Message From The Dean

Dean Fiona Kelly

Effective July 1, 2024, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Fiona Kelly as dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Fiona Kelly comes to the U of A after more than a decade at La Trobe University Law School (LLS) in Melbourne, Australia, where she served as dean from 2020-2024. Prior to her role as dean, she also held leadership positions as the school’s associate dean (Research and Industry Engagement) and director of the Centre for Health, Law and Society.

Fiona’s educational and professional journey has spanned both Australia and Canada. She earned a BA and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Melbourne before crossing continents to complete an LLM and a PhD at the University of British Columbia (UBC). From 2007-2013, she served as a professor at UBCs Peter A. Allard School of Law.

Fiona is an internationally-recognized scholar in family law and health law, with a focus on the legal regulation of assisted reproduction. Her extensive publications have explored topics such as the legal regulation of parentage in the context of assisted reproduction, the ethics of sperm donor anonymity, and the socio-legal implications of donor linking (the process by which donor conceived people and sperm and egg donors connect).

In her leadership roles with LLS, Fiona had a proven track record of delivering high-quality teaching and learning, research, Indigenous and EDI initiatives, and external engagement. She led a transformation of the school that resulted in dramatic increases in research funding and publication quality and quantity. During her tenure as dean, the school also rose significantly in international and domestic rankings.

Fiona’s vision for the Faculty of Law includes continuing to grow its reputation as a national and international leader in cutting-edge research, as well as building a reputation for a distinctive JD experience shaped around experiential learning.