Westcliff University’s Western State College of Law, the oldest law school in Orange County, Calif., is pleased to announce the addition of three new professors–each bringing unique expertise and qualifications to their roles–as well as two new assistant deans. These hires are poised to further Western’s commitment to advancing legal education excellence and enhancing student support services.

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Strengthening its already impressive academic team, Western State introduces three esteemed new faculty members: Professor Samuel F. Ernst teaching Contracts I and II, Sales and Intellectual Property Law; Professor Sandra L. Rierson leading Civil Procedure I and II and Constitutional Law I and II; and Professor Katharine Van Tassel, who will teach Evidence and Health Law-related courses.

• Professor Samuel F. Ernst | Professor Ernst is an extensively published intellectual property and contract law expert. Before entering academia, he was a partner at the international law firm Covington & Burling, where he practiced intellectual property and appellate litigation. Ernst holds a Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles.
• Professor Sandra L. Rierson | Professor Rierson specializes in civil litigation, government contracts and intellectual property law. She has previously taught at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, California Western School of Law and the University of San Diego School of Law. With a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rierson’s key areas of interest are trademark and constitutional law.
• Professor Katharine Van Tassel | Professor Van Tassel joins Western State from Case Western Reserve School of Law, where she was a Professor of Practice. She has held numerous significant positions, including dean and professor of law at San Francisco Law School. Van Tassel’s research has been influential in several Supreme Court cases– underscoring her in-depth legal expertise– which she further demonstrated by testifying as an expert witness at U.S. Commission on Civil Rights hearings. She holds a master of public health from the Harvard School of Public Health and is completing a master of science from Johns Hopkins University.

To bolster its administrative capabilities and student services, Western proudly welcomes Kelly Farano and Beth Kransberger as new assistant deans.

• Kelly Farano – Assistant Dean of Administration | Dean Farano brings extensive financial and operational expertise to her role at Western State College of Law. She previously served at Chapman University, Fowler School of Law and Laguna Woods Village—where she effectively managed a $100 million budget. Farano holds a bachelor’s degree in international business, real estate and finance from California State University, Long Beach and a master’s degree in business administration from Chapman University.
• Beth Kransberger – Assistant Dean of Admissions | With previous roles at prestigious institutions such as Penn State Law, University of Wisconsin Law School and Michigan State University College of Law, Dean Kransberger’s impressive career is marked by her strong dedication to improving educational accessibility and inclusivity. With degrees from Joliet Junior College, Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin Law School, Kransberger actively supports anti-bias and equity initiatives within her local community of San Diego and is eager to bring her extensive admissions experience to Western State College of Law.

"We are thrilled to welcome Samuel, Sandra, Katharine, Kelly and Beth to our incredible team at Western State," said Marisa Cianciarulo, Dean of Western State College of Law at Westcliff University. "Their collective expertise, dedication to educational excellence and passion for the law will undoubtedly enrich the academic experience for our students and contribute to the continued success of our institution."

To learn more about Western State College of Law, visit www.wsulaw.edu.

About Western State College of Law: Western State College of Law at Westcliff University is an established institution with a more than 50-year track record of success and a reputation for producing successful trial lawyers and more than 150 graduates who have been elevated to the bench. It offers subspecialties within the J.D. program, allowing every student to find their niche and develop a unique skill set. Western State was acquired in 2019 by Westcliff University, a private university in Irvine, Calif. offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Since the acquisition, Western State has benefited from Westcliff’s ability to swiftly adapt to market needs by developing innovative specialty programs. Together, the schools are now fully integrated and committed to providing advanced higher education opportunities to students both globally and nationally. Visit www.wsulaw.edu to learn more or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

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