First Black Law School Dean At LSU Steps Down

The first Black dean of Louisiana State University’s law school has stepped down, saying she was subjected to racial discrimination and targeted by a hostile work environment.

What We Know:

• Dean Alena Allen, who became the first Black dean of LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2022, announced her resignation this week.

• Allen, who previously served as interim dean at the University of Arkansas School of Law, cited systemic discrimination and lack of institutional support as reasons for her departure.

• She reported experiencing resistance from colleagues and university officials, saying her leadership was undermined and her authority challenged in ways that past (white, male) deans had not faced.

• LSU has not released a detailed statement addressing her specific claims but confirmed her resignation and thanked her for her service.

• Civil rights advocates say Allen’s resignation highlights ongoing inequities in higher education leadership and underscores the barriers faced by women of color in academia.

Allen’s departure leaves LSU’s law school at a crossroads, raising questions about whether the institution is prepared to confront structural racism within its leadership ranks.