Starr leaving Pepperdine Law for Baylor University presidency

Ken Starr is leaving Pepperdine after serving as the dean of the law school for the past five years in order to become president of Baylor University, both schools announced Monday.

The former U.S. Solicitor General investigated President Clinton during the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky scandals and represented the backers of California’s Proposition 8 ban on gay marriage during its state constitutional challenge last year.

Starr will become the 14th president of Baylor, located in Waco, Texas.  Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton announced the launch of a nationwide search for a new law school dean. 

“Ken has had a tremendous impact on our students, the law school and the Pepperdine community at large,” Benton said. “His leadership, his love of scholarship and his devotion to our students helped raise the national stature of our school, and we will benefit from the good he accomplished here for many years to come.”