Erwin Chemerinsky

When this premier constitutional scholar left Los Angeles to take a job teaching at Duke University School of Law, the legal community was dismayed. He had become an institution, always ready for an analysis or opinion on matters of civil rights and privacy issues. He also argued cases in federal court over the right to legal representation of Guantanamo detainees. Now, he's back as dean of UC's first new law school in more than 40 years - making the school famous before it existed by having his job offer withdrawn but then reinstated in the space of a week. Since moving to Irvine in July, he has hired a small, top-flight faculty and has hit the rubber-chicken circuit raising awareness, money and expectations for the law school. His announced goals? A top-20 ranking within a few years, and enough money to give full scholarships to every student in next year's first class.