About Dean Mary A. Ferguson

Mary Ann Ferguson is the founder of Michigan State University College of Law’s (MSU Law/Law College) Diversity and Equity Services Office. Since its inception in 2006, she has served as the inaugural director and later was appointed as the first assistant dean of this office. Hence, she became the first member of the law college’s staff who identifies as a Black and African-American Woman to hold a decanal title.

In 2017, she was appointed as the law college’s Title IX coordinator and served in this role until the law college’s full integration with MSU in August 2020.

Additionally, she was appointed by the president of MSU to serve on his Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Workgroup and Sexual Violence Advisory Committee, Co-Chair of MSU’s Antidiscrimination Policy Workgroup and noteworthy MSU Executive Search Committees.

Within her multi-faceted roles, Ferguson seeks to ensure that MSU Law’s prospective and current community realizes the law college’s multicultural, equity, diversity, inclusion and access mission. Further, she serves as one of MSU Law’s liaison to the broader MSU campus, academy, and legal profession on the importance of increasing and sustaining diversity.

Originating from her pre-secondary education muse, Ferguson is a tireless advocate for 21st century diversity, legal education and practice access, anti-discrimination laws, multiculturalism equity and eradicating relationship violence and sexual misconduct within diverse communities. With the unwavering goal of giving life to silenced voices, she is internationally known for her mantra “accepting identity, appreciating voice and achieving justice for all.”

Ferguson has over 30 years of diverse public speaking, leadership and community service experience. In more than half of her past and current leadership positions, she holds the title of inaugural member, founder or first Black/African-American Woman. Further, Ferguson is on the executive board or committee member of local, state, national and international professional and community organizations.

Her student and professional awards span several decades. Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law. She is a licensed attorney.