Law assistant dean named

Duquesne appointed Sarah Arimoto-Mercer as the assistant dean and executive director of enrollment management for the School of Law Sept. 4. The University hopes to transition the enrollment and admissions process to an entirely electronic system.

The selection process spanned the entire summer and included multiple interviews with several candidates conducted by a committee comprised of law school alumni and administrators. Consisting of administration members such as: Dean of the Law School Ken Gormley, along with Joe Campion, director of Admissions for the School of Law, and Paul-James Cukanna, associate Vice President and director of admissions for Duquesne.

The committee posted an advertisement for the position nationally. Gormley says that Arimoto-Mercer immediately stood out because of her extensive experience.

Arimoto-Mercer explained what her goals are for the School of Law.

“I’m going to be overseeing the office,” Arimoto-Mercer said. “I hope to move in a more paperless-direction and beef up recruitment efforts here.”

She hopes to accomplish this by transitioning enrollment and administration processes to become digital, while also using social networking technologies to expand the reach of Duquesne’s Law School.  

She said that in the last three years, many law schools have gone paperless. The outdated processes regarding law school application and enrollment are being replaced by new efficiencies.

She said that utilizing social media has been, and will continue to be useful tools in facilitating enrollment processes at Duquesne.

Arimoto–Mercer has been a part of the admissions processes at multiple universities.

She began her career as an admissions counselor at Hastings College of Law, as well as an editor for the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. From there, she became the associate director of admissions at Yale Law School. She was also the director of financial aid at the University of Chicago Law School as well as the director of admissions and financial aid at Northwestern Law School.

This year, Arimoto-Mercer moved to Pittsburgh to begin working at Duquesne’s School of Law and is excited to work in the same city that her parents moved to 15 years ago.

Arimoto-Mercer said finding a position here that relates to her interests and career while being near family is a great opportunity.

Gormley said Arimoto-Mercer has a sophisticated understanding of the law school process.

“She will be a valuable member to the Duquesne Law School,” Gormley said. “She has much experience and we were looking for someone with a law degree.”

Gormley also said Duquesne hopes to strengthen the infrastructure at the law school in the admission office, focusing on organization, efficiency, and being up-to-date. He added that a better enrollment process consists of a combination of new recruitment methods and statistical analysis – observing what populations around the United States are interested when applying to law school.  

He said Duquesne is being received as a reputable place due to its location, and now is looking to be recognized nationally. Gormley added that he believes the School of Law will have a broader reach and better visibility on a national level.

With Arimoto-Mercer’s skills and help, the School of Law at Duquesne is optimistic about accomplishing this.

“Many young professionals are seeking to live here,” he said. “Pittsburgh is a city that is becoming more sought after, and it has national interest.”