Longtime law faculty, administrator named law school’s first female dean
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 13, 2026) — Belmont University announced today the appointment of current Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law Deborah R. Farringer as the new dean of Belmont Law, effective August 1, 2026.
Before joining Belmont as law faculty in 2013, Farringer practiced health care and regulatory law at Bass, Berry & Sims, PLC, and served as associate and senior associate general counsel at Vanderbilt University as well as held a year-long judicial clerkship in the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Virginia. Since 2021, she has overseen Belmont Law’s curriculum planning, faculty development, academic policy, bar preparation strategy, experiential learning and student success initiatives. Farringer succeeds Alberto Gonzales, who has served as the school’s dean and the Doyle Rogers Distinguished Professor of Law since 2014.
“Deborah Farringer is the right leader for this moment at Belmont Law,” said Belmont University President Greg Jones. “She brings an extraordinary combination of academic excellence, strategic leadership and deep commitment to Belmont’s Christ-centered mission. I am grateful to Dean Gonzales for his visionary leadership and national influence, and I am confident that Dean Farringer will build on this strong foundation while leading the College of Law into its next era of distinction and impact.”
Provost Dr. David Gregory added, “Debbie brings deep institutional knowledge, respected academic leadership and a clear vision for the future of Belmont Law. She steps into this role at a time of tremendous momentum for the College of Law and is exceptionally well positioned to build on the strong foundation built under founding dean Jeff Kinsler and current Dean Gonzales.”
Founded in 2011, Belmont Law earned American Bar Association accreditation in the earliest time allowed and has since become known for its experiential learning model, national advocacy successes and consistently strong bar passage rates. In fact, Belmont Law achieved the highest bar passage rate in Tennessee for the July 2025 exam with a 96.9% pass rate for first-time test takers, and the school ranked No. 1 in the nation for two consecutive years for holding the highest ultimate bar passage rate in the country. Passing the bar is only the first step—Belmont Law graduates have also gone on to find extraordinary success in their chosen field, with a 96% employment rate for the 2025 Graduating Class.
Under Farringer’s academic leadership, the College of Law has expanded global study opportunities, strengthened experiential learning and clinics, enhanced orientation and advising structures, and continued to attract accomplished faculty, efforts that align with Belmont Law’s upward trajectory and national recognition.
Gonzales, the 80th attorney general of the United States and one of the most prominent legal figures to lead a U.S. law school, noted, “Deborah Farringer is a longtime colleague, trusted advisor and friend. She is a key member of the leadership team responsible for the remarkable success of our law school. Debbie is principled, respectful and diligent. I know she will do an excellent job in her new leadership role as dean of Belmont Law."
A nationally respected scholar in health law, cybersecurity and regulatory policy, Farringer has authored numerous law review articles and book chapters and is a frequent presenter at academic and professional conferences across the country.
“I am honored to serve as dean of the Belmont University College of Law,” Farringer said. “Belmont Law has built a strong record of student success and national credibility while remaining grounded in its mission to instill the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. I am grateful to Dean Gonzales for his leadership and look forward to working with our faculty, students, alumni and partners to build on this momentum and lead Belmont Law into its next chapter.”
Farringer earned her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of San Diego.
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