Durham, N.C. — A veteran legal educator and manager has been selected to serve as dean of the North Carolina Central University School of Law, campus officials announced Wednesday.

Phyliss Craig-Taylor, who most recently worked as associate dean for academics at Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, will assume the post in July. The move marks a return to NCCU for Craig-Taylor, who was a law professor at the school from 2000 to 2006.

She replaces outgoing dean Raymond C. Pierce, who is returning to private practice.

With more than 22 years of legal experience, Craig-Taylor has been an active faculty member at the University of Florida College of Law, a visiting professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law and a professor in residence at the University of Warsaw College of Law in Poland. Her areas of teaching include property, real estate finance, advanced issues in poverty, land use, land loss, women and the law and professional responsibility.

Craig-Taylor has held several leadership positions with the American Bar Association. She has also served on the N.C. State Bar Ethics Committee and the N.C. Bar Association Minorities in the Profession Committee.

“The law school has long been noted for its focus on public service and on meeting the needs of people and communities that are underserved by the legal profession,” NCCU Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Debbie Thomas said. “We are confident that Dean Craig-Taylor will continue this commitment.”

Craig-Taylor earned her undergraduate and law degree from the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, and a Master of Law degree at Columbia University.