JoAnne Epps was recently named the new dean of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. Epps, a longtime professor at Temple who graduated from Yale University’s law school, is a stalwart academician in the areas of evidence, criminal procedure and trial advocacy. The trial advocacy program at Temple is ranked No. 2 in the nation.

When Dean Epps assumes her post on July 1, she will become the first female dean of Temple’s law school and one of the few African-American female deans at a major law school in the United States. There are four African-American women serving as deans of programs that are members of the American Association of Law Schools.

Epps will replace Dean Robert J. Reinstein, who is retiring in June after serving for 19 years — one of the longest tenures at an American law school.

Diverse recently caught up with Epps while she was in Washington, D.C., attending the American Bar Association Section of Litigation’s annual spring conference.

Diverse: Upon hearing that you’ve been named dean, what was your first reaction?

JE: I was thrilled and humbled. I was thrilled because I think that Temple’s law school is in an excellent place in its history, so the opportunity to lead it to even greater heights is exciting. I was thrilled because an appointment like this symbolized the fact that my colleagues and the administration had confidence in my leadership abilities. But I was also humbled because I didn’t grow up expecting to have anything this important happen in my life and I was very appreciative of the confidence that people had in me.

Diverse: You have held several positions during your career. You’ve been a law professor at Temple since 1985 and the associate dean of academic affairs at Temple Law since 1989. Before coming to Temple, you were an assistant U.S. attorney and a deputy city attorney. How would you compare this position to all the other positions you’ve held in your career?