Robert William “Bill” Piatt was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1950. Piatt attended Eastern New Mexico University where he graduated with degrees in Psychology and Political Science in 1972. As a law student and academic, Piatt has showcased his Hispanic and Native American ethnic identity through some of his academic publications and commentary as a law professional. ^[1] Robert William “Bill” Piatt,  St. Mary’s Univ ., accessed April 23, 2022.

Before embarking on his decade-long journey as a Law School dean from 1997 to 2007, Piatt had already left his mark on the field of law. His legal education journey began at The University of New Mexico (UNM) in 1975. ^[2] Law Faculty,  Texas Tech Univ .(accessed April 28, 2022). His time as a candidate for a Juris Doctorate degree proved to be fruitful. During his time as a law student, Piatt served as a teaching assistant for UNM’s Clinical Law Program from 1973 to 1975. He even served as a clerk for the General Services Administration of Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1974. ^[3] Bill Piatt, Curriculum Vitae, Academia   (accessed April 19, 2022).  

After earning his Doctorate of Jurisprudence, Piatt explored different professional opportunities in and out of New Mexico. He worked outside of academia as the Assistant Attorney General of New Mexico from 1975 to 1976. After, Piatt continued his work for the New Mexico State Government throughout 1976 when he served as an Assistant Public Defender for the state. ^[4] Bill Piatt, Curriculum Vitae, Academia   (accessed April 19, 2022).  ^[5] Robert William “Bill” Piatt,  St. Mary’s Univ ., accessed April 23, 2022.

Piatt returned to academia from late 1976 to early 1979 as a Visiting Assistant Professor at New Mexico State University and then as an Assistant Professor of Law at The University of Oklahoma Law School. Piatt took a four-year pause from 1979 to 1983 in higher education. During that time, he opened his own private law practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Shortly after, he served as an associate professor of law for the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas (1983-1987). He also taught as a visiting Professor of Law at Southern Illinois University School of Law briefly from 1987 to 1988. ^[6] Law Faculty,  Texas Tech Univ .(accessed April 28, 2022). ^[7] Bill Piatt, Curriculum Vitae, Academia    (accessed April 19, 2022). 

Before joining St. Mary’s University, his most prominent career position was at Texas Tech University. There, Piatt served as the J. Hadley Edgar Professor of Law for ten years (1988-1998). He taught and lectured in areas such as Immigration Law, Law and Language, Business Entities, and Family Law. ^[8] Law Faculty,  Texas Tech Univ .(accessed April 28, 2022). During his time at Texas Tech, Piatt published many articles and book chapters on children of undocumented parents, language in the law, and Latino attorneys that simultaneously act as clients’ interpreters. Piatt also lectured internationally while he held his endowed position at Texas Tech. He instructed at the Universidad de Guanajuato Facultad de Derecho, in Guanajuato, México (summer 1992 and 1994) and at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (1997). ^[9] Charisse Dengler, The Life And Career Of Bill Piatt: Dean, St. Mary’s University School Of Law, San Antonio, TX,  Law Crossing , (accessed March 10, 2022).

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After a decade worth of experience and opportunity, William Piatt took on the position of Dean St. Mary’s University School of Law. Piatt served as dean for about a decade from 1997-2007 where he and his efforts created substantial changes for St. Mary’s. ^[10] Robert William “Bill” Piatt,  St. Mary’s Univ ., accessed April 23, 2022. His time as a dean was defined by student advocacy, academic excellence, and the Catholic heritage. ^[11] Message From The Dean, 1 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Summer/Fall 2001), at 2.

Some of his biggest contributions as dean were advancing the benefits for students at the St. Mary’s Law School. Under his administration, he ensured that the Law School fostered a relationship with Alumni and San Antonio Bar Association. This gave students networking opportunities with people already in the field of law. Piatt said in an article interview (2006), “I basically have the responsibility of making sure we continue to recruit good students, work with the faculty in helping to educate our students to prepare them for a legal career, [and] maintain the alumni contacts and the relations with the bench and the bar that will enable our students to develop the contacts that will translate into jobs when they graduate.”  ^[12] Charisse Dengler, The Life And Career Of Bill Piatt: Dean, St. Mary’s University School Of Law, San Antonio, TX,  Law Crossing , (accessed March 10, 2022).

Early in his career as Dean, Piatt displayed a passion for advancing the connections of the Law School and its students. He used exposure to the Law School as a tool to connect St. Mary’s students to the world and for the outreach to incoming students. In 2000, he delivered a keynote address at the 21st Century Forum of International Law School Deans at Renmin University of China. There he was able to meet with representatives of the administration and faculty of the law department. Piatt claimed that this international conference was great exposure for the St. Mary’s Law School, with help from his colleagues, two Chinese students were enrolled at St. Mary’s (one was a former student from the Renmin University of China). Piatt said in a 2001 LawNotes, “One of our goals is to maintain better communication without our alumni and friends.” ^[13] Bill Piatt, Message From The Dean, 2 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Summer 2001), at 2.

In 2003, Piatt instituted a collaborative program with Universidad de Valparaíso in Valparaíso, Chile. This program allowed for a cultural exchange in which St. Mary’s students extended their legal studies abroad. Piatt said, “This agreement is the beginning to opening the doors to Latin America for our students as well as opening the doors to St. Mary’s to students from Latin America.” Through global outreach, Piatt displayed his efforts to advance students in their networks, opportunities, and careers. ^[14] Dean, University Officials Make South America Pitch, 6 LawNotes, The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Winter 2003), at 5. ^[15] St. Mary’s, Universidad de Valparaiso Sign Academic, Cultural Agreement, 5 LawNotes, The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter   (Spring 2004), at 3.

Student advocacy did not just entail networking and creating opportunities for students. Under the administration of William Piatt, this process involved fundraising. The Law Foundation was created for the outreach of donations from alumni and partners to give back in student scholarships. Piatt’s work with the Law Alumni Association secured various scholarships and endowments. These monetary gifts went on to fund not only students’ education but enhance the Law School resources like classrooms and technology. For example, this funding supported the construction and founding of The Center for Terrorism Law in 2003 under Piatt. Throughout his deanship, Piatt used the Law Notes Newsletter, a St. Mary’s Publication, to continuously foster the relationship of the Law School with alumni. Arguably one of the greatest connections made with the Law School was to The United States Supreme Court. Piatt used his connections in the Supreme Court to sponsor and receive permission to create a student courtroom that could also show live hearings of the Supreme Court. ^[16] Bill Piatt, Message From The Dean, 7 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Spring 2003), at 2. ^[17] Bill Piatt,Message From The Dean, 6 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Winter 2003), at 2. ^[18] Center for Terrorism Law Housed at School of Law, 5 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter (Spring 2004), at 1. ^[19] Center for Terrorism Law Gets $1 Million DoD Appropriation, 9 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School of Law Newsletter  (Spring 2006), at 1 & 4.

Piatt was the first Hispanic dean ever at St. Mary’s, this is consequential considering the institution’s status as a Hispanic serving institution. He was recognized as one of only three Hispanic Law School deans in the country at the beginning of his deanship. With progress made under the Piatt administration, St. Mary’s Law School was acclaimed in national publications as one of the top five in the country for service to Hispanics. Piatt said, “We are committed to bringing Hispanics into the legal profession…We’re committed to producing ethical attorneys who will work for social justice in their communities.”. National rankings of the institution’s service to Hispanic law students were indicators of effective change galvanized by William Piatt. ^[20] School of Law Gets National Acclaim, 6 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Winter 2003), at 4. ^[21] Law School in Top 5 for Hispanics, 3 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Spring 2002), at 7. ^[22] Hispanic Business Magazine: School of Law Ranks Fourth, 4 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Fall 2004), at 1 & 4.

Despite inheriting a Law School in great difficulty, Piatt, his administration, and the faculty collaborated to improve academic standards. President of St. Mary’s, Charles Cottrell, claimed that Piatt inherited a Law School in crisis. While Piatt did not deny the ‘crisis’ state of the Law School regarding bar passage and admissions, he took to reform the Law School to enhance academics. William Piatt recommitted to academics through the Academics Standards Committee, a new core curriculum, and dedication to preparation for the bar exam. 

In his strides toward academic excellence, Bill Piatt played an instrumental role in reviving the Law School evening program, which was discontinued in 1971. The Piatt administration re-established the evening program in the Fall of 2007. Approval from the American Bar Association was granted during the summer of 2006. Restarting this program meant a greater outreach to students that could not attend classes during the day. This program aimed to help students that worked substantial hours or had unique life experiences pursue a legal education. ^[23] Law School Accepting Applications to Evening Law Program, 8 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Fall 2006), at 1 & 4.

An early defining moment of this recommitment to academic excellence was the initiation of the Moot Court program in 1999. Even better, the St. Mary’s Moot Court team claimed the championship of the Law School division of the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy competition in 2002. In 2006, the St. Mary’s team won the Texas Young Lawyers Association Moot Court Competition at the State Bar Convention in Dallas, taking the crown home as champions. ^[24] Law School Fetes TYLA Moot Court Champions, 8 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Fall 2006), at 1 & 8. ^[25] Regional Moot Court Championship, 1 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Summer/Fall 2001), at 3.

More notably, Piatt’s deanship witnessed an increase in law students passing the bar exam in Spring 2001. Under his administration, his plan tightened academic requirements and improved bar passage rates. Bill Piatt emphasized the importance of exam performance, especially on the first try. As early as 2003 into his career as dean, St. Mary’s students saw a significant improvement in the bar passage rates. First-time test takers passed at a 74.37% rate, the best percentage since 1998. In 2005, the LawNotes newsletter reported that almost 80% of law students that took the bar exam in July passed, making it the highest percentage in the last nine years. This improvement pushed St. Mary’s Law School to sixth place out of nine for Texas law schools per the Texas Board of Legal Examiners. Piatt’s efforts to improve academic performance certainly paid off. He was able to rectify the inadequate bar passage rates and curriculum—this granted full American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation as in 2005. ^[26] Law School Bar Passage Rate Highest in Nine Years, 11 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter (Fall 2005), at 1 & 4. ^[27] Message From The Dean, 11 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Fall 2005), at 2. ^[28] Bill Piatt, Curriculum Vitae,  Academia  (accessed April 19, 2022).

In addition to advocating for students and academic performance, Piatt also continued to foster the Catholic heritage that exists at St. Mary’s University. Bill Piatt’s time as dean was characterized by a willingness to serve others. Piatt grew the law campus ministry program and collaborated. He also instituted an annual Habitat for Humanity project. Piatt worked alongside Sister Grace Walle to further develop the law ministry. ^[29] Dean Leads Spring Break Trip to New Mexico, 5 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Spring 2004), at 5. ^[30] Campus Ministry Receives National Recognition, 2 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter (Summer/Fall 2001), at 5.

After 2007 and his fourth term as Dean of the St. Mary’s Law School, William “Bill” Piatt would leave the administration. However, this was not the end of his career at St. Mary’s. Piatt returned to the classroom full-time as a professor. Today, he holds the title of Ryan Professor of Law. Piatt teaches courses related to constitutional law, legal ethics, human trafficking, and Catholic legal perspectives. He continues to write publications in the law field concerning immigration, legal education, civil rights, and discrimination. ^[31] Robert William “Bill” Piatt,  St. Mary’s Univ.  (accessed April 23, 2022)

Robert William “Bill” Piatt served almost an entire decade as a Dean for the St. Mary’s School of Law. His time as dean was defined by his student advocacy, academic excellence, and Catholic heritage. His efforts created an efficient campus for legal education and the formation of students ready to serve the world. Piatt globalized the St. Mary’s Law School and reinforced a grand community consisting of students, alumni, and world connections. Piatt set a great standard for the Law School and its many components. The William Piatt that arrived from Texas Tech University proved to serve St. Mary’s Law School as a great dean. He actively worked to mend the Law School community in both their academics and reinforce a sense of community between faculty, alumni, and students in Law School affairs. 

“Everything we do and everything we stand for hinges on the success of our students. The reputation of our institution and our ability to attract good students, to place them after graduation, to attract external support, to bring our alumni back to aid our students, and many, many other matters all are contingent on the achievement of our students.” ^[32] Law School in Top 5 for Hispanics, 3 LawNotes,  The St. Mary’s Univ. School Of Law Newsletter  (Spring 2002), at 2.

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