Michael Donnelly-Boylen

Photo of Michael Donnelly-Boylen
Michael Donnelly-BoylenAssociate Dean, Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives

Contact Information

401-254-4555mdonnelly-boylen@rwu.eduOffice 119

Education

M.S., Suffolk University
B.A., University of Notre Dame

Michael Donnelly-Boylen brings over two decades of legal education experience to his position as Associate Dean of Enrollment and Strategic Initiatives at Roger Williams University School of Law.  He has become a leader on issues relating to the inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population in legal education.  

Dean Donnelly-Boylen joined RWU Law in 2002, was promoted to Assistant Dean in 2005, and to Associate Dean in 2022.   He is a member of the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) Board of Trustees and chairs the Schools & Candidates Committee.  He has been a member of LSAC’s Diversity Committee, Services and Programs Committee, and Test Development and Research Committee.   He has served as Chair of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on Admissions and Pre-Legal Education.  He has also chaired LSAC’s LGBT Issues Subcommittee.  He has coordinated panels and spoken at numerous conferences on LGBT inclusion issues for organizations like AALS, LSAC, the Pre-Law Advisor National Conference, and the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors.

Dean Donnelly-Boylen began his career in legal education in 1995 at Suffolk University Law School working in both admissions and career services. He holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Notre Dame and a M.S. in political science from Suffolk University.

Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.