November 2, 2009

Cooley Law School Elects Three New Members to its Board Of Directors

The Thomas M. Cooley Law School today announced the election of three new members of its board of directors: Thomas W. Cranmer, Edward H. Pappas and Dennis A. Swan, who will each serve a four-year term.

"These three professionals epitomize the exemplary knowledge, commitment to ethics, legal skills, and service to the community that we strive to instill in our students at Cooley,"said President and Dean Don LeDuc. "Having these great leaders at the helm as Cooley continues to grow will be a tremendous advantage."

Cooley Law School is governed by a 14-member board of directors that includes judges, attorneys and business professionals.

About Cooley Law School’s newly elected board members:

Thomas W. Cranmer

Thomas W. Cranmer is a deputy practice group leader at Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, PLC in Troy, Mich., where he specializes in civil and criminal litigation. He is a former associate with Miro Weiner & Kramer and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Cranmer served as president of the State Bar of Michigan from 2005 to 2006. He currently serves on the Michigan State Bar Foundation’s board of trustees and the Oakland County Bar Association’s board of directors. He is a mediator for the Oakland County Circuit and District Courts, an American Arbitration Association hearing panel member, and a founding and Master Emeritus member of the Oakland County Bar Association’s chapter of the American Inns of Court. He is an adjunct professor at Cooley's Auburn Hills campus.

Cranmer earned a juris doctor from Ohio Northern University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

Edward H. Pappas

Edward H. Pappas is a partner and member at Dickinson Wright PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. He specializes in commercial and business litigation and is the client service director for Commercial Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Pappas is the immediate past-president of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) and serves on the SBM’s board of commissioners and executive committee. Under his leadership, the SBM piloted the state’s first law student professionalism program at Cooley, which is designed to impart the importance of ethics to students, beginning at their orientation. He also is the chairperson for the SBM’s Resource Development Initiative, a Regional Campaign chairperson and a member of the Standing Committee on Justice Initiatives.

Pappas also serves on the American Constitution Society board of directors and as a chairperson for a Michigan Attorney Discipline Board Hearing Panel. Additionally, Pappas is a mediator/case evaluator for the Oakland County Circuit Court and is a Master Emeritus member of the Oakland County Bar Association’s chapter of the American Inns of Court.

Pappas earned a juris doctor and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

Dennis A. Swan

Dennis A. Swan is president and chief executive officer at Sparrow Hospital & Health System in Lansing, Mich. In addition to serving on Sparrow Hospital & Health System’s board of directors, he is a board member for the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, the Capital Area United Way, Value Health Partners, the Lansing Chamber of Commerce, and the Ingham Health Plan.

Swan earned a juris doctor from Cooley Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.

Cooley Law School is the largest law school in the nation. Founded in 1972, it operates J.D. programs across Michigan in Lansing, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Today, Cooley Law School has nearly 14,000 graduates across the nation and worldwide and also offers joint degree and master of laws programs. Cooley offers enrollment three times a year; in January, May and September. Additional information about Cooley can be found at cooley.edu.