» Fowler School of Law - Administration

Dean Paul D. Paton is a widely published and noted scholar of law and ethics. He has served as a visiting scholar at the American Bar Foundation, as interim CEO of the Canadian Bar Association, and has served on committees, working groups and boards for the American and Canadian bar associations, Arizona Supreme Court, Law School Admission Council Board of Trustees and Canada-U.S. Fulbright Awards.

Before joining the faculty of Chapman University in 2023, Dean Paton served as both a professor and a university administrator in the United States and Canada and has helped lead legal organizations in both countries, notably as the Thomas W. Lawlor QC Professor of Law & Ethics and Dean of Law for the University of Alberta, as well as professor of law of the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, where he also served as the University of the Pacific’s first vice provost.

Dr. Redding most recently served as the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education at Chapman University, where he also held the Wang-Fradkin Chair, which is the highest honor Chapman can bestow on a faculty member for exceptional merit in scholarly or creative activity. He previously served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, and the Associate Dean for Administration at the Fowler School of Law. Dr. Redding also holds appointments as Professor of Psychology in the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Education in the Attallah College of Educational Studies.

Previously, Dr. Redding was Professor of Law at Villanova University School of Law, Research Professor of Psychology at Drexel University, and Director of the JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology at Villanova and Drexel Universities. Before that, he was an Assistant Professor and Associate Director of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law.

Professor Badrinarayana came to Chapman from Pace Law School, where she completed her Doctorate in Juridicial Studies in Environmental Law. Professor Badrinarayana researched for Professor Frank P. Grad at Columbia Law School on environmental and public health laws. Between 2005 and 2006, she was a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Global Legal Studies, Columbia Law School. Professor Badrinarayana is also a consultant to the United Nations Global Compact, on issues of corporate voluntarism and regulations. Before coming to the United States, Professor Badrinarayana was a Research Officer for a Government of India-World Bank Environmental Capacity-Building Project, at the National Law School of India University.

In addition to research and advocacy, she also trained government officials and legal professionals in environmental law. Professor Badrinarayana was part of a team that advised the Government of India on its new legislation to manage biomedical waste. Professor Badrinarayana holds an LL.M. in Environmental Law from Pace Law School and a B.A.LL.B.(Hons) from the National Law School of India University. She is also a member of the World Conservation Union, Committee on Environmental Law and serves as Chair of the AALS Section on Law and South Asian Studies and as an Executive Committee member of the AALS Section on Environmental Law.

Mario Mainero is the Associate Dean for Governance and Strategic Initiatives and the Associate Dean for Bar Preparation and Academic Standards at the Fowler School of Law, where he directs faculty initiatives on governance matters, curricular issues, adherence to ABA Standards, and other topics, and administers bar preparation and academic standards, a role which includes a for-credit bar preparation course, Select Topics in American Law, and a free supplemental bar preparation program each winter and summer.

Mainero received his undergraduate degree in Political Science cum laude from Claremont McKenna College, his Master's Degree in Political Science, including a minor in Research Methodology and Statistics, from the University of New Mexico, and his JD, magna cum laude, from the University of New Mexico.

Justin Cruz earned his BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering with Honor from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia and his JD from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. While in law school, Dean Cruz was Managing Editor of the Washington University Law Review and received the CALI Excellence Award for his work in the Intellectual Property and Business Formation Clinic. After graduating from Washington University, Dean Cruz worked in the area of intellectual property law as in-house counsel for a fortune 500 company. Prior to joining Chapman, he served as Associate Dean of Student Affairs at Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida, and as Assistant Director of Admission at Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) in San Diego, California. In addition, Dean Cruz was an adjunct professor at TJSL where he taught in the Intellectual Property Law Practicum course. Prior to his career in law, Dean Cruz worked as an engineer for Caterpillar, Inc.

He currently serves in various diversity leadership positions, including as a member of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Diversity Committee, as a standing executive committee member for the Annual Meeting of Law School Diversity Professionals (AMLSDP), and as a board member of the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association. He also previously served as Vice Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyer’s Division Minorities in the Profession Committee (MIPC) and Mentorship Chair for the Law School Admissions Minority Network Group.

Sarira A. Sadeghi is the Sam & Ash Assistant Dean for Academic Achievement at the Chapman University Fowler School of Law, working to provide academic support and bar preparation services to students. She was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of La Verne College of Law, where she served as Interim Director of the Center for Academic and Bar Readiness. In addition to working with first-year law students on study and exam skills, Professor Sadeghi has developed a foundational skills class for second-year law students, taught bar preparation courses, and worked with doctrinal faculty in developing a skills-based perspective in their course offerings.

A graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law, Professor Sadeghi spent several years as a staff attorney at the Supreme Court of Nevada, where she worked on civil cases, edited opinions for publication, and created and delivered an orientation and training program for incoming attorneys. She is an editor of The Learning Curve and has presented on several occasions to various academic support conferences.

Dean Isles is responsible for administering the law school's academic operations relating to scheduling and registration, schedule of classes, records maintenance, examinations, grades, academic advising, Bar certifications, forms and letters, and graduation. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to joining Chapman, she served as director of student services and as registrar for the Southern California College of Business & Law, where she also taught as part-time faculty for general education courses. Since 1999, she has served as admissions coordinator and counselor for the Fowler School of Law admissions office, becoming registrar in 2001, and more recently the Assistant Dean for Academic Services and Registration. She is a member of the American Association for Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO) and the Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers (PACRAO), and has presented at AACRAO's and PACRAO’s conferences. She also served as an area representative (2007 – 2008) and board member (2008 – 2011) for the National Network of Law School Officers.

Dean Heenan is the law school's liaison between students, administration, and faculty. She counsels and guides students on academic and personal issues and is the primary contact for student organizations.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Dean Heenan graduated from William and Mary Law School and started her legal career in civil litigation as a law firm associate. She later served in the U.S. Department of Justice as an Attorney-Advisor, developing policy for the treatment of victims of federal crimes and training Assistant U.S. Attorneys in their legal responsibilities to victims. Upon relocating to Orange County in 2012, Dean Heenan joined Whittier Law School, where she worked as Director for Student and Alumni Relations. In this role, Dean Heenan provided students with academic advising and personal support throughout law school. She has also worked closely with students on developing their legal careers at the career services offices of Whittier, Chapman, and the University of California, Irvine law schools.