Professor Paul Marcus to Retire; Supports Student Public Interest Fellowship Endowment
Paul Marcus teaches and writes in diverse areas, from criminal procedure to copyright law. Over the years, he has constantly innovated teaching techniques, and students have praised his knowledge and passion for each subject, consistently remark on how inspiring it is to learn from him. Photo by David F. Morrill
Since he came to William & Mary Law School in 1992, Paul Marcus, the Haynes Professor of Law, has always put students first. He has taught them, mentored them, learned from them and followed their progress as legal professionals after graduation.
That won’t change when he retires at the end of this academic year.
In 2013, Marcus and his wife, Becca, established the Paul Marcus Public Interest Fellowship Endowment.
More recently, the Marcuses built upon that generosity with a $100,000 commitment.
“I am grateful for Paul’s many years of service to the Law School as teacher, mentor and leader,” said A. Benjamin Spencer, Dean and Trustee Professor of Law. “Public service defines this Law School, and Paul and Becca’s generous gift will have great reach well into the future for our students and graduates.”
Funds distributed from the endowment shall be used to provide support for third-year William & Mary Law School students to engage in public service work after graduation. Alternatively, monies may be used to support first-year or second-year students to engage in public service work in the summer.
Recipients shall be known as the Paul Marcus Public Interest Fellows.
Professor Marcus taught thousands of students during his tenure at William & Mary, and served twice as acting dean, from 1993-94 and 1997-98. Marcus is also a three-time winner of the Walter Williams, Jr. Memorial Teaching Award, which is selected by graduating students. He received an Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia in 2010, and was selected for the McGlothlin Award for Exceptional Teaching in 2017. He received the University’s Graves Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching in 2018.
Honoring Professor Marcus, Helping Students
If you would like to honor Professor Marcus’s 30 years of exceptional teaching and service at William & Mary—and support students and graduates through the Paul Marcus Public Interest Fellowship Endowment—please click here or contact Katey M. Howerton, Associate Dean for Advancement, at (757) 221-1394, or kmhowe@wm.edu.
Share a Memory
A group of current law school students is working to arrange a tribute book as a gift for Professor Marcus and would love to include the thoughts and reflections of alumni! If you had Professor Marcus as a student, served as his research assistant, or engaged with him beyond the classroom, we invite you to write a short tribute, share a memory, or send a photograph of your time with Professor Marcus to marcusretirementsubmissions@gmail.com.
About William & Mary Law School
Thomas Jefferson founded William & Mary Law School in 1779 to train leaders for the new nation. Now in its third century, America’s first law school continues its historic mission of educating citizen lawyers who are prepared both to lead and to serve.