John Smagula is Assistant Dean for Graduate and International Programs at Temple Law, where he leads the school’s global legal education initiatives. He oversees Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs, international partnerships, study abroad, and student and faculty exchanges, and he drives innovation in international law school program design, academic strategy, and cross-border engagement.
He has worked extensively with legal educators and institutions worldwide and is proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Italian, and Spanish. He frequently presents at international law schools and conferences on legal education and global program development.
From 2003 to 2018, Dean Smagula directed Temple Law’s China Rule-of-Law Program. He previously taught law at leading universities and practiced corporate law in the New York and Hong Kong offices of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, as well as at Totti & Rodriguez Diaz in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Pomona College, a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, and an M.S. in Education from Temple University, with a focus on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Dean Smagula also directs Temple Law’s Tea Club and tea education program, the first of its kind, promoting cultural learning and wellness among students through the study of global tea traditions. A Certified Tea Specialist in both the U.S. and China, he is regularly invited to speak on the intersection of tea, culture, and education.