CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – John D. Colombo, the Albert E. Jenner Jr. Professor, has been named interim dean of the University of Illinois College of Law, pending approval by the U. of I. Board of Trustees at its May 14 board meeting in Springfield.
A member of the Illinois faculty since 1988, Colombo primarily teaches tax law. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and co-author of two books on the theory of tax exemption for charitable organizations, the exemption standards for nonprofit hospitals and commercial activity by charities. He will become the college’s interim dean effective June 1. A national search will be conducted to hire a permanent dean.
Colombo succeeds Bruce Smith, who has been the dean of the college for five years and who will return to the law school faculty.
“I am grateful to Bruce for his leadership that saw the College of Law move forward through some challenging periods,” said Ilesanmi Adesida, the vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost of the Urbana campus. “He successfully completed the $50 million Brilliant Future capital campaign, instituted the Chicago Program and increased the number of endowed faculty positions and endowed scholarships. The college is well-positioned for future success. Professor John Colombo has the skills, the experience and the wisdom to ensure that this trajectory for excellence continues without interruption.”
Colombo has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee as well as the Oversight subcommittee of Congress, providing overviews of the legal rules for tax exemption under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, the rules for exemption of nonprofit hospitals, and issues regarding commercial activity by exempt charities. His work on tax exemption for nonprofit hospitals has been cited by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and the Illinois Supreme Court.
In 2003, he received the college’s Carroll P. Hurd Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship for the article “Commercial Activity and Charitable Tax Exemption,” published in the William & Mary Law Review.
In 2010, his article “The NCAA, Tax-Exemption and College Athletics” received national attention and, in 2009, was part of a presentation to the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics.
Colombo served as associate dean of the college from 1995-98, 1999-2000 and 2010-12. He served as acting dean during 1998 and 2001, and interim dean in 2002. He was the Thomas M. Mengler Faculty Scholar from 2004-06.
Colombo has been recognized as a U. of I. College of Law Distinguished Graduate, and has received the college’s John E. Cribbet Award for Excellence in Teaching. He also is the recipient of the Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Teaching and the Delta Sigma Omicron Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Colombo earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Illinois. He also earned his law degree summa cum laude from Illinois, where he served as notes and comments editor of the Illinois Law Review.
After graduation, he clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and worked for six years at an Atlanta-based law firm.
He is a member of the American Law Institute, Georgia State Bar Association and American Bar Association.
To arrange interviews with John D. Colombo, call Carolyn Turner at 217-244-0001; email carolynt@illinois.edu.
