Law school highlights diversity initiatives under his leadership
The Peter A. Allard School of Law of the University of British Columbia (UBC) has announced that Dean Ngai Pindell will be retiring from his role as of June 30, 2026, without pursuing a second term.
“It has been a privilege to serve as Dean, and I’m proud of our many accomplishments, including building a more diverse student body and faculty, hosting speakers from around the world, and engaging in successful fundraising,” Pindell said in a news release.
According to the law school, upon stepping down as dean in summer 2026, Pindell will remain an Allard Law faculty member after taking a short leave at the end of his term.
“I look forward to contributing to the school’s success in the future as a teacher and scholar,” Pindell said.
Allard Law stated that it expects to share details in the coming months regarding its next steps in searching for a new dean and appointing one in the interim.
“On behalf of the university, I would like to thank Professor Pindell for his steady leadership and for the key role he has played in the many successes and achievements of the Allard School of Law since he joined the university in 2021,” said Dr. Gage Averill, UBC provost and vice president, academic.
Pindell’s leadership
In July 2021, the law school announced Pindell’s appointment as its new dean for a five-year term, beginning that November. On Nov. 8, 2021, he joined Allard Law from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he served as the International Gaming Institute professor of law.
The law school’s news release described its progress with Pindell at its helm. He spearheaded multiple initiatives to support Allard Law’s increasingly diverse student body. In 2023, he led the launch of the law school’s five-year strategic plan.
According to Allard Law, under Pindell’s leadership, it:
- reached numerous milestones
- deepened alumni and community connections
- admitted and supported a diverse student body
- established an EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) Office and the IDEA (identity, diversity, equity, and allyship) Leaders Pre-Orientation Program, which targets incoming first-year students from persistently, historically, and systemically marginalized groups and allies
- advanced the Afghan Women Judges’ Program
- developed a technology, law, and society initiative
The law school shared that it raised financial assistance for JD and graduate students and introduced several awards for students from equity-deserving backgrounds, supported by Pindell’s fundraising efforts.
“I am grateful to Professor Pindell for his leadership and many contributions to the university,” Averill said in the news release.
