Office of the Dean

Dean Megan Carpenter

Megan M. Carpenter is dean of the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. Dean Carpenter is an internationally known expert in intellectual property, with particular interests in entrepreneurship, branding, and the arts.

Prior to joining Franklin Pierce, Dean Carpenter was founder and co-director of the Center for Law and Intellectual Property at Texas A&M University School of Law, where she also served as Professor of Law and Faculty Director of three intellectual property and entrepreneurship-related clinical programs.

Dean Carpenter has extensive experience in institution-building; her talent for driving initiatives from concept to execution has helped to establish successful programs both within law schools and universities generally. She has spearheaded the creation of innovative academic programs, including experiential learning initiatives, joint degree programs, study abroad, regular conferences and symposia, certificate programs, and interdisciplinary programs with various colleges across university campuses. A hallmark of her leadership is a collaborative and student-centered approach.

She writes and publishes in the area of intellectual property and innovation, including the book, Evolving Economies: The Role of Law in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She has written multiple book chapters and published works in the Hastings Law Journal, Fordham Law Review, Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, and the Yale Journal of Human Rights and Development.

Dean Carpenter believes that learning best takes place at the intersection of theory, policy, and practice. She has received multiple awards for her dedication to students, her skills in program development, and her service to the university and the community, including the Texas A&M University System Distinguished Faculty Award, the President’s Grand Challenge Award, the Judith Kuhn & Stephen R. Alton Service Award, and the United States Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Best Workshop Award. Throughout her career, Dean Carpenter has engaged intellectual property law with underserved communities such as early-stage entrepreneurs, musicians, and grassroots arts organizations.

Dean Carpenter practiced law at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart (now K&L Gates), where she represented clients on a variety of intellectual property and technology-related issues.

Meet the Dean's Advisory Council


UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law is proud to announce that Melissa Lynn Davis, Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Criminal Practice Cli... Learn More
Each year, UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law offers students and practicing professionals an opportunity to learn about trending topics in intellectua... Learn More
Despite a distance of approximately 5,000 miles — with an ocean in the middle — the deans of the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of... Learn More
UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program Among 12 Programs Recognized for Innovation Advancing the Legal Industry Through Education
UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law has been named a finalist in Bloomberg Law’s second annual Law School Innovation Program. UNH Franklin Pierce is one... Learn More
Dean Megan Carpenter has been named among National Jurist’s Top 20 Most Influential People in Legal Education. Learn More
The Judicial Council Grant for the Criminal Defense Academy
UNH Franklin Pierce Associate Professor Melissa Davis began speaking last year with the executive director of the New Hampshire Judicial Council about... Learn More
UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law has partnered with the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation (IPOEF) to launch a first-in-the-nation joi... Learn More
With 240 students set to enroll for the fall semester, the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law will welcome its largest class, o... Learn More
Graduates Honored at Law School's 48th Commencement
A record crowd of over 1,200 family members and friends filled every available seat to celebrate UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law’s 48th Commencement... Learn More
The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law is honored to welcome Dana Remus, Former Assistant to the President and White House Coun... Learn More