Ole Miss has named a new dean of the law school with the selection of Susan Duncan from the University of Louisville. And it was a wise decision to say the least.

She is proven and well respected by peers.

The hire, which becomes official on August 1, provides a good opportunity for acknowledging the service and leadership that Debbie Bell has provided the Ole Miss law school as interim dean for the past two years.

Dedicated to the classroom in her three decades of service at Ole Miss, Bell’s leadership was needed in 2015 during an abrupt transition. Even though her career has been focused on building legal leaders as a teacher and mentor, Bell agreed to serve as interim dean of the law school because her service was needed with urgency.

Bell made it clear that she looked forward to returning to teaching full-time when the right candidate was found, but worked as dean for the past two years as if it were a long-term commitment, rallying students and professors around the mission of Ole Miss law being best in class.

She will continue to serve as interim dean until July 31 of this year, so her work is not done yet. But all who have watched Bell’s strong and steadfast leadership of Ole Miss law during a difficult transitional period are appreciative of her high-level work and service.