Embarrassing Interactions with Dean Barba

Dean Barba runs the Parris Institute for Professional Excellence. He is responsible for designing and executing launch week and teaches a class about professionalism. He’s an excellent orator and I’ve loved all the programming he’s been responsible for designing.¹

I’ve had a few interactions with Dean Barba where I’ve walked away feeling like I’ve made a fool of myself.

During Orientation week, Dean Barba invited four professors to discuss their research in front of the 1L’s.

After the session ended and the room started to clear out, I went to ask Dean Barba a question and introduce myself. I approached him. When he made eye contact with me, I totally forgot what I was going to say.

“Hey Dean Jarvis. My name is Houston. Can I ask you a question?”

I shake Dean Barba’s hand.

He smiles politely.

“Sure.”

“Are these professors the only research-producing faculty?”

He gave me a nice answer about the differences in expectations for tenured and adjunct professors. And the philosophy of Caruso regarding legal instruction. I said thank you and we parted ways.

But I felt weird about the interaction.

I realized I called him Dean Jarvis.

Did I though?

I’m not sure. And even today, I’m still not sure. But I think I might have.

Then again, I feel like he would’ve said something if I called him the wrong name. So, maybe I did call him Dean Barba. Idk.

Regardless, I was nervous to run into him again.

The next day was picture day. I thought they we were just taking headshots. I already had a headshot, no need for a new one. I packed a cool shirt I wore on the Camino and rode up to campus on my bike. No professional clothes.

I grab my clothes and walk inside the atrium to go change.

Everyone is in suits.

For sure, for sure. Everyone just wants to take headshots I guess.

I approach a table of bros in suits.

“Hey guys, are the suits mandatory today?”

“Yeah, they told us to wear them. But, I’m sure you’ll be fine bro.”

Uh oh.

I ran to the Deans Suite because I figured someone there might be able to help me. Fedelma and Linda were on it and started brainstorming ideas.

President Gash walks into the office and says hi to Fedelma and Linda. Fedelma politely introduces me–a person who should not be there.

I’m mortified and stumble over my words.

We shake hands. “It’s great to meet you President Gash.”

“I know your daughter Jenn. I walked the Camino this summer too.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

President Gash leaves.

Fedelma and Linda decide to walk into Dean Jarvis’ office and take his jacket. They have me try it on.

It’s fits surprisingly well. Fedelma and Linda nod in approval.

Fedelma looks at me seriously. “No food.”

Dean Barba walks out. I’m terrified.

“Hi Dean Barba, did you hear any of that?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh, so this is what’s going on. I thought the suits were optional. But I guess we’re doing pictures today. I didn’t bring a suit. I came up here and Fedelma and Linda helped me find one. This is Dean Jarvis’ jacket. Isn’t that crazy?”

I think I blacked out.

Before I share about my most recent interaction with Dean Barba, here are some photos from this past week.

CRIM PHOTO SHOOT

Free lemons from Professor Graffy.

Okay, my final interaction with Dean Barba happened on Friday around 3 PM.

After the last class of the day, I went on a hike with Megumi, Nate, Sam, and LeeAnna. The hike was great. The campus Rabbi gave Nate some Challah bread his wife made. It was unreal.

Here’s some photos:

CROSS HIKE

So, we do the hike. Super fun. We walk down from Baxter and arrive back at campus.

I see Dean Barba walk out of the Law School building.

I smile and wave, “Hi Dean Barba.”

He nods politely.

I change clothes, hop on my bike, and send it down Seaver Dr. There’s not much traffic, so I’m flying.

I’m going 35 mph leaning into a turn by the guard gate and I see a green light at Malibu Canyon. It’d be sick to make it so I let go of the brakes. But the cars aren’t moving.

Uh oh.

I literally cannot stop. I’m going too fast. So, I scrub as much speed as I can and try to maneuver through the cars.

I make it through but it’s not pretty. I got a little too close to some of them.

But whatever, now I’m bombing down the road that parralels PCH by Stinkies going 40 MPH. But, there’s this car behind me. I can tell that they want to pass. I move over to the right and let them by.

I see a Mini Cooper and a flash of long, curly hair.

I think it was Dean Barba.

P.S.

1. As an aside. It’s difficult to manage, style, and tame long hair. In a professional context, it rarely works. But, Dean Barba pulls it off. ↩︎
2. Former President Jimmy Carter owns a few Rivendells. ↩︎
3. All of Kelly’s jewelry has special significance to her. Some pieces are over 100 years old. ↩︎
4. One of my residents at Pepperdine was killed a few years ago in Santa Monica. He was a Sigma Chi and his brothers wrote his name on the cross. Dev. ↩︎