TALLAHASSEE — Florida State University College of Law Professor Manuel A. Utset, Jr. has been appointed the William & Catherine VanDercreek Professor. A collaborative effort of the VanDercreeks along with friends and former students of Bill VanDercreek, the professorship was created in 2004. Its purpose is to allow the law school to recruit or retain an exceptionally productive legal scholar.

Utset is a leading scholar on applying behavioral law and economics to issues in corporate law and has recently written a number of articles on the financial meltdown. He joined the Florida State law faculty in 2007 after teaching at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law and at the Boston University School of Law. Prior to entering academia, Utset practiced law at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York City. He earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University.

“In researching the law school’s professors, I was especially impressed with Manuel Utset and knew he was the best person to fill the professorship,” said Catherine VanDercreek, who was married to former Florida State University law professor Bill VanDercreek before he passed away in 2012. “It is clear from his background and accomplishments that he is a remarkable scholar and professor.”

Many alumni and friends of the College of Law have contributed to the William & Catherine VanDercreek Professorship. They include alumnus Kenneth Connor, alumnus John W. Frost, II, the law firm of Pennington, P.A., and Bill VanDercreek.