J. Ross Lee served as Dean of the Ohio Northern University College of Law from 1885-86.

He was the first dean in the school’s history, although at that time, his title was Principal in the Law Department. Lee had obtained both an A.B. and an LL.D. degree.

Lee authored two books. The first, A Treatise on the Elements of Law: Designated as a Text-book for Schools and Colleges and Handbook for Business Men and General Reader, was published by Wagner Brothers of Ada, Ohio in 1886. Two years later, he wrote Chromatic Chart and Manual of Parliamentary Law, published by R. Clark & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio.