»Fowler School of Law - Administration
Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law owes its success in large part to the dedication and hard work of its administrative team. Below is a list of senior administrators working to support the school's mission.
Paul D. Paton
Dean of the Fowler School of Law
(714) 628-2599
paulpaton@chapman.eduDean Paul D. Paton is a widely published and noted scholar of law and ethics. He has
served as a visiting scholar at the American Bar Foundation, as interim CEO of the
Canadian Bar Association, and has served on committees, working groups and boards
for the American and Canadian bar associations, Arizona Supreme Court, Law School
Admission Council Board of Trustees and Canada-U.S. Fulbright Awards.
Before joining the faculty of Chapman University in 2023, Dean Paton served as both
a professor and a university administrator in the United States and Canada and has
helped lead legal organizations in both countries, notably as the Thomas W. Lawlor
QC Professor of Law & Ethics and Dean of Law for the University of Alberta, as well
as professor of law of the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento,
where he also served as the University of the Pacific’s first vice provost.
Richard E. Redding
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
714-628-2688
redding@chapman.eduDr. Redding most recently served as the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education at
Chapman University, where he also held the Wang-Fradkin Chair, which is the highest
honor Chapman can bestow on a faculty member for exceptional merit in scholarly or
creative activity. He previously served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs,
the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, and the Associate Dean for
Administration at the Fowler School of Law. Dr. Redding also holds appointments as
Professor of Psychology in the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and
Professor of Education in the Attallah College of Educational Studies.
Previously, Dr. Redding was Professor of Law at Villanova University School of Law,
Research Professor of Psychology at Drexel University, and Director of the JD/PhD
Program in Law and Psychology at Villanova and Drexel Universities. Before that, he
was an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry,
and Public Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Deepa Badrinarayana
Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development
(714) 628-2673
badrinar@chapman.eduProfessor Badrinarayana came to Chapman from Pace Law School, where she completed
her Doctorate in Juridicial Studies in Environmental Law. Professor Badrinarayana
researched for Professor Frank P. Grad at Columbia Law School on environmental and
public health laws. Between 2005 and 2006, she was a Visiting Scholar at the Center
for Global Legal Studies, Columbia Law School. Professor Badrinarayana is also a consultant
to the United Nations Global Compact, on issues of corporate voluntarism and regulations.
Before coming to the United States, Professor Badrinarayana was a Research Officer
for a Government of India-World Bank Environmental Capacity-Building Project, at the
National Law School of India University.
In addition to research and advocacy, she also trained government officials and legal
professionals in environmental law. Professor Badrinarayana was part of a team that
advised the Government of India on its new legislation to manage biomedical waste.
Professor Badrinarayana holds an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Pace Law School and
a B.A.LL.B.(Hons) from the National Law School of India University. She is also a
member of the World Conservation Union, Committee on Environmental Law and serves
as Chair of the AALS Section on Law and South Asian Studies and as an Executive Committee
member of the AALS Section on Environmental Law.
Mario Mainero
Associate Dean for Governance and Strategic Initiatives & Associate Dean for Bar Preparation
and Academic Standards
(714) 628-2518
mmainero@chapman.eduMario Mainero is the Associate Dean for Governance and Strategic Initiatives and the
Associate Dean for Bar Preparation and Academic Standards at the Fowler School of
Law, where he directs faculty initiatives on governance matters, curricular issues,
adherence to ABA Standards, and other topics, and administers bar preparation and
academic standards, a role which includes a for-credit bar preparation course, Select
Topics in American Law, and a free supplemental bar preparation program each winter
and summer.
Mainero received his undergraduate degree in Political Science cum laude from Claremont
McKenna College, his Master's Degree in Political Science, including a minor in Research
Methodology and Statistics, from the University of New Mexico, and his JD, magna cum
laude, from the University of New Mexico.
Justin Cruz
Associate Dean of Admission and Diversity Initiatives
(714) 628-2594
jucruz@chapman.eduJustin Cruz earned his BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering with Honor from the
Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia and his JD from Washington University
School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. While in law school, Dean Cruz was Managing
Editor of the Washington University Law Review and received the CALI Excellence Award
for his work in the Intellectual Property and Business Formation Clinic. After graduating
from Washington University, Dean Cruz worked in the area of intellectual property
law as in-house counsel for a fortune 500 company. Prior to joining Chapman, he served
as Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Barry University School of Law in Orlando,
Florida, and as Assistant Director of Admission at Thomas Jefferson School of Law
(TJSL) in San Diego, California. In addition, Dean Cruz was an adjunct professor at
TJSL where he taught in the Intellectual Property Law Practicum course. Prior to his
career in law, Dean Cruz worked as an engineer for Caterpillar, Inc.
He currently serves in various diversity leadership positions, including as a member
of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Diversity Committee, as a standing executive
committee member for the Annual Meeting of Law School Diversity Professionals (AMLSDP),
and as a board member of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association. He also previously
served as Vice Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyer’s Division
Minorities in the Profession Committee (MIPC) and Mentorship Chair for the Law School
Admissions Minority Network Group.
Sarira A. Sadeghi
Sam & Ash Assistant Dean for Academic Achievement
(714) 628-2672
ssadeghi@chapman.eduSarira A. Sadeghi is the Sam & Ash Assistant Dean for Academic Achievement at the
Chapman University Fowler School of Law, working to provide academic support and bar
preparation services to students. She was previously an Assistant Professor at the
University of La Verne College of Law, where she served as Interim Director of the
Center for Academic and Bar Readiness. In addition to working with first-year law
students on study and exam skills, Professor Sadeghi has developed a foundational
skills class for second-year law students, taught bar preparation courses, and worked
with doctrinal faculty in developing a skills-based perspective in their course offerings.
A graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law, Professor Sadeghi spent
several years as a staff attorney at the Supreme Court of Nevada, where she worked
on civil cases, edited opinions for publication, and created and delivered an orientation
and training program for incoming attorneys. She is an editor of The Learning Curve
and has presented on several occasions to various academic support conferences.
Maryam Isles
Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Registration
(714) 628-2522
misles@chapman.eduDean Isles is responsible for administering the law school's academic operations relating
to scheduling and registration, schedule of classes, records maintenance, examinations,
grades, academic advising, Bar certifications, forms and letters, and graduation.
She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University,
Fullerton. Prior to joining Chapman, she served as director of student services and
as registrar for the Southern California College of Business & Law, where she also
taught as part-time faculty for general education courses. Since 1999, she has served
as admissions coordinator and counselor for the Fowler School of Law admissions office,
becoming registrar in 2001, and more recently the Assistant Dean for Academic Services
and Registration. She is a member of the American Association for Collegiate Registrars
and Admission Officers (AACRAO) and the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars
& Admissions Officers (PACRAO), and has presented at AACRAO's and PACRAO’s conferences.
She also served as an area representative (2007 – 2008) and board member (2008 – 2011)
for the National Network of Law School Officers.
Camille Heenan
Assistant Dean of Career Services
714-628-2550
heenan@chapman.eduOriginally from Washington, D.C., Dean Heenan graduated from William and Mary Law
School and started her legal career in civil litigation as a law firm associate. She
later served in the U.S. Department of Justice as an Attorney-Advisor, developing
policy for the treatment of victims of federal crimes and training Assistant U.S.
Attorneys in their legal responsibilities to victims. Upon relocating to Orange County
in 2012, Dean Heenan joined Whittier Law School, where she worked as Director for
Student and Alumni Relations. In this role, Dean Heenan provided students with academic
advising and personal support throughout law school. She has also worked closely with
students on developing their legal careers at the career services offices of Whittier,
Chapman, and the University of California, Irvine law schools.
Jessica John, Esq.
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
(714) 289-2021
jejohn@chapman.eduDean John is the law school's liaison between students, administration, and faculty.
She counsels and guides students on academic and personal issues and is the primary
contact for student organizations. Jessica John joined the Chapman University Fowler
School of Law in June 2018 after previously acting as co-director of the Mediation
Clinic and serving as an adjunct professor. She received her Juris Doctor from Chapman
School of Law in 2012, with an emphasis in international law. During her tenure as
a student at Chapman, she actively participated in multiple student organizations
and worked closely with the Mediation Clinic, which she continued upon graduation
as a post-graduate fellow. Assistant Dean for Student Affairs John subsequently worked
as an associate at an international banking and corporate finance advisory firm in
Dubai, U.A.E., for several years prior to returning to the field of Alternative Dispute
Resolution. In 2018, she received her LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the Straus
Institute of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, and joined
the Chapman family upon completion. From June 2018 to January 2025, Assistant Dean
John trained students participating in the Mediation Clinic and Advanced Mediation
Clinic to develop effective conflict resolution and mediation skills and techniques.
She now serves as the Assistant Dean of Students at the Fowler School of Law.