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The University of St. Thomas School of Law is seeking a Dean eager to capitalize on a pivotal moment in the Law School’s short but extraordinary history, and ready to guide it through the next stage of its emergence as a national leader in values-driven, whole-person-centered legal education and in scholarly and societal impact. In the two decades since its opening in 2001, the School of Law has outpaced all expectations, validating the hopes embedded in its mission: “The University of St. Thomas School of Law, as a Catholic law school, is dedicated to integrating faith and reason in the search for truth through a focus on morality and social justice.”

That mission commits the School of Law to providing rigorous engagement on matters of faith and values in the pursuit of excellence in legal education and scholarship. The school has a unique culture, fostered by its place within a Catholic university, that respects and embraces the contributions of various faiths and value systems and that nurtures respectful and rigorous exchanges of differing views and opinions on the most pressing and divisive contemporary legal and social issues. Its mission is reflected in the School of Law’s commitment to seven values: professional formation, Catholic foundation, service, scholarship, innovation, community, and relationships.

Guided by its mission and culture, the School of Law has achieved objective metrics of excellence across the key aspects of legal education, including:

• Scholarly/academic impact: #23 in Leiter-Sisk Study (2021) and #21 in Heald-Sichelman study (2019)

• #1, #2, or #3 in the nation in practical training every year since 2014 (National Jurist)

• Top 10 nearly every year for Student Quality of Life (Princeton Review 2008 – 2021)

• #4 in judicial clerkships (National Jurist 2020) and #5 for best state and local clerkships (Princeton Review 2023)

• 90% of 2022 graduates employed in full-time, long-term jobs for which bar passage is required or where having a J.D. provides a significant advantage

A more complete list is available on the leadership profile https://apptrkr.com/4401126.

The School of Law draws support from its home within the University of St. Thomas, Minnesota’s largest private university and one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities, with 9,000+ students and eight schools and colleges. The University, like the School of Law, is poised to reach new heights, having made a historic leap in 2021 from the NCAA’s Division III directly to Division I is expected to catapult the University to expanded enrollment, fundraising, and national visibility.

The School of Law seeks a Dean energized by the opportunity to steward a vibrant, engaged community to its next stage of growth. The new Dean must be committed to the school’s unique faith-based culture and prepared to build on the school’s areas of excellence. To succeed, the Dean will need to cultivate relationships with alumni, philanthropic partners, and external stakeholders. The Dean therefore must have either a proven fundraising track record or demonstrated ability in fundraising and must show a desire to engage individuals, organizations, and corporations in a meaningful conversation around shared values and philanthropic impact. The Dean must also have a strong vision for building on the school’s strengths to meet the challenges from the technological and social changes affecting the legal profession. Candidates must, at a minimum, hold a J.D. degree and have an outstanding record of accomplishment in the legal academy, the practice of law, or the judiciary, demonstrating a level of intellectual leadership warranting appointment at the rank of Professor of Law.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of St. Thomas in this search. Review of applicant materials has begun; for fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 30, 2023 and submitted using WittKieffer’s https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Werner Boel, LL.M. and Ashlee Winters Musser StThomasLawDean@wittkieffer.com

The University of St. Thomas embraces diversity, inclusion, and equality for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We welcome applicants of diverse races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, religions, work experience, physical and intellectual abilities, and financial means. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Salary or salary range: DOE

Closing Date: 08/16/2023

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/4401126