At his last commencement ceremony as dean of Seton Hall University School of Law on May 22, Patrick Hobbs urged graduates to uphold high ethical standards in their careers, and said they could call him for advice any time they face a dilemma that would jeopardize their law license.

Being so accessible to students is nothing new for Hobbs. For the past 16 years he has given every first-year student his cellphone number on the first day of class and invited them to call if they have a problem.

Hobbs, who is set to step down June 30, steered the law school through unprecedented change during his time at the helm. When law school applications plunged dramatically beginning in 2009, Hobbs instituted a series of measures that allowed Seton Hall's law school to survive a reduction in tuition revenue while enhancing its reputation.