April 25, 2022
The St. John’s Law faculty joins the larger community of U.S. and international legal educators, scholars, and practitioners in mourning the death of University of Houston Law Center Professor Emeritus Michael A. Olivas.
An acclaimed scholar of higher education and immigration law, Professor Olivas wrote numerous books and scholarly articles on topics that included DACA, the fight for educational access, the travel ban, and legislation and litigation affecting immigrants. He held the William B. Bates Distinguished Chair in Law and served as Director of the Institute for Higher Education Law and Governance at UH, among other leadership roles and professional affiliations. He was also a tireless advocate for Latino inclusion in legal education.
Today, Professor Olivas would have presented his paper, “Backstories of Academic Freedom,” at a St. John’s Law faculty workshop. “Michael was a giant in legal education over the past four decades: a tireless champion of faculty diversity, an expert in education law, and a steadfast defender of academic freedom,” says Dean Michael A. Simons. "He was also a friend to St. John’s Law, having spoken here on several different occasions and in different roles. Our hearts go out to Michael's UH colleagues and loved ones at this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”