum served as Professor of Law and Director of the Tax Program at the University of Idaho College of Law, where she also held the role of Associate Dean for Faculty. She previously held the Ellison Capers Palmer Sr. Endowed Chair in Tax Law at Mercer University School of Law and served as the school's inaugural Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development.

Throughout her distinguished career, Interim Dean Jellum has taught Administrative Law, Civil Procedure, Federal Income Tax, and Statutory Interpretation. She also has a longstanding connection to Gonzaga, having taught in the Law School's Summer Program in Florence, Italy.

An accomplished scholar, Interim Dean Jellum's work has appeared in leading law reviews, including the Texas Law Review, UCLA Law Review, Arizona Law Review, and the Ohio State Law Journal. She is the author of numerous books on statutory interpretation and administrative law, and her scholarship has been cited by the United States Supreme Court, Justices Antonin Scalia and Neil Gorsuch, and courts across the country.

A respected leader in legal education and the legal profession, Interim Dean Jellum has served as Deputy Director of the Association of American Law Schools, Deputy Executive Director and Treasurer of the Southeastern Association of Law Schools, and Chair of the American Bar Association's Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice.

Before entering academia, Interim Dean Jellum practiced law in Washington State for 10 years, including service as a Lead Assistant Attorney General in the Washington Attorney General's Office. Her experience living and practicing in Washington, combined with her time teaching Gonzaga students in Florence, has given her a deep appreciation for Gonzaga University's commitment to academic excellence, service, and preparing lawyers who use their skills to serve others.

Interim Dean Jellum is honored to join the Gonzaga Law community and shared, "I look forward to getting to know our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners, learning from their experiences and aspirations, and working together to build on the many strengths that make Gonzaga Law such a remarkable institution."

Interim Dean Jellum earned both her J.D. and bachelor's degree from Cornell University. She and her husband, Lee, are excited to return to the Inland Northwest and become part of the Gonzaga community.