Stephen L. Ball has been appointed Harvard Law School’s new dean of students, making history as the first Black man to serve in that role.

“Stephen is warm, generous, caring, and dedicated to supporting the well-being and flourishing of all our students,” John F. Manning, the Morgan and Helen Chu Dean and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, and Dean of Student Services Jessica Soban said in a joint statement.

“His time as a student here, his broad knowledge of our profession, and his demonstrated commitment to mentorship and to fostering the aspirations and talents of others make him an excellent choice to be our new dean of students.”

“This is such a tremendous opportunity on both a professional and personal level. It builds on what I accomplished in my previous roles, while also allowing me to embrace an entirely new challenge,” Ball, a first-generation college student in his family said.

“Being able to bring all of that together for a place that I care so much about is deeply inspiring. I am honored to have the chance to impact the student experience at HLS and looking forward to innovating and improving upon the terrific foundation that’s already there.”

The metro Detroit native began his legal career as a litigation associate at Baker & Hostetler. His most recent position was at Wells Fargo, working as a senior vice president and strategy lead on advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.