Jason J. Czarnezki Appointed Dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law
Jason J. Czarnezki has been appointed as the next dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech, effective June 1, 2025. Czarnezki joins Illinois Tech from Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law, where he serves as associate dean of environmental law programs and strategic initiatives, the Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law, and faculty director of the Sustainable Business Law Hub.
Throughout his career, Czarnezki has demonstrated a passion for transforming legal education, advancing specialty programs, and expanding community engagement. At Pace University, he elevated the Environmental Law Program to a #1 national ranking in the country according to U.S. News & World Report—a distinction it has held for four straight years and five of the last six—by emphasizing innovation, diversity, and collaboration. He plans to bring this same forward-thinking approach to Chicago-Kent, focusing on key areas such as trial advocacy, intellectual property, and the school’s part-time program.
“It’s an honor to join Chicago-Kent College of Law,” says Czarnezki. “The school’s unique history of entrepreneurship and commitment to equal access to legal education, coupled with its unique position as the only law school connected to a leading technology university, provides an unparalleled opportunity to prepare our students for an ever-evolving future in the legal profession. I look forward to cultivating a vibrant, supportive community where alumni are engaged and proud, students thrive in an environment dedicated to their career success, and faculty and staff are empowered to innovate in teaching, service, and scholarship.”
“Jason’s vision aligns perfectly with Illinois Tech’s mission to drive innovation and deliver education that meets the demands of the modern world,” says Illinois Tech Provost Kenneth T. Christensen. “His proven track record in building nationally recognized programs and fostering collaborative communities will ensure that Chicago-Kent continues to thrive as a place where legal education intersects seamlessly with science, technology, business, and public service.”
“I’m honored to welcome Jason to our leadership team,” says Illinois Tech President Raj Echambadi. “As an innovative, global thinker, Jason is positioned to empower Chicago-Kent’s students, faculty, and alumni to thrive in a changing world and to shape a just and sustainable future.”
“Professor Czarnezki’s innovative vision and spirit will undoubtedly serve him well in his new role as dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law. Over the past 12 years, under his leadership, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University’s Environmental Law Program has built and maintained a global reputation for excellence, made possible by the recruitment of leading faculty, pioneering scholarship, dynamic programs and partnerships, and a forward-thinking curriculum that has shaped hundreds of environmental law students and alumni worldwide,” says Horace E. Anderson Jr., dean of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. “Jason’s new position opens the door to exciting collaborations between our law schools, which will create meaningful opportunities for students and faculty. We look forward to building on this partnership in the years to come.”
Prior to his time at Pace, Czarnezki was a professor at Vermont Law School, where he also served as faculty director of the U.S.-China Partnership for Environmental Law. He served on the faculty of Marquette University Law School, and as a visiting professor at both Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and DePaul University College of Law. He has received prestigious international fellowships, including a Fulbright at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, and has held research affiliations with Oxford University, Uppsala University in Sweden, and the University of Tromsø in Norway. In 2020 he was named the Olof Palme Visiting Professor at Stockholm University by the Swedish National Research Council.
Czarnezki earned his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. in environmental law from Uppsala University. His scholarly interests center on the intersection of environmental law, natural resources law policy, food systems policy, and sustainable business strategies, as well as the ways in which technology and innovation shape global climate policy. His writings include the books Green Public Procurement: Legal Instruments for Promoting Environmental Interests in the United States and European Union (Uppsala University 2019) and Everyday Environmentalism: Law, Nature & Individual Behavior (Environmental Law Institute Press /Island Press 2011).
Czarnezki succeeds Anita K. Krug, who has served as Chicago-Kent’s dean since 2019 and announced her departure in April. In her tenure, Krug has expanded academic support and student success initiatives, including by hiring full-time bar success and academic support teams, creating the role of assistant dean of student affairs, and launching a dedicated student services department. Under her leadership, the school has created a program on data privacy, established a public service center, and achieved significant fundraising successes, including the creation of the Michal Paul Galvin Chair in Entrepreneurship and Applied Legal Technology. Her legacy sets a strong foundation for Czarnezki’s arrival as he works to continue building on Chicago-Kent’s strengths and guiding the institution toward an even more dynamic future.
Photo: Jason J. Czarnezki
