of the class of 2017 chose a career in public interest or government. As of 2019 there are over 100 alumni in the judiciary. In 2001, the college received the Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service Award. Leadership Cassandra Hill became dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law on July 1, 2020. Prior to joining NIU Law, Dean Hill served as an administrator and faculty member at Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Most recently she served as the associate dean for academic affairs. She also was appointed by the then-university president to serve on a three-member leadership team with the law school’s acting dean. In addition, she held positions as associate dean for research and faculty development and director of legal writing. Dean Hill received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law and graduated with a B.A. in Mathematics and Spanish from the University of Virginia, where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. After graduating from law school, she served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Vanessa D. Gilmore, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and she practiced with the law firm of Baker Botts L.L.P. in the Tax/Employee Benefits section. Dean Hill then began her teaching career at UCLA School of Law. Yolanda M. King became the associate dean for academic affairs of the NIU College of Law in May 2020. Dean King teaches property, intellectual property law related courses and entertainment law. Before joining the NIU faculty, Dean King practiced intellectual property law at Husch Blackwell Sanders Welsh & Katz and Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione in Chicago, Illinois, where she engaged in domestic and international copyright and trademark prosecution, handled licensing issues and represented clients in domain name matters. In addition, she was an attorney in the City of Chicago Department of Law. Kathleen Coles became the associate dean for student affairs of the NIU College of Law in 2013. She has taught Corporations, Securities Regulation, Non-Profit Organizations, Payment Systems, and Introduction to Lawyering Skills, along with seminars dealing with financial crises. Before joining the NIU faculty, Dean Coles practiced law for fourteen years in New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Rankings and awards In 2018, NIU College of Law received the Warren Wolfson Excellence in Education Award from the Lawyers' Assistance Program for its dedication to