The Faculty Lounge

James McGrath Named Dean of WMU Cooley Law

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has announced that James McGrath, professor of law and associate dean for academic support and bar services at Texas A&M University School of Law, will serve as its next president and dean.  McGrath received a JD from Howard, an LLM from Temple and an MPH from Harvard.  He takes over July 1.

Jane Aiken Named Dean of Wake Forest Law

Wake Forest University has announced that Jane Aiken will be the next dean of its law school.  Jane, the Blume Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, previously served as the law center's Associate Dean for Experiential Education and then Vice Dean.  She holds a JD from NYU and an LLM from Georgetown.  I'm particularly excited to see Jane take on the deanship for two reasons.  First, it's incredibly encouraging to see the appointment of a dean with roots in clinical legal education.   Second, on a purely personal level, Jane has been a hugely supportive person for me over the course of many years - since the days she was teaching at Wash U and I was teaching at Alabama.   She makes the big move this summer.

Lincoln Davies Named Dean of Ohio State Law

The Ohio State University has named Lincoln Davies as its new law school dean.  Davies is the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the University of Utah College of Law; he joined the Utah faculty in 2007.  He holds a JD from Stanford and will be taking over at OSU this summer.

Anita Krug Named Dean of Chicago-Kent Law

The Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent School of Law has announced that Professor Anita Krug will be its new dean.  Krug, the D. Wayne and Anne Gittinger Professor of Law at the University of Washington School of Law, has previously served as interim dean at Washington.   She joined the Washington faculty in 2010, having previously been a partner at Howard, Rice in San Francisco.  She holds a JD and a Ph.D (Political Science) from Harvard.

Memphis Law Seeks Dean

The University of Memphis is seeking a new dean for its law school.  Details are here.  They will begin reviewing nominations this week.  

South Texas Law Names Michael Barry Dean

South Texas College of Law Houston has announced that Mike Barry, the assistant dean and practitioner in residence at St. Mary’s University School of Law, will be its new president and dean.  Prior to 2015, he was senior vice president and deputy general counsel with USAA.  Barry, who holds a JD from Yale, will join South Texas this summer. 

Touro College Law Seeks New Dean

Touro College Fuchsberg Law Center has announced that it is searching for a new dean as Dean Harry Ballan completes a three year term.  The posting from Witt/Kieffer is here.  

Steven Payne Named Dean of Catholic Law

Catholic University is joining the movement to look outside academia for its law deans.  The University has named Steven Payne as the dean of Catholic Law.  Payne, a health care lawyer and partner at Gibson Dunn in D.C., holds a JD from Yale.  He will take over on July 1.

Hiring Announcement: University of Memphis (Law School Dean)

From an email message that I received recently:

The University of Memphis is seeking an experienced and innovative individual to be the Dean of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. The School of Law occupies a beautiful historic building in Downtown Memphis overlooking the Mississippi River. The school seeks to build on its excellent reputation while encouraging student success, scholarship, and financial development. To learn more please visit https://www.memphis.edu/law/dean-search/.

The Dean provides strong leadership in planning, development, and implementation of all School programs and policies. Specific responsibilities include approval of hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions; effective management of resources; coordination of outreach activities; support of research, including pursuit of external funding; and School development. The Dean has primary budgetary responsibility and accountability for the School and its programs. The Dean plays a leading role in developing and implementing professional programs promoting academic and student success. 

The Dean of the School of Law must have demonstrated significant achievement in leadership, scholarly activities, and administration. The Dean should be a transformative change agent who is committed to shared governance and open communication. Specifically, the candidates must demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications: 

* A Juris Doctor or other appropriate doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education and qualified to hold professorial rank within the School of Law 

* A distinguished record of teaching, research, and scholarship 

* The energy and vision to lead the School of Law in its drive to increase excellence 

* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for relating effectively with the varied constituencies of the School, University, and the larger community 

* A strong commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity 

* A record of responsible administrative experience and achievements 

* A commitment to excellence in all of the educational programs in the School, to the expansion of student success, research opportunities, and innovative program development 

* Ability to foster a collaborative environment 

* Proven record of successful external fundraising (preferred) 

Applications should include a letter of interest, CV, and full contact information for a minimum of three references. References will be contacted only at the stage of on-campus interviews. Applications are accepted at http://workforum.memphis.edu/postings/21677. 

A review of applications and nominations will begin on April 8, 2019 and continue until the position is filled. 

For additional information please contact: 

Dr. Kandi Hill-Clarke, Dean of the College of Education and Search Committee Chair K.Hill-Clarke@memphis.edu

Utah Law Taps Elizabeth Kronk Warner as Dean

The University of Utah has announced that Elizabeth Kronk Warner will be the new dean of the law school.  Kronk Warner, who holds a JD from Michigan, will take over this summer.  She is currently associate dean of Academic Affairs, professor and director of the Tribal Law and Government Center at the University of Kansas School of Law.  

Avi Soifer Stepping Down as Dean of Hawaii Law

It's a once in a generation opportunity!  Dean Avi Soifer has announced he will step down after 16 years as dean of University of Hawaii Law as soon as his replacement is found.  The competition begins now, as highly qualified candidates vie for this good life-meets-career opportunity.  

Verna Williams Named Dean of Cincinnati Law

The University of Cincinnati College of Law has announced that Verna Williams, the interim dean, has been selected as the law school's permanent leader.  She joined the law school in 2001 and became interim dean in  2017.  She holds a JD from Harvard.   

Neil Fulton Named Dean of South Dakota Law

Neil Fulton, the Federal Public Defender for the Districts of South Dakota and North Dakota, has been named the new dean of the University of South Dakota School of Law.  He previously served as chief of staff to former South Dakota Governor Michael Rounds.   Fulton, who holds a JD from the University of Minnesota, will take over this summer.  

Michèle Alexandre Named Dean of Stetson Law

Stetson University has announced that Michèle Alexandre will be its next dean of the law school.  Alexandre, who holds a JD from Harvard, is currently the associate dean for faculty development and intellectual life at the University of Mississippi School of Law.  She will be joining Stetson starting in June.

Mark Martin Named Dean of Regent Law

Regent University has appointed Mark Martin as its new dean, effective earlier this month.  Martin was previously the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and holds a JD from the University of North Carolina.  

Touro Law Seeks Dean

This just in:

Touro College invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Dean and Professor of Law for the Jacob D. Fuchsberg Touro Law Center, located in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.

Touro Law Center is part of the Touro College and University System, a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College is an independent institution of higher education under Jewish auspices, established in 1970 to transmit and perpetuate the Jewish heritage, as well as to serve the general community in keeping with the historic Jewish commitment to intellectual inquiry, the transmission of knowledge, social justice, and service to society. Approximately 18,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Consistent with the College’s mission, Touro Law Center provides a diverse student body a rigorous, innovative, and immersive path towards becoming practice-ready professionals committed to promoting social justice and serving the needs of their clients and communities with compassion and integrity. Touro Law Center has approximately 486 students and loyal and committed worldwide alumni network of 6,500. Touro Law Center is one of two law schools on Long Island, an area of almost three million people, within a one hour drive to New York City. Touro Law Center was selected for a leadership role in New York State’s Justice for All program. Touro Law Center is the only law school in the region that has partnered with the courts, legal services corporations, and the local bar association to create the nationally recognized Community Legal Help Project which serves residents of Suffolk County in their neighborhoods, residents who would not otherwise have access to legal assistance. Touro Law Center faculty and students are in the community and are contributing significantly to help close the justice gap.

Touro Law Center seeks its sixth dean who is a visionary and decisive leader to build on the school’s history of excellence and innovation in legal education. The next dean will have the exciting opportunity and responsibility for overseeing a planned campus expansion including the Law Center's new student housing and Clinic/Public Advocacy buildings as well as welcoming the Touro College Schools of Health Sciences and Graduate Education to the Central Islip campus in the fall of 2020. This initiative includes not only the capital construction, but opportunities to build innovative and meaningful inter-disciplinary educational programs, research initiatives, and community outreach, as well as actively co-leading a “Campaign for the Future” with the dean of Touro’s School of Health Sciences. In addition, the next dean will continue the Law Center’s commitment to student-centered education including assessment throughout the curriculum and the program of legal education.

Michael McGinniss Named Dean of North Dakota Law

Professor Michael McGinnis has been named the new dean of the University of North Dakota School of Law.  He joined the UND faculty in 2010 and is a graduate of William & Mary Law. 

April Barton Named Dean of Duquesne Law

Duquesne University Law has announced that its new dean will be April Barton, currently associate dean of academic affairs at Villanova Law.  Barton will take over from Maureen Lally-Green in July.  She holds a JD from Villanova.  

Bam Named Interim Dean of Maine Law

The University of Maine School of Law has named Dmitri Bam, currently associate dean, as its interim dean.  Bam, who holds a JD from Stanford, will take over this summer from Danielle Conway who is leaving to become dean of Penn State Dickinson Law.  

Knapp Named Interim Head of Mitchell Hamline Law

The Mitchell Hamline School of Law has named Peter Knapp, currently associate dean for academic affairs, to become interim president and dean of the law school beginning July 1. Knapp, who holds a JD from Harvard, joined the William Mitchell faculty in 1989.  He will replace Mark Gordon who steps down this summer.