WASHINGTON – Dean Michael K. Young of The George Washington University Law School has announced that former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner James W. Ziglar will join the Law School faculty as a distinguished visiting professor from practice in January 2003.  Ziglar, who served as INS commissioner until November 30, 2002 when he retired from federal service, also is a GW alumnus.

“We are thrilled and honored that Jim Ziglar has agreed to join our faculty as a distinguished professor from practice,” said Young. “With his extensive experience in the private sector and the example of his years of commitment to public service, he is in a unique position to make a significant impact on our academic community.”

Ziglar has served in the federal government for more than 15 years. In addition to his position at the INS, he served as sergeant at arms of the U.S. Senate, as assistant secretary of the Interior for water and science – where he oversaw the operations of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Mines and the U.S. Geological Survey – and as a congressional and public affairs officer at the Department of Justice. 

Ziglar began his legal career in 1972 as a clerk for former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun before joining the New York firm of Mudge, Rose, Guthrie, Alexander and Ferdon, where he specialized in public securities law. In 1977, he joined O’Connor, Cavanagh, Anderson, Westover, Killingsworth and Beshears as a partner in the Phoenix office, where he established and managed the firm’s public securities practice. Ziglar’s investment banking experience includes serving as a managing director of UBS PaineWebber Inc., as a senior vice president of Dillon, Read & Co. and as a managing director of Drexel Burnham Lambert.  Ziglar’s private sector career spanned almost 23 years.

Ziglar will teach in the areas of immigration policy and constitutional law, as well as courses on natural resources law and policy.  “GW has long been a national and community leader in the areas of immigration and environmental law and policy,” said Young.  “Our immigration clinic was the first, and for many years the only, community service program of its kind in the D.C. area.  Our nationally recognized environmental law program has been a leader in the field since its establishment in 1970.  Adding the talents of someone of Jim Ziglar’s background and stature to our existing strengths in these areas will enrich our programs and be of enormous benefit to our students.”

In a letter to Young, Ziglar noted, “I am delighted to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to teach at a law school of GW’s national reputation and esteem.  It is particularly gratifying to be invited to join the faculty of the Law School from which I received my degree.  GW’s future as a center of intellectual excellence and enlightenment is unlimited.  I am looking forward to participating in the continuing growth and development of this remarkable institution of higher learning.”

Ziglar received both his undergraduate and law degrees from GW and is a member of the New York, Washington, D.C., Virginia and Arizona bars. For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

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