CELEBRATING THE CAREER OF DEAN CAROLYN “CARRIE” KAAS

Linked Story: Prof. Kaas

Prof. Kevin Barry & Associate Dean for Student Success

When thinking of Dean Kaas, the first word that comes to mind is "Advocate" - for clients, for what she believes in, and for clinical legal education. The qualities that made her an effective leader include being passionate, high energy, committed, and providing encouragement and undying support for advocacy that Barry and students were doing in the clinic, such as death penalty cases, trans rights, and legislative advocacy. Her biggest legacy is in the Bar – the students who learned from her, who know her, and will not forget her. To Prof. Kaas as she prepares to step away from this role, Barry would say: "Go as hard at retirement as she has at everything in her career." One thing people may not know about her is that she rode motorcycles with her husband, though this would need to be fact-checked. Barry adds that he will miss her humor—her one-liners, and occasional "colorful" language at faculty meetings.

Professor & former Dean Jennifer Brown

Dean Kaas demonstrates exceptional dedication to experiential education, serving as a passionate advocate and educator among her colleagues. Her enthusiasm for the field is described as "fire in the belly" that is "very, very special." Her courage is exemplified by a notable instance from the early 2000s that illustrates her principled leadership. When organizing a conference on domestic partnership and same-sex unions, Kaas strongly opposed including reparative therapy speakers, arguing that it would harm LGBTQ+ students. She was willing to challenge authority figures to protect student wellbeing. Prof. Kaas is known for her exceptional commitment to understanding and meeting individual student needs, particularly in the externship program. She invests significant time in getting to know each student and tailoring programs to their specific goals.

Prof. Kaas' core educational philosophy is that law schools should treat students with the same respect and self-determination that graduates should extend to their clients. She believes that by experiencing this approach firsthand, students learn to listen carefully to their clients, avoid rushing to judgment, practice reflective understanding, and engage in collaborative problem-solving. Prof. Kaas demonstrated this philosophy through her own interactions with students, modeling the professional behavior she hopes to inspire in future lawyers.

Alexandria (Alex) Chura, QUSL J.D. candidate, 2025

The first word that comes to mind when Alex thinks of Dean Kaas is "Strength." Alex shares a personal story: When she was a 1L, she went to Dean Brown's mindfulness retreat, where she first met Prof. Kaas. Alex had just finished sharing with the group how faraway she felt from her family and how QUSL did not feel like home to her. Prof. Kaas then came up to her and asked to give her a hug. Ever since then they became good friends. She appreciated how Prof. Kaas just embraced her and knew that what she needed at that moment was a hug, and not someone to tell her how great QUSL is.

The qualities that make Prof. Kaas an effective leader include compassion for others, charisma and good energy; the way she presents herself is a memorable thing. Prof. Kaas' biggest legacies at the institution include pioneering collaborative law and integrative law; how she built the Society for Dispute Resolution (SDR), making SDR what it is today, and securing faculty approval, allowing students to get academic credit for their SDR involvement; teaching students practical lawyering skills and educating the whole lawyer. But perhaps most importantly, her spirit - she embodies what good lawyering is and what QUSL is meant to be.

Aubrey Davis, QUSL, J.D. 2024

Aubrey first connected with Dean Kaas as the inaugural integrative law fellow in the Center for Dispute Resolution (CDR). Their professional relationship developed through shared work in experiential education and integrative law, including conference attendance and collaboration. Prof. Kaas brings a distinctive perspective to legal education that transcends traditional approaches. She guides students to develop both internal awareness and external perspective, transforming what could be merely academic training into a more comprehensive life experience.

Beyond her formal roles as a dean and a professor, Prof. Kaas has exceptional listening skills and willingness to support students through personal challenges. Ms. Davis shared her personal experience of receiving support during her cross-country move to law school with children, including practical guidance on settling into a new community. Prof. Kaas demonstrates commitment to student well-being through consistent participation in wellness retreats and other student-centered activities. Her approach is characterized by leading by example through active participation, understanding the nuances of student character, maintaining positivity and openness when facing challenges, and bringing authenticity and compassion to all interactions. Prof. Kaas's effectiveness as both teacher and dean is enhanced by her genuine humanity and willingness to engage openly with students and colleagues.

QUSL Professor and Mediation Clinic Director Brendan Holt

Prof. Holt first met Dean Kaas as a student at QUSL, initially in her mediation course and later through externship placement. A relationship that began as professor-student evolved into a mentorship that significantly influenced Holt's career path, particularly in mediation. Prof. Kaas recognized aptitudes in him that he hadn't yet identified himself, and provided crucial guidance that ultimately helped shape his professional direction.

Her commitment to students extends well beyond graduation, actively maintaining connections with alumni and integrating them into the QUSL community. She consistently reached out to former students, invited them to events, and kept them engaged with the law school. Prof. Holt described how Prof. Kaas collaborated with an art therapist to develop a divorce course, considered "radical" at the time. Her willingness to embrace unconventional approaches demonstrated her innovative mindset and openness to interdisciplinary perspectives. When Prof. Holt contemplated leaving his job at CT's Judicial Branch, Prof. Kaas provided crucial guidance while, at the same time, respecting his autonomy in decision-making. Her support helped alleviate the anxiety associated with a significant career transition.

What strikes Prof. Holt most about Prof. Kaas is her sustained enthusiasm throughout her tenure at QUSL. Key aspects include consistent dedication to positioning students for success; genuine enjoyment of her work, particularly in developing student relationships; inclusive approach that embraces all students with "serious energy"; and unwavering focus on student needs and development. Prof. Holt emphasized that Prof. Kaas's student-centered approach remained constant and authentic throughout her career, making her an exceptional presence at the law school.

Clinical Prof. Alice Rosenthal & Assistant Dean of Experiential Education

The first word that comes to mind when Prof. Rosenthal thinks of Dean Kaas is "Vivacious." A personal story that stands out is Dean Kaas agreeing to stay on for a year to mentor her and help ensure that QUSL's experiential learning program thrives under Alice's guidance. The qualities that made Dean Kaas an effective leader include being passionate, having unwavering enthusiasm, and a zealous commitment to helping students develop their professional identity, lawyering skills, and ability to go out in the world and practice lawyering to the highest degree.

Her biggest legacy is solidifying the law school's commitment to experiential learning and helping to shape the national conversation about clinical legal education. What people may not know about her, but those who worked closely with her would appreciate, is that Dean Kaas thinks of the clinical staff as her family. She would go to bat for the clinical staff and support them to any end. Dean Kaas is the experiential "momma bear" -- she makes sure everyone is taken care of, and a leader who guides the clinical team forward.

To Dean Kaas as she prepares to retire, Prof. Rosenthal would say that Dean Kaas has been an inspiration to many students. The impact of Dean Kaas's work both for the law school's experiential program and for experiential education nationally will last a very long time. Because of her leadership, the clinical team is in a better position to continue taking experiential education to the next level. And in retirement, she hopes Dean Kaas can spend more time with her grandkids, and just enjoy herself, knowing that she left the school's experiential program in a great place.

Additionally, Prof. Rosenthal shares that Dean Kaas is a real force of nature in advocating for students, clinical legal education, and for her colleagues. She always stands up for what is right. She has done a great job of imparting that strong will into Prof. Rosenthal, who now has some big shoes (sparkly crocs) to fill.