For more than twenty-five years, Dean Nancy Benavides has been at the very heart of the FSU College of Law. To generations of students, alumni, faculty, and staff, she is simply “Dean B”—a source of guidance, encouragement, and steady support. Her work has shaped not only the experience of our students but the culture of care and belonging that defines our community.
Dean B’s leadership is rooted in compassion and consistency. She has welcomed every class with the same warmth and remained present for students in every phase of their journey—through challenges, growth, celebration, and beyond graduation. Her door has always been open, and her commitment has always been personal.
Last week, our community gathered to honor Dean B’s many remarkable years of service to date. The celebration was joyful, heartfelt, and a reflection of the countless lives she has touched. Stories shared by alumni, faculty, and students spoke to the same truth: Dean B has been the steady hand and generous spirit behind so many of our successes.
We are deeply grateful for Nancy’s dedication to the College of Law and to the generations of students she has helped shape. Her influence can be seen in the lawyers our students become—grounded, capable, compassionate, and prepared to lead. As we celebrated Dean B, we celebrated the values at the core of FSU Law: a commitment to one another, a belief in the potential of every student, and a shared responsibility for building community.
Please join me once again in thanking Dean Nancy Benavides for her extraordinary service and the legacy she continues to build here at Florida State University College of Law.
Watch a special video feature about Nancy's contributions to the College of Law.
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