Description
Reporting to Provost Salma Ghanem, the next dean will work closely with 36 full-time and dozens of non full-time faculty members and several dozen staff. The dean oversees an operating budget of approximately $14 million. The next dean will have the opportunity to partner with other deans at DePaul as part of the Deans' Leadership Group, a collaborative and supportive team that advises the provost regarding University-wide matters. In alignment with the College's and University's strategic priorities, the next dean will respond to the following opportunities and challenges:
• Increase financial resources and enhance fiscal sustainability: As part of the dean's external responsibilities, the new leader will actively engage with current donors, alumni, and development prospects to advance fundraising and partnership-building efforts on behalf of the College of Law. In addition, the next dean will think creatively about new revenue streams, perhaps focusing on new program development and delivery as well as external grant support. Ideal candidates will bring deep financial experience and be adept at understanding and 8 managing a budget. The new leader will arrive with deep experience as a law school administrator in a larger university context and will bring this experience to bear in working with central university administration. The next dean will also understand the implications of budget prioritization and apply a keen eye to opportunities for additional investments as well as cost-saving measures.
• Raise the profile of the College of Law by highlighting successes, improving rankings, and bolstering student outcomes: The dean will partner with faculty, staff, and students to determine and implement the most effective strategies to enhance the College's visibility. Spotlighting the accomplishments of its community members, including scholarly production and professional achievements in the law arena, will be crucial. The next dean will also prioritize efforts to improve student outcomes, such as bar passage and job placement rates. Broadly, the dean will be an ardent champion of the work of students, faculty, and staff and a vocal ambassador for the College both internally and externally.
• Foster a diverse and inclusive environment: Reflecting the deeply held values of the College of Law and DePaul University as a whole, the next dean will be a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to maintaining a welcoming culture as well as a record of advancing diversity, equity, and social justice. The dean will proactively contribute to the University's goals to attract, support, and retain students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented backgrounds and weave diversity, equity, and social justice aims throughout the curriculum and College programming. In addition, the dean will respond to the collective needs of the College in ensuring equity and a sense of belonging for all constituents.
• Attract, develop, and retain outstanding faculty and staff: The College of Law has a gifted and seasoned faculty with deep experience as teachers and scholars as well as experienced and dedicated staff. The next dean will bring a wealth of experience in hiring, supporting, and retaining highly talented faculty and staff members. The new leader of the law school will foster a culture that supports innovation, open inquiry, a diversity of viewpoints, mutual respect, and a healthy work-life balance. The dean will serve as an advocate for all faculty, with particular attention to current teaching loads, timely communication, and the appropriate balance between instruction, service, and scholarly endeavors. The dean will emphasize support for staff by honoring their central and significant contributions to the College via recognition, competitive compensation, and professional development opportunities while modeling and encouraging transparent decision-making.
• Strengthen co-curricular experiences: Through initiatives such as supporting student journals, supporting student organizations, investing in experiential learning, and enhancing clinics, the next dean will engage students, faculty, staff in setting the vision and priorities for co-curricular experiences. Building upon a culture that values and invests in experiential learning, the dean will bring an imaginative and forward-thinking approach to enhancing these valuable assets further and determining and investing in areas of future growth, ensuring the College's place as a destination of choice for top students, scholars, and practitioners.
Desired Skill Sets and Attributes of the Candidate of Choice
While the DePaul search committee is open to considering candidates who have followed varied pathways to the deanship, candidates holding a terminal degree and with work experience as a law school administrator and in a wider university context will be preferred. Additionally, ideal candidates will possess many of the following skills and attributes:
• A passion for legal education;
• A record of successful and impactful fundraising from various sources;
• Understanding of and respect for the Catholic, Vincentian, and urban mission of the University;
• Clear ambition on behalf of an institution and its constituencies;
• Appreciation for and dedication to shared governance;
• A desire to work collaboratively with other colleges and administrative units that comprise DePaul;
• Understanding of the changing landscape of legal education, including the impact of globalization and artificial intelligence;
• Connections across the legal professional at the national and international levels and a desire to be engaged in the Chicagoland legal community;
• A collaborative leadership style and ability to delegate to an experienced administrative team;
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture;
• Facility communicating and working across constituencies, particularly in partnering with a highly engaged student body, many of which are first-generation students;
• A commitment to open inquiry and intellectual pluralism;
• Experience engaging in healthy debate and maintaining a spirit of mutual respect;
• A track record of effective partnership building with organizations, corporations, foundations, and other external entities; and
• A communication style that values listening, transparency, and frequent engagement.
This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Illinois. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. DePaul offers an excellent benefits package Full-Time Benefits, including tuition remission for employees and their dependents, a generous retirement plan, medical, dental, paid vacation, and sick leave, and major holidays off (including a winter holiday break and additional summer flex time). For best consideration, please send all nominations and applications (CV/résumé and a letter of interest) to:
Julie E. Tea, Managing Director
Anne E. Koellhoffer, Managing Associate
Storbeck Search
DePaulLawDean@storbecksearch.com
For more information, including information about how to apply, click this link: https://www.dsgco.com/search/20691-depaul-university-dean-college-of-law/
DePaul University is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information or any other legally protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.
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