School Welcomes Rob Birrenkott as New Assistant Dean for Career Development

Rob Birrenkott joins UNC School of Law from the University of Florida Levin College of Law as head of the Career Development Office (CDO).

After twelve years as the assistant dean for career development at UNC School of Law, Brian Lewis is retiring this month, and Rob Birrenkott begins today as his successor. Birrenkott joins Carolina from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he spent a decade serving as the director and then as assistant dean for career development.

Prior to his tenure at UF, Birrenkott practiced law in Tampa with a focus on environmental (water resource) law and taught as an adjunct professor. Birrenkott earned his bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in government and world affairs from the University of Tampa and his law degree (cum laude) from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

“Rob is joining a great CDO team whose work with our Class of 2018 helped UNC School of Law to achieve a rank of 17th in the country, up 14 spots from last year, in the latest Above the Law rankings,” says Kelly Podger Smith ’02, associate dean for student affairs.

The CDO’s eight counselors and staff provide individual counseling services geared toward helping students identify career goals and develop strategies to achieve them. The office hosts 80 programs per year, in addition to on- and off-campus interviews.

-July 29, 2019