Staff Q&A: Anna Elbroch -- Interim Associate Dean of Faculty

Anna Elbroch, professor of law, was recently appointed interim associate dean of faculty at UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law. Elbroch first became affiliated with the law school in 2019 as an adjunct faculty member. Since that time, she has served in various roles, including associate dean of academic administration, director of online programs, and director of legal writing. Elbroch grew up in New Hampshire and attended high school in Massachusetts. She graduated from UNH with a degree in psychology and later earned her JD from Boston College Law School. Prior to entering academia, Elbroch worked in private practice with Samdperil & Welsh, PLLC in Exeter and was a staff attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender in Stratham. 

Why did you decide to enter the legal profession?
I initially planned to become a child psychologist. As a psychology major at UNH, I was drawn to courses on crime and the law 

(taught by the recently retired Professor Ellen Cohn) and began to see how legal training could be a powerful tool for protecting rights and shaping systems. I was especially interested in combining a psychological understanding of behavior with legal advocacy.

Tell me about your legal background. 
My first position after law school was with the New Hampshire Public Defender in Stratham. For four years, I represented adults and children charged with offenses, ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. I then requested to focus exclusively on representing children. At that time, New Hampshire did not have a unit dedicated to representing children, and I became the only public defender in the state handling delinquency cases. I represented hundreds of children across six courts in Rockingham County. After leaving the Public Defender’s office, I moved into private practice, where I continued representing children in abuse and neglect matters, delinquency proceedings, marital cases, and special education disputes. Throughout my practice, my work centered on advocating for children and navigating complex systems on their behalf.

What led you to academia and how does your experience as a practicing attorney impact your work at the law school?
I have always been drawn to public service and education. After teaching an adult education course on practice legal rights, I realized how much I valued helping people understand the law. My experience representing children shaped my teaching philosophy — student-centered, practical, and focused on making complex legal concepts accessible and meaningful.  

What have been your primary responsibilities, and how has your work has evolved over the last five years at the law school?           
I began as an adjunct, teaching legal analysis and writing and supervising students’ externships. When the Hybrid JD Program launched, I helped develop its legal writing curriculum. In 2021, I became the director of legal writing. In that role, I design first-year curriculum, support faculty, and coordinate programming for students in both residential and hybrid programs.

You are now serving as interim associate dean of faculty. What will be your primary responsibilities?
As interim associate dean, I oversee faculty affairs and academic administration, including appointments and workload, promotion and tenure processes, adjunct and visiting faculty, the Registrar’s Office, our Hybrid JD Program, and resolution of academic issues.

What about your background makes this job a good fit for you?
I value organization, collaboration, and thoughtful planning. I am comfortable doing sustained, detailed work and helping teams move projects forward. While I am naturally introverted, I care deeply about supporting faculty and students and building strong systems behind the scenes. 

What are some of your goals in this new role?
I hope to support Dean [Courtney] Brooks in fostering a stable, transparent, and collaborative academic community. I am especially focused on long-term planning and clear communication for both our residential and online programs, as well as creative problem-solving within the broader UNH community.

What do you want people to know about you outside of work?
I love reading and traveling with my husband and two teenage daughters. I also cherish time outdoors. Our family Labrador recently passed away, and adjusting to life without her has been deeply difficult.