Several current and former AALS leaders included in the top 25
Kellye Y. Testy, AALS Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, was named the “number one” most influential person in legal education in 2026 by The National Jurist. The honor was announced during an event on January 7 in the AALS Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall.
For its annual “25 Most Influential People in Legal Education” list, The National Jurist developed a selective roster of prominent figures and invited law school deans to evaluate them according to the impact they have had over the past year. Participants were asked to consider individuals who generated fresh thinking, advanced meaningful change, motivated colleagues, or challenged conventional approaches to legal education.
Prior to joining AALS in 2024, Testy served as President and CEO of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). She also served as Dean and Professor of Law at University of Washington School of Law from 2009 to 2017 and at Seattle University School of Law from 2005 to 2009. Her areas of expertise include leadership, business and corporate law, gender and the law, and legal education.
In addition to her service as CEO, Testy was a member of the Executive Committee from 2012 to 2017, served as President in 2016, and was active on several sections and committees.
Testy was selected for her innovative leadership, embrace of technology, and support of law schools as they face modern challenges.
Joining Testy on the National Jurist list are several current and former AALS leaders including:
- President Austen Parrish (UC Irvine School of Law) and President-Elect Danielle Conway (Penn State Dickinson Law);
- Executive Committee members Anthony Crowell (New York Law School) and Leonard Baynes (University of Houston Law Center);
- President-Elect nominee Kevin Washburn (UC Berkeley School of Law) and Executive Committee member nominee Elizabeth Kronk Warner (University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law);
- TaxProf Blog founder Paul Caron (Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law);
- Past AALS Presidents Mark C. Alexander (Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law), Erwin Chemerinsky (UC Berkeley School of Law, and Darby Dickerson (Southwestern Law School);
- 2025 Deans Forum Steering Committee member Melanie Leslie (Cardozo School of Law) and 2026 member Camille Davidson (Mitchell Hamline School of Law).