DETROIT (Dec. 8, 2008) - I.W. (Bill) Winsten,'79, and Thomas Kienbaum,'68, were recently named chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Wayne State University Law School Board of Visitors (BOV). Winsten and Kienbaum were nominated by former co-chairs David Hempstead, '75, and Earle Erman, '74, during a meeting held on Nov. 13, 2008. They will both serve a two-year term.

The Law School's Board of Visitors serves as an advisory body to the dean and other administrative officers of the Law School. Most members of the BOV are Wayne Law alumni.

"I am honored to lead the BOV with Tom and look forward to enhancing the Law School's already impressive reputation within the legal and academic communities," Winsten said. "When I attended Wayne Law, I was afforded many opportunities and received a great education. Through my involvement with the BOV, I hope to help provide future generations of Wayne Law students with even greater opportunities and services."

Kienbaum added, "Wayne Law does an outstanding job of educating and training its students for long, prosperous careers in the law. As vice chair of the BOV, I would like to increase general awareness of the Law School's services to students and to the community."

Since its November meeting, the Board has already moved forward on the creation of an overall strategic plan. Initial items of interest identified by the BOV include programming, development and management functions, faculty and student support, and the Law School's overall profile. The BOV plans to further examine and evaluate these areas of interest through the work of three committees:

• A Nominating Committee, led by Hon. Nancy Edmunds, '76, will see to it that the BOV recruits and retains members so as to strengthen the Board and include members with diverse and significant backgrounds.

• A Strategic Planning Committee, led by Thomas Kienbaum, '68, will make recommendations to Wayne State University President Dr. Jay Noren on how to strengthen the Law School and enhance its programs and standing. The other members of this committee include I.W. Winsten, '79, Hon. Nancy Edmunds, '76, Candyce Ewing-Abbatt, '83, and Kathryn Humphrey, '80.

• An Alumni Infrastructure Committee, led by William Sankbeil, '71, will examine how the Law School can improve and enhance its relationship with its graduates.

"The Wayne Law Board of Visitors is made up of some of the best known and respected judges and legal practitioners in this state and country," said Wayne Law Dean and Professor Robert M. Ackerman. "We are fortunate to receive their opinions and guidance - services they give to us based purely on their dedication to and pride in this Law School. I congratulate Bill and Tom, and thank all Board members for their continuing service to Wayne Law."

Winsten, a partner in the litigation department of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, has served the community with his leadership and expertise for more than 30 years. He has been named a recipient of the Law School's Distinguished Alumni Award and has been featured in Michigan Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America. In addition to serving as chair of the BOV, Winsten is a past president (and current trustee) of the Historical Society for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and a past chair of the State Bar of Michigan's Pro Bono Involvement Committee. While at Wayne Law, Winsten served on the Wayne Law Review.

Kienbaum, a co-founder of Kienbaum Opperwall Hardy & Pelton, specializes in traditional labor matters, employment class actions and individual plaintiff litigation. He has served as President of the State Bar of Michigan, the Metropolitan Detroit Bar Association, and the Barrister's Association. He is Vice Chairman of the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board and also serves on the Advisory Board and Executive Committee of the National Employment Law Institute. Kienbaum has been named in The Best Lawyers in America and Michigan Super Lawyers since their inception, and is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. While at Wayne Law, Kienbaum served on the Wayne Law Review.

Wayne State University Law School has educated and served the Detroit metropolitan area since its inception as Detroit City Law School in 1927. Located at 471 West Palmer Street in Detroit's re-energized historic cultural center, the Law School remains committed to student success and features modern lecture and court facilities, multi-media and distance learning classrooms, a 250-seat auditorium, and the Arthur Neef Law Library, which houses one of the nation's 40 largest legal collections. Taught by an internationally recognized and expert faculty, Wayne Law students experience a high-quality legal education via a growing array of hands-on curricular offerings, five live-client clinics, and access to well over 100 internships with local and non-profit entities each year. Its 11,000 living alumni, who work in every state of the nation and more than a dozen foreign countries, are experts in their disciplines and include leading members of the local, national and international legal communities. For more information, visit www.law.wayne.edu.