Q&A with Elizabeth Larsen

Senior Director for Faculty Affairs

Tell us the story of how you came to work at NYU Law. Were you always in your current position?
Prior to joining the Law School last September, I spent ten years in Academic Programs at NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. My entrée to academia was teaching Land Use Law at Wagner as an adjunct in 2013, while still practicing land use law at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel. I recall prepping for class after getting my then-toddler to sleep, and distinctly remember sitting in on an Urban Planning curriculum meeting in the Puck Building that inspired me to think: not only do I want to join this conversation, I want this to be my conversation.

Soon after, I applied for a newly created administrator role focused on program development, and that opened the door to a decade of experience working closely with faculty, students, and external partners. During those years, I was a graduate student myself at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, became a mediator with the NYS Unified Court System, co-directed and taught in the Capstone program, and built experiences and relationships I draw on daily in my Faculty Affairs role. I have to say, being a trained lawyer working at a law school brings a sense of alignment that is energizing—I’m grateful every day to be in the midst of a conversation I want to be in!

What’s a typical day for you like?
A typical day is a lively mix of interactions and writing. After scanning the news and catching up with my inbox, I might start with a recurring meeting with Finance or HR, then hop on a call with our Office of General Counsel about a real estate matter, and before long a colleague from IT or Facilities has popped in to check in or solve something on the spot. My coffee runs to the pantry often feature fascinating chats with faculty, which are always a highlight. My coffee refreshed, I like to draft letters or agreements, or write emails. Later, I may be prepping for a meeting with a faculty member and the dean taking place that afternoon. On the best of days, I’m able to attend a faculty workshop or Forum event—the buzz of which stays with me on my commute home to Brooklyn.

What’s the most challenging thing about what you do? And what’s the most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my job is having a front-row seat to the extraordinary work happening across the Law School. I am in awe of our faculty’s research and teaching, and inspired by the creativity and dedication of our staff and administrators who bring ambitious projects to life. My role gives me the privilege of seeing the full arc of these efforts—from the earliest sparks of an idea to the moment they blossom into new engagements, partnerships, and achievements that shape our institution.

The biggest challenge—still being relatively new—isn’t the grand scale of the work so much as the complexity of how it all fits together. I envision a tapestry: each piece of work—from a colloquium to a piece of scholarship to a new center initiative—is a thread, vibrant and purposeful on its own, and an important part of my job is to steward our resources so that we continue to grow, shine our brilliant violet, and above all, advance justice.

What do you wish you’d known about the Law School on your first day?
How smart and dynamic every single person I’d meet is—ask anyone here about their passions outside of the Law School, and you will be regaled! What I’m most grateful for is how generous colleagues are with their time, perspective, and support—something I’ve especially appreciated as the Faculty Affairs department navigates a lot of recent change.

What is your favorite spot on campus, and why?
Before it was razed to make way for the Paulson building, my easy answer would have been the rooftop tennis courts at Coles Sports and Recreation Center, where I remember admiring the ornate cornice of the Cable Building—home of the Angelika Film Center—in between points. But since this question is a current snapshot in time—aligning with the ethos of our upcoming ABA site visit next academic year!—I’ll say a window seat in the eighth-floor study lounge in the Kimmel Center. The quiet view through Washington Square Park, up Fifth Avenue to the Empire State Building, resets me and helps me “go to the balcony.”