Randy Dryer is the Presidential Honors Professor in the Honors College at the University of Utah and a Professor of Law (Lecturer) at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.  He remains “of counsel” to Parsons Behle & Latimer, Utah’s oldest and largest law firm.  He is a nationally recognized expert in media law, having represented virtually every major news organization in the state of Utah and many national news organizations, including 60 Minutes, CNN, Scripps-League Newspapers, Redbook Magazine, The New York Times, and the Associated Press.  

Randy is also a recognized expert in social media law and crisis management, having advised numerous private companies and government entities in drafting crisis management plans and social media policies.

Randy has been listed in Best Lawyers in America every year since 1993 and was named a “Utah Top Lawyer” by Utah Business Magazine and a Rocky Mountain “Super Lawyer.”  Out of 1.1 million lawyers in the United States, Randy was one of 500 named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators Guide in 2006.  He was named Salt Lake City Litigation- First Amendment Lawyer of the Year for 2012 by Best Lawyers. 

He teaches courses at the University relating to the subjects of civil litigation, privacy, social media and judicial process.  In 2021, he received the University Distinguished Teaching Award and was named Lawyer of the Year by the Utah State Bar Association. In 2024, he received the University Distinguished Faculty Service Award.  Since joining the University as a full time professor in 2011 he has served in a variety of administrative roles, including the Acting Dean of the Honors College andteh elected President of the Academic Senate.  He currently is the Associate Dean of Non-JD programs at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. 

Randy served as a trustee of the University of Utah for 17 years, including 8 years as chair or vice chair.  He was on the Board of Trustees and Management Committee of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the 2002 Winter Games and chaired the Utah Sports Authority for nine years.  

Randy is married to Kathy Davis Dryer, who is also a graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law. All three of their children also have law degrees (Utah, Colorado and Stanford) which he says was by accident, not design.  Randy enjoys biking and hiking and is an ardent yoga enthusiast.