BATON ROUGE – After serving as associate director of admissions at LSU Law for the past seven years, Daphne James has been appointed director of admissions.
James joined the law school’s admissions office team 20 years ago. Prior to serving as associate director of admissions, she served as assistant director of admissions from 2005 to 2013, and admissions counselor from 2000 to 2005. Prior to joining LSU Law, she served as coordinator of scholarship services at Southeastern Louisiana University from 1998 to 2000, and enrollment counselor/minority recruiter from 1996 to 1998.
“Daphne is an absolute rock star and I’m thrilled that she will be leading our talented admissions team into the future. Her broad range of experience and her intimate knowledge of our admissions program will ensure a seamless transition and allow us to build upon the great progress we’ve made in recent years,” said LSU Law Interim Dean Lee Ann Wheelis Lockridge.
As director of admissions, James will direct and participate in all admissions activities, including marketing, recruitment, evaluation, counseling/advising, record management, data and statistical analysis, and planning. She will also coordinate admissions and scholarships through a faculty committee and advise the assistant dean and dean regarding issues related to admissions.
“I would like to thank everyone who played a part in selecting me for this role, showing faith in my ability to lead the admissions team,” said James, who earned a Bachelor of Arts (history) from LSU in 1992 and a Master of Arts in social sciences from Southern University in 1994. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue a legacy of attracting some of the most qualified law students in the country. I have the utmost confidence in our ability to further the Law Center’s mission of selecting a well-qualified and diverse group of people to become highly competent and ethical lawyers.”
James succeeds Jake Henry, who served for eight years before being named LSU Law assistant dean of student affairs in October 2019. In her new role, James will continue to work closely with Henry to design and implement a vigorous recruitment and admissions program. LSU Law enrollment increased 3.5% to 598 students this fall, including 208 first-year students.
LSU Law conducted a nationwide search for a new director of admissions, and James was among five finalists selected by a search committee. All five of the finalists were either assistant or associate directors of admissions at their respective law schools.