Florida A&M University's troubled College of Law has a new dean, at least according to Northern Illinois University. In a press release issued yesterday, NIU announced that its law school dean, Leroy Pernell (left), has accepted the top job at FAMU's law school and will begin work at the Orlando campus in January 2008.

"As dean at FAMU College of Law, Pernell will continue efforts aimed at re-establishment and full accreditation of the law school, which reopened in 2002," the press release says. It also says Pernell "realizes the successful journey to full American Bar Association accreditation will not be easy."

FAMU has not made an announcement naming a new dean, and The Gradebook could not reach FAMU communications officials this morning.

The law school has been without a permanent head since 2005, when former interim President Castell Bryant fired Percy Luney in connection with a ghost-employee scandal. With ABA officials slated to visit in just two months, there are ongoing concerns about low bar passage rates, faculty quality and disillusioned students.

The NIU press release said Pernell is "convinced that he can provide positive leadership in an enterprise that is 'emotionally close to my heart and symbolic of the very reason why I have dedicated my professional life to legal education.'"

- Ron Matus, state education reporter