Anthony T. Kronman

Anthony Townsend Kronman (born May 12, 1945) is an American legal scholar who serves as a Sterling Professor at Yale Law School specializing in contracts, bankruptcy, jurisprudence, social theory, and professional responsibility. He was the 14th dean of Yale Law School from 1994 to 2004.

Early life and education

Kronman was raised in Los Angeles, California, the son of Harry Kronman, a Hollywood screenwriter, and actress Rosella Towne. Kronman received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Williams College in 1968 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then received a Ph.D. in philosophy from Yale University in 1972, and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1975. Outside of his academic obligations, Kronman is of counsel at the law firm of Boies, Schiller & Flexner.

Views on diversity Kronman has characterized contemporary diversity campaigns as political rather than educational. In his 2019 book Assault on American Excellence, he criticized Yale's decisions to change the title of "master" to "head of college" and to rename "Calhoun College". He rebuked University President Peter Salovey's lack of support for the Christakises, who were targeted by students during a 2015 protest over inclusivity and free discourse. Other members of the university community disagreed with Kronman's positions.