Book Awarded Endowed Professorship At Villanova

Leslie Book (Villanova; Google Scholar) has been named the inaugural John H. Buhsmer Esq. '84 Endowed Professor of Law: 

The Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law recently announced the John H. Buhsmer Esq. '84 Endowed Professor of Law. The new position is made possible by a $1.5 million gift from John (Jack) Buhsmer ’84 JD, ’89 LLM. Professor Leslie Book, a national authority on tax procedure and tax administration, is the inaugural professorship holder. ...

“The tax law faculty at Villanova was top-notch and made a big impact on me,” Buhsmer explained. “I built my whole career off the technical framework of the LLM. It gave me such an advantage. I could work with any technical guru on Wall Street or anyone in the big law firms.” ...

As he grew his career, Buhsmer also grew his relationship with Villanova, giving back as a committed alumnus and donor. He knew he wanted to make an even more significant impact when he learned that endowed faculty positions are a priority. He also knew he wanted to recognize a tax expert.  

The opportunity was a natural fit for Book, who has served as director of the law school’s Federal Tax Clinic, Graduate Tax Program and Online Graduate Tax Program, and a professor in residence with the IRS, Taxpayer Advocate Service. At Villanova, he received the inaugural Diane Ambler Award for faculty curricular innovation in 2018 for creating the Online Graduate Tax Program with Professor Joy Mullane. In 2021, he won the Diane Ambler Faculty Scholarship Impact Award, which recognizes work that has substantially impacted the law, the academy, the legal profession or policy debate.

“I am so very grateful for Jack’s extraordinary generosity, and I am honored to be the first John H. Buhsmer Esq. '84 Endowed Professor of Law,” said Book. “This appointment provides the inspiration and the resources for me to focus on teaching the next generation of leaders and continuing to research and write on the relationship between our tax system and fairness.”

Editor's Note:  If you would like to receive a daily email with links to tax posts on TaxProf Blog, email me here.