Michael Schill

Michael Harry Schill (born September 30, 1958) is an American legal scholar and academic administrator. He has been serving as the 17th and current president of Northwestern University since September 2022.^[1] Schill previously served as the 18th president of the University of Oregon from 2015 to 2022, dean of the University of Chicago Law School from 2009 to 2015, and dean of the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law from 2004 to 2009.^[2]

Michael Schill
17th President of Northwestern University
Incumbent
Assumed office September 12, 2022
Preceded by	Morton O. Schapiro
18th President of the University of Oregon
In office July 1, 2015 – August 20, 2022
Preceded by	Michael R. Gottfredson
Succeeded by	Karl Scholz
Personal details
Born	(1958-09-30) September 30, 1958 (age 65) Schenectady, New York, U.S.
Education	Princeton University (BA) Yale University (JD)

Schill is the author of three books and numerous articles,^[3] with foci of scholarship in the areas of real estate, housing policy, and discrimination in the housing market. His casebook, Property, co-authored with Jesse Dukeminier, James Krier, Greg Alexander, and Lior Strahilevitz is the best-selling casebook used in American law schools.^[4]

Early life and career

Schill was born in Schenectady, New York, to Simon Schill and the former Ruth Coplon. He was a first-generation college student and attended Linton High School and Princeton University, where he graduated with an A.B. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1980 after completing a 166-page long senior thesis titled "Reinvestment and Displacement: A Research Strategy."^[5][6] He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1984, where he was an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Immediately following his graduation from law school, he clerked for Judge Marvin Katz of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the 1984 term. He practiced law at the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson from 1985 to 1987.^[3]

Career

Early career

In 1987, Schill joined the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Wharton School. He served as assistant professor of law from 1987 to 1992, and became professor of law in 1992. From 1993 to 1995 he was professor of law and real estate. In 1995 he moved to the New York University School of Law and Wagner School of Public Service, becoming professor of law and urban planning. Simultaneously, he became the founding director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. He held both positions until 2004, and in 2003 he additionally became the Wilf Family Professor in Property Law.^[3]

In 2004, Schill became dean and professor of law at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.^[7] During his five and one-half years at UCLA, Schill recruited leading legal scholars from top schools across the nation and established thirteen endowed chairs. He launched three new legal research centers and two academic specialization programs. Alumni participation in fundraising doubled during his decanal tenure, and private philanthropy tripled.^[8] Schill served as chair of the Council of Professional School Deans and sat on the UCLA Chancellor's Executive Committee.^[3]

During Schill's tenure as dean of the University of Chicago Law School in 2010, the law school expanded its faculty, increased incoming student credentials to record levels, doubled fundraising and established new centers and curricula in law and economics, business leadership and public interest law. In addition to serving as dean of the law school, Schill was appointed professor in the college, where he taught a course in law and urban problems.

Academic administration

University of Oregon

On April 14, 2015, the University of Oregon Board of Trustees named Schill as the 18th president of the University of Oregon.^[9][10] He has focused on three priorities to advance the University of Oregon's mission: enhancing academic and research excellence, supporting student access and success, and improving campus experience and diversity and experience.^[11][12]

In 2016, Schill announced the launch of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact,^{[13][14][15][16]} a billion dollar initiative to transform innovation at the University of Oregon. The first phase, anchored by a $500 million gift from the Knights, was completed in December 2020 with the grand opening of the campus’s first building.^{[17][18][19][20]} In July 2021, the University of Oregon received a second $500 million gift from Penny and Phil Knight to fund the next phase of the campus.^[21][22][23] Under Schill's leadership, the University of Oregon partnered with Oregon Health and Science University to seed new academic opportunities to benefit society and create a biomedical data science center focused on finding treatments and cures for cancer.^[24][25][26]

In 2021, Schill announced the university surpassed its $3 billion fundraising goal, a university and state record.^[27] During his time as president from 2015 to the end of the campaign, the University of Oregon raised $2.5 billion and extended its comprehensive campaign goal from $2 to $3 billion. The campaign was the largest in the university's history.^[28][29]

He announced the Oregon Commitment in 2015,^[30][31] an effort focused on supporting student success by improving four-year graduation rates and providing more access to higher education through programs such as PathwayOregon, which provides free tuition, fees, and specialized advising to eligible Oregonians.^[32][33] As part of this effort, Tykeson Hall opened in August 2019,^[34][35] home to two dozen new academic advisors trained in an integrated approach to providing academic and career-readiness support to students.^[36][37] The university reached the goal of improving four-year graduation rates by 10 percentage points a year early in 2019.^[38]

In an effort to encourage the exchange of ideas and make campus more inclusive and equitable, Schill held a series of events focused on freedom of expression,^[39][40] launched an African American speaker series,^[41][42][43] oversaw the development of thirty-four diversity action plans for each major administrative and academic unit on campus, and championed the creation of a new Black Cultural Center, which opened in 2019.^[44] Schill also recommended the denaming of two campus buildings to send a clear message that racism has no place at the University of Oregon and that the welfare, inclusion, and success of Black, indigenous, and other students, faculty, and staff of color is central to the university’s mission.^[45][46][47] In 2020, Schill and Provost Patrick Phillips announced a major initiative to hire more faculty of color and retain those already at the university, to establish a center on racial disparities, and to promote inclusion in the University of Oregon’s classrooms.^[48][49]

During Schill's tenure as president, Philip Knight's influence increased, as did the influence other mega donors and private foundations have on the public university.^[50][51][52] Furthermore, Knight continued to build controversial athletic facilities, this time on University of Oregon's main campus.^{[53][54][55][50]} During Schill's tenure, the University of Oregon received some of the largest gifts in higher-ed history.^[56]

Northwestern University

On August 11, 2022, Schill was announced as the 17th president of Northwestern University, succeeding Morton O. Schapiro in the role. The previous President-designate Rebecca M. Blank, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer that prevented her from serving in the position. She would pass away in February 2023. Morton O. Schapiro offered to temporarily return to the office until Fall 2022, when Schill was to officially begin his presidency. Schill was to inaugurated into his role that June.^[57]

Advisory roles

Schill was the chair of the PAC-12 CEO Group^[58] and a member of the Board of Governors for the NCAA.^[59][60] He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Ithaka Harbors, the nonprofit parent of JSTOR. He has served as a member of the New York City Loft Board, the New York City Neighborhood Investment Advisory Panel, the Fannie Mae New York Partnership Office, Housing Policy Debate and the Board of Governors of Argonne National Laboratory. He has also received research grants from the MacArthur Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the United States Department of Commerce, among others.^[3]

Publication

Schill is a co-author (with Jesse Dukeminier, James Krier, Greg Alexander, and Lior Strahilevitz) of Property, a major casebook now in its ninth edition.^[61] He has also co-authored Reducing the Cost of New Housing Construction in New York City: 2005 Update (Center For Real Estate and Urban Policy, 2005) (with Jerry Salama and Jonathan Springer),^[62] Revitalizing America’s Cities: Neighborhood Reinvestment and Displacement (State University of New York Press, 1983) (with Richard P. Nathan),^[63] and The State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods, 2003, 2004, 2005 (Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy) (with Denise Previti).^[63] He is also the editor of Housing and Community Development in New York City: Facing The Future (State University of New York Press, 1999).^[64]

Honors

In 2011, Schill was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.^[65]

In April 2010, Schill was presented with the Impact Award for Excellence in Housing from New York City's Citizens Housing and Planning Council (CHPC). Schill was recognized for his work as the founding director of the Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy.^[66]

References

1. "Michael H. Schill named next president of Northwestern". news.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
2. "MICHAEL H. SCHILL – President-elect – Northwestern University" (PDF). Northwestern University. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
3. "Michael Schill faculty page, University of Chicago Law School" 2013-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Michael H. Schill | University of Chicago Law School". www.law.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
5. Schill, Michael Harry (1980). Reinvestment and Displacement: A Research Strategy (Thesis).
6. Theen, Andrew (2016-07-01). "1 year in, Michael Schill brings quiet swagger and academic chops to UO". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
7. Bartlett, Lauren. "Michael H. Schill Appointed as Dean of the UCLA School of Law | UCLA". newsroom.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
8. . UCLA. Archived from the original on 2010-06-27. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
9. "Michael Schill of the University of Chicago to be new UO president | Around the O". around.uoregon.edu. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
10. "The Investiture of Michael H. Schill". President. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
11. "Priorities and Initiatives". President. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
12. "Open Mike: student success and other 2018 priorities". President. 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
13. "This changes everything: President announces historic Knight gift". Around the O. 2016-10-17. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
14. "University of Oregon Erecting a $1-Billion Science Center". The Scientist Magazine®. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
15. Glucklich, Elon. "University of Oregon expands its Knight research campus footprint with $3.7 million purchase". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
16. "University closes deal on critical Knight Campus property". Around the O. 2017-06-01. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
17. Theen, Andrew (2016-10-18). "Phil and Penny Knight will give $500 million to University of Oregon for science complex". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
18. Griffin, Anna. "University Of Oregon Gets $500 Million Gift From Phil And Penny Knight". www.opb.org. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
19. McGraw, Noah. "UO receives $500 million donation from Knight family for three-building research campus". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
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21. "University of Oregon Receives Second $500 Million Gift for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact". accelerate.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
22. Nietzel, Michael T. "Phil And Penny Knight Have Just Given A Second $500 Million Gift To The University Of Oregon". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
23. Brown, Jordyn. "UO receives second $500 million gift for Phil and Penny Knight Campus for science". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
24. Theen, Andrew (2018-02-17). "Is Oregon great? Science projects aim to put the state's universities on the map". oregonlive.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
25. "UO, OHSU Join Forces to Combat Cancer with Data Science". Around the O. 2019-03-12. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
26. "UO and OHSU partner to fight cancer with data". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
27. "Ducks Fly Past $3B Campaign Goal". Around the O. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
28. Darling, Dylan. "UO aims for another billion dollars in fundraising". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
29. "$1 billion for students, academics added to UO fundraising goal". Around the O. 2018-09-26. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
30. President Schill unveils the "Oregon Commitment", retrieved 2019-08-13
31. Eller, Caley. "President Schill reveals the "Oregon Commitment" at first all-campus address". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
32. ""What Makes Human Beings Human." A Higher Ed Fundraising Boom is Boosting the Liberal Arts". Inside Philanthropy. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
33. Tobin, Michael. "University of Oregon sees 8 percent student growth, largest Pathway Oregon class". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
34. "President's Fall Welcome | Office of the President". president.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
35. "Five Year Report | Office of the President". president.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
36. Crowley, Casey. "New UO building Tykeson Hall will be the home of the College of Arts and Sciences starting fall 2019". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
37. Kanik, Hannah. "Department of Undergraduate Studies uses technology for student success". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
38. "The UO's four- and six-year graduation rates reach new high". Around the O. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
39. Kwiecien, Braedon. "Freedom of Expression discussion reveals some students' disappointment in UO administration". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
40. "Series hopes to spark a dialogue on freedom of expression". Around the O. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
41. Jones, Alexes. "Preview: Events in honor of Black History Month". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
42. "Angela Rye opens this year's African-American lecture series". Around the O. 2018-10-09. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
43. "UO taking action on African-American student issues". Around the O. 2016-04-26. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
44. Darling, Dylan. "University of Oregon breaks ground on new Black Cultural Center on campus in Eugene". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
45. "President seeks input on Deady and Dunn building names". Around the O. 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
46. "Building Renaming Process | Office of the President". president.uoregon.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
47. "UO board votes unanimously to seek new name for Deady Hall". Around the O. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
48. "Provost Phillips unveils new diversity plan". Office of the Provost. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
49. "Updates on our academic initiatives". Office of the Provost. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
50. Manning, Jeff (March 9, 2021). "Phil Knight's University of Oregon donations push $1 billion mark with new Hayward field project". The Oregonian. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
51. Di Mento, Maria. "Phil and Penny Knight's gift ranks No. 2 on list of large charitable donations in 2021: Top 10 list". The Oregonian. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
52. Esnaashari, Farbod. "Steve Ballmer Donates $425 Million to University of Oregon and Creates Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioural Health". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
53. Bishop, Greg (2 August 2013). "Oregon Embraces 'University of Nike' Image". The New York Times. No. August 2, 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
54. Williams, John (October 21, 2018). "Tell Us 5 Things About Your Book: College Athletics and Its Corporate Sponsors". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
55. Graves, Bill. "University of Oregon will ask state to sidestep public process to build massive football project". The Oregonian. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
56. "Major Private Gifts to Higher Education". Chronicle.com. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
57. "President Michael Schill to be inaugurated June 2". news.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
58. Oregonian/OregonLive, John Canzano | The (2020-07-08). "Canzano: Oregon Ducks president Michael Schill slides into the big chair in the Pac-12 Conference". oregonlive. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
59. "COMMITTEE SELECTION LINKS: A JSP APPLICATION". web1.ncaa.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
60. Acharya, Pavan (2023-05-23). "Schill, NU administrators talk collegiate athletics at Faculty Assembly". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
61. "Property casebook, Aspen Publishing"
62. "Reducing the Cost of New Housing Construction in New York City"
63. Bratt, Rachel G. (1987). "Revitalizing America's Cities: Neighborhood Reinvestment and Displacement, by Michael H. Schill and Richard P. Nathan. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1983, 184pp. Price: $39.50 cloth, $12.95 paper". Journal of Policy Analysis and Management. 6 (4): 724. doi:10.2307/3323534. JSTOR 3323534.
64. Housing and Community Development in New York City: Facing the Future (Suny Series in Urban Public Policy) (Suny Series, Urban Public Policy) by Schill, Michael H. published by State University of New York Press. State University of New York Press. 1998-12-31.
65. "Members". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
66. "Impact Award for Excellence in Housing, Michael Schill" on YouTube

External links

• University of Chicago Law School faculty website
• University of Chicago Law School Launches Law & Economics 2.0 Initiative
• University of Chicago Law School Launches Law & Economics 2.0 Initiative
• Schill Appointed Next Dean of University of Chicago Law School
• University of Oregon Office of the President website