On September 27, 2025, Dean Emeritus Jace C. Gatewood received the TORCH Award at the 15th Annual RICE Awards held at Atlanta City Hall. The award recognizes individuals who have shown significant leadership and dedication to improving their communities.
The Rising In Community Excellence (RICE) Awards is an annual event in Atlanta that honors people and organizations for their positive impact on the community. The TORCH Award is among its highest distinctions, celebrating those with a sustained record of service.
Jace C. Gatewood served as the 10th Dean and CEO of Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS), becoming the first African American to hold this role since the school was founded in 1933. His tenure spanned from January 2020 through the end of the 2024–2025 academic year, during which he led AJMLS through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. He also oversaw AJMLS’s transition to nonprofit status, helped establish the John Marshall Law School Foundation, and guided development of a new campus with modern facilities.
Before becoming dean, Gatewood joined AJMLS as a faculty member in 2008 and later served as Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, and Associate Dean of Academic Programs. He taught courses including Property, Business Organizations, Sales and Secured Transactions, Wills, Trusts and Estates, and Agency and Negotiations. His research has focused on topics like the Fourth Amendment and privacy rights in technology.
Gatewood practiced law for nearly twenty years before entering academia. He worked at firms such as Weil Gotshal LLP; Troutman Sanders LLP; Powell Goldstein LLP; Atlanta Housing Authority; and his own practice in Atlanta. His legal expertise includes commercial lending as well as corporate and real estate finance transactions.
He attended Georgetown University on a full athletic scholarship for track and field. In 1980 he set world and American records in the Distance Medley Relay before earning his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
"Receiving the TORCH Award highlights Dean Gatewood’s unwavering dedication to public service and his lasting contributions to legal education and the Atlanta community. Throughout his career, he has been a mentor to countless students, a collaborator with faculty and staff, and a leader who guided AJMLS through periods of growth and transformation. His initiatives, including advancing academic programs and enhancing community engagement, reflect a commitment to excellence that will influence the law school for years to come."
"The values he championed will continue to resonate with students, alumni, and colleagues, ensuring that his legacy will endure well beyond his tenure. These achievements serve as an inspiring example of how leadership in education can create meaningful change both within and beyond the classroom."