Dean, College of Law

Buffkin / Baker • Moscow, ID

24d

About The Position

Dean, College of Law The University of Idaho (U of I) seeks an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader with a record of significant impact to serve as the next dean of the College of Law (COL). The dean will effectively promote and foster academic excellence, grow enrollment, enhance research and scholarship, participate in strategic planning, engage with key constituencies and stakeholders, expand sources of revenue and philanthropy, and work with the University and other colleges on interdisciplinary and innovative collaboration. As the only law school in Idaho, the COL is committed to its students and to providing legal education that prepares them for meaningful, impactful careers. That commitment is reflected in (1) a rigorous program of legal education grounded in excellence; (2) engagement in education and service for the public, the practicing bar, government, and the judiciary, with a dedication to delivering high-impact public service and commitment to our land grant mission; and (3) scholarly innovation with meaningful impact locally, regionally, and nationally. For more than 110 years, the College of Law has built on a strong foundation of excellence, public service, and the education of leaders, fostering a legal community grounded in professionalism and access to legal services. With two campuses approximately 350 miles apart—Moscow and Boise—the COL is uniquely positioned to play a key role contributing to legal education and the legal profession to shape the future through innovative thinking, community engagement, and transformative education. The Moscow campus offers students a vibrant, interdisciplinary academic experience through collaboration with the University of Idaho’s main campus, while the Boise campus offers an urban legal education in Idaho’s population and governmental center, with direct access to state government, the judiciary, and the practicing bar. Guided by a shared commitment to excellence and by our land grant mission, the College of Law fosters a dynamic learning environment grounded in professionalism and strengthened by the talent and energy of its community. Reporting to the Provost, the dean will play a key role in shaping the COL future. With a clear and compelling vision and a commitment to lead with respect, collaborative spirit, trust, and the highest ethical standards, the dean will continue to position the COL at the forefront of legal education, empowering its graduates to become leaders and agents of positive change in the profession and in society. Founded in 1889, University of Idaho is Idaho’s land-grant university providing high quality and accessible education while playing an important role in the state’s economic prosperity by forging partnerships to improve the lives of Idahoans. The dean has responsibility to oversee and implement policies and priorities of the college and university. The Dean for the College of Law leads the college faculty in the development of policies and priorities governing the academic programs of the college. The dean facilitates the appropriate inclusion of faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders in the college decision-making processes. The academic programs of the college are directly affected by program planning, definitions of goals and priorities, instructional methods and standards, student advising, mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders, research policies, allocation of resources, fund-raising, and the development of professional standards related to the branches of learning for which the college is responsible. The academic programs of the college include graduate/professional instruction and research activity. It is expected that the dean satisfactorily employs strategies to implement objectives and achieve the strategic goals while carrying out the mission of the college. The dean can be based in Moscow on the University of Idaho’s main campus, in the nexus of the President, Provost, Deans, and the other academic leaders, and travel to and from the Boise campus. However, the U of I is equally open to consideration of the new dean being based in Boise, with travel to and from the Moscow campus, while being a visible, accessible, and an integral part of the University’s leadership team.

Requirements

• An earned terminal degree from an accredited law school.
• Accomplishments and experience to merit an appointment with tenure and rank of full professor at COL, or truly exemplary accomplishments in the legal field otherwise commensurate with the dean’s role and responsibilities.
• Leadership experience including personnel management, resource management (finances, facilities, equipment, etc.), and quality programming / delivery.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading original initiatives focused on improving excellence in teaching, research, outreach, mentoring, and/or student success.
• Experience with strategic planning and visioning to successfully address change, managing program/professional-level accreditation and program assessment, increasing student enrollment, and attracting and retaining a robust student and employee population.
• Interpersonal and communication skills to develop, maintain, and work successfully with faculty, staff, department administrators, peer colleagues, students, alumni, and other stakeholders.
• Experience developing and advancing philanthropic opportunities, economic development, extramurally funded research, or other fundraising efforts.
• Experience teaching and/or serving students, especially in a legal academic environment.
• A record of engagement with important legal issues or questions, whether through academic scholarship, engagement in public discourse, or other forms of meaningful advocacy, as well as a commitment to the value of research and academic freedom.
• Experience executing the mission of a land-grant university.

Responsibilities

• Develop a Vision for College of Law
• Build a Stronger College of Law Community
• Embrace Innovation in Student-Focused Legal Education
• Grow Engagement with Alumni and External Constituents
• Elevate College of Law’s Reputation and Visibility
• Oversee and implement policies and priorities of the college and university
• Lead the college faculty in the development of policies and priorities governing the academic programs of the college
• Facilitate the appropriate inclusion of faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders in the college decision-making processes
• Employ strategies to implement objectives and achieve the strategic goals while carrying out the mission of the college

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree