July 18, 2025 — Yale University President Maurie McInnis announced on July 17 that Yair Listokin ’05, Shibley Family Fund Professor of Law, has been appointed interim dean of Yale Law School, effective August 1. The announcement follows the news that Dean Heather Gerken, who has led the school since 2017, will step down to become president of the Ford Foundation. Listokin, who has served as deputy dean for the past three years, will guide the school through the transition as a search committee seeks a permanent dean.
Listokin, a distinguished scholar in law and economics, specializes in tax law, corporate law, and Jewish law, with his 2019 book, Law and Macroeconomics: Legal Remedies to Recessions (Harvard University Press), credited with shaping the field of law and macroeconomics. His research, which has appeared in outlets like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, advocates for legal tools to stabilize economies when fiscal and monetary policies fall short. He also serves as faculty director of the Howard Wexler Brodie ’93 Center for Jewish and Israeli Law at Yale.
“Yair Listokin’s experience as deputy dean and his deep understanding of academic affairs make him an ideal leader for this moment,” McInnis said, expressing confidence in his ability to ensure a smooth transition. The Dean Search Committee, co-chaired by Professors Doug Kysar and Tracey Meares, has been formed to identify Gerken’s successor.
On X, the appointment has been met with enthusiasm. User @DSilverbergDC called it a “great move,” while @lawdotcom shared the news, reflecting positive sentiment. Listokin, a 2005 Yale Law graduate who joined the faculty in 2006, is expected to maintain the school’s academic excellence and commitment to need-based aid, a hallmark of Gerken’s tenure, which saw a tripling of veteran enrollment and the launch of the full-tuition Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program.
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