Professor Monroe Price, a beloved member of the Cardozo community who served as dean from 1982 to 1991 and remained a dedicated colleague and mentor for more than two decades thereafter, has passed away.
During his tenure as dean, Professor Price led the law school through a formative period of growth, laying the foundation for many of Cardozo’s most enduring programs and areas of distinction. A visionary leader with both intellectual breadth and practical ingenuity, he possessed a rare ability to translate ideas into lasting institutional achievements. His entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to innovation helped define Cardozo’s identity as a dynamic and forward-looking law school.
“Monroe was an extraordinary generator of ideas,” said Dean Melanie Leslie. “In Cardozo’s formative years, he helped shape not only the school’s ambitions but also its trajectory as a center of legal innovation. Like so many others, I benefited from his guidance, wisdom, and friendship.”
An early champion of intellectual property law, Professor Price recognized its growing importance well before it became widely established as a core field of legal study. He prioritized its development at Cardozo and recruited faculty and students who helped build a vibrant academic community. His leadership also contributed to the creation of numerous signature initiatives, including the Kukin Center for Conflict Resolution, the Bet Tzedek Clinic, the Alexander Fellows Program, and the Arts and Entertainment Law Journal.
Former Dean David Rudenstine reflected, “Monroe inspired generations of Cardozo students with his intellectual energy and optimism about new ways of thinking. His vision continues to shape the institution we are today.”
Professor Price was also a pioneering scholar in media law. He founded the Howard M. Squadron Program in Law, Media, and Society and taught in the field for many years. In collaboration with the University of Oxford, he established the International Media Moot Court Competition, which brings students from around the world to engage with pressing legal issues at the intersection of media, technology, and global society.
His commitment to public service and legal scholarship began early in his career. He worked in American Indian law as a visiting professor at the University of California School of Law, served as deputy director of California Indian Legal Services, and was among the founders of the Native American Rights Fund. He also authored Law and the American Indian, a foundational text in the field.
Following his deanship, Professor Price continued to contribute to legal education and global scholarship as the Joseph and Sadie Danciger Professor of Law and Director of the Squadron Program at Cardozo. His influence extended internationally through leadership roles including Director of the Center for Global Communication Studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication, Director of the Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research in London, and Chair of the Center for Media and Communication Studies at Central European University in Budapest. Through this work, he engaged extensively with scholars, regulators, and practitioners across Europe, Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the United States.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Professor Price clerked for Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart. He also served as assistant to Secretary of Labor W. Willard Wirtz and as a researcher for the Warren Commission.
At Cardozo, Professor Price will be remembered not only for his institutional leadership and scholarly contributions, but also for his generosity as a mentor and colleague. His intellectual curiosity, warmth, and boundless enthusiasm left a lasting impression on generations of students and faculty.
Reflecting on his influence, Dean Leslie noted, “We are all beneficiaries of Monroe’s vision and his unwavering belief in what this institution could become. His legacy will continue to guide and inspire us for years to come.”