Dean of the School of Law

University of Dayton, Ohio•Dayton, OH

18d

About The Position

The Search The University of Dayton (UD) seeks an accomplished, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader to serve as the Dean of the School of Law, commencing in 2026. The next Dean will bring strategic leadership abilities, exceptional budgetary and management skills, and an appreciation for the University’s Catholic and Marianist mission to build on the Law School’s recent accomplishments and innovate for the future. The Role and Responsibilities of the Dean As the senior leader of the Law School, the Dean is responsible for the financial health of the Law School to sustain its long-term vitality; the scholarship and academic excellence of the faculty and students to enhance the Law School’s overall academic reputation; and the administration of the Law School, all in harmony with the University’s Catholic and Marianist character. The Dean reports to the Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Dean serves on the President’s Council, the Provost’s Council, and the Academic Senate, and works in close consultation with the University’s other academic Deans. The Dean is supported by an experienced and dedicated team of faculty, senior staff, and other advisors. The Dean oversees the School of Law’s leadership team. All UDSL committee chairs also work directly with the Dean. The Dean further benefits from the support of a Dean’s Advisory Council consisting of dedicated alumni, prominent members of the legal community, and other supporters of the Law School. Opportunities and Challenges Building on recent accomplishments, the University of Dayton and its Law School seek a new Dean who brings strategic leadership abilities and exceptional management skills, along with the skills to innovate appropriate changes for the Law School. Among the major opportunities and challenges for the new Dean during the first years of their tenure are the following: Build on the Law School’s vision . Working with the faculty, staff, University leaders, and alumni to leverage the Law School’s core competencies and strengths, the Dean will guide the strategic direction of the Law School in building on its recent accomplishments. The Dean will galvanize the Law School’s faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders to participate in and contribute to achievement of a shared vision for the future. Enhance the reputation and visibility of the Law School. The Dean will put strategies and initiatives into place to enrich the Law School’s reputation and visibility. Given the challenges associated with advancing a private law school in a state with eight other law schools, many public, it is incumbent upon the next Dean to think and act strategically and creatively about ways to enhance the caliber of the Law School. The Law School has received considerable national attention for its curricular innovations. Continuing to increase the Law School’s national visibility will be a priority in the quest to elevate its stature and draw talented students from across the country. Student success will inform and guide many administrative decisions and the allocation of resources. Support Excellence in the Law School’s Faculty The new Dean will have a unique opportunity to shape the Law School’s future by overseeing efforts to fund new faculty positions and recruit new faculty members. Summer research stipends, faculty colloquia, and scholarship events such as The Honorable James J. Gilvary Symposium, the Program in Law and Technology Seminar, and the Education Law Symposium support faculty members’ scholarly endeavors. Foster a collaborative working environment within the Law School. The new Dean will be a force of cohesion for the Law School. Key to the Dean’s success will be clear communication, consensus-building, and interpersonal skills. Consistent with ABA and AALS principles, faculty governance at the Law School is strong. The Dean will respect and work effectively within this shared governance structure for faculty members to participate in decision-making processes. While maintaining high standards in teaching, scholarship, and service, the Dean will help all faculty achieve the appropriate balance between traditional classroom pedagogies and innovative approaches. As priorities and directions shift, the Dean will be called upon to build a cohesive, well-functioning faculty focused on student success. The next Dean cannot be afraid to take a stance when necessary and will need a leadership style that is transparent and collaborative, yet visionary and decisive. Advance diversity and inclusive excellence and UDSL’s commitment to being an anti-racist institution. UDSL is committed to diversity and inclusive excellence, as this ethos is at the heart of its Catholic, Marianist philosophy. The new Dean will demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to advancing diversity and inclusive excellence efforts and will have a track record of fostering an inclusive climate. The Dean will work closely with the Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence, faculty, staff, and students to further inclusive excellence and diversity. The Dean will join a University and law school team deeply committed to diversity and inclusive excellence work that transforms a mission statement or values list into tangible action. Advance an Entrepreneurial Approach to Non-JD Programs. The Dean will have a unique opportunity to bring an entrepreneurial approach to legal education. Alternative revenue from non-JD programs has been a critical component of the Law School’s financial resources in recent years, and these programs have the potential to significantly enhance UDSL’s diversity and international reputation. The Dean will need to collaborate with their leadership team to continuously improve existing programs and strategically pursue new opportunities for growth. Focus on fundraising to increase the endowment. Fundraising will be a high priority for the new Dean. Success in raising the overall profile of the Law School is intimately linked to the Dean’s ability to secure additional resources and grow the endowment. The Law School needs additional resources to provide scholarships to attract excellent students, enhance innovative and transformative programs, and recruit and cultivate outstanding faculty and staff. The Dean will drive the Law School’s advancement efforts and coordinate fundraising and other outreach efforts with the University’s Advancement office and the President. The successful candidate should have a passion for fundraising and a strong ability to take the lead in these efforts and engage with potential donors to communicate persuasively the vision and potential of the Law School. The Dean will play a key role in connecting with the local legal community, the Dayton community, and the Law School’s alumni. Working with the Dean’s Advisory Council, the Dean has a compelling opportunity to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with UDSL’s alumni. The oldest of these alumni are still young in comparison to alumni at other law schools, and the new Dean will play an important role in nurturing these successful graduates into a powerful cohort of donors. Build synergies and collaborations with the other schools at the University. The Dean will be an ambassador for the Law School across the University and an advocate for its needs and its aspirations to senior administration. The Dean will work closely with other administrative officers and academic leaders to promote heightened collaboration with other Schools on initiatives that further the mission and identity of UD. A new Dean who builds relationships across the University, recognizes untapped opportunities, and fosters a culture that supports interdisciplinary initiatives will play an important role in advancing the Law School’s mission and, in turn, enhance the Law School’s appeal to both students and faculty. As an integral member of the University’s senior leadership team, the Dean also exercises a strong voice in campus issues and will ensure that the Law School is an active and collaborative member of the University at large. The Dean will operate as a University citizen, contributing to UD’s strategic priorities, demonstrating University-wide thinking, and working proactively to inform Law School faculty and staff and engage them in the University’s culture of shared governance. Respect and support the University’s distinctive Catholic and Marianist identity. The next Dean will be a key participant in a university dedicated to the common good and the leader of a law school that understands that its graduates are lawyers for the common good. The Dean must appreciate the value of community, social justice, and the goal of educating the whole person. The Dean should have a thorough understanding of the educational mission of a Catholic and Marianist university and appreciate how those educational purposes enhance a legal education. While the Dean need not be Catholic or religious, they must come to the position with a receptiveness to and appreciation for the educational values that motivate and ground the Law School’s work. The Dean will be expected to lead by example in the Marianist tradition by treating all members of the community with equal dignity, fostering productive relationships among students, staff, and faculty, and engaging in collaborative decision making for the common good.

Requirements

University of Dayton Law School teaching experience and distinguished scholarship, with accomplishments meriting tenure at the rank of professor according to the UDSL Promotion and Tenure Policy
A deep understanding of the challenges facing legal education and experience in crafting solutions to meet these challenges
Experience with, and a commitment to, a legal education that combines theory and practice and blends experiential learning across the curriculum, including innovative programs
An understanding of the special responsibilities and contributions of a professional school within a comprehensive university that is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service
A deep, demonstrable commitment to inclusive excellence
Exceptional communication skills

Nice To Haves

An appreciation of and capacity for sustaining and strengthening the Catholic, Marianist character of UD
Experience as an administrator of an institution of higher education, or an academic unit thereof, with evidence of strong management and financial skills, and a demonstrable capacity for encouraging innovation to enhance the mission of academic excellence at the Law School and promote its financial strength
An ability to articulate a clear, creative, and compelling academic vision for the Law School that can engage faculty, staff, students, alumni, and others, and that promises to elevate the Law School to a position of distinction among law schools regionally and nationwide
Exceptional interpersonal skills with an ability to relate well to a broad range of constituencies
Fundraising capacity and versatility to help attract resources
The ability to work effectively with alumni
The capacity for and interest in collaborating with the University administration, the deans of the other academic units at UD, and stakeholders across campus
The capacity to lead effectively within an academic community based upon consensus-building, transparency, and candid communication; demonstrated appreciation and support for shared governance
An ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain talented faculty and staff, and evidence of effective supervisory and team-building skills
A commitment to improving the profile and diversity of the entering student body while raising the expectations of performance for current students
A commitment to diversity that will be reflected in the composition of the student body, faculty, and staff and in ensuring an inclusive and welcoming community for all
An appreciation of the challenges facing private universities, particularly those competing with public universities
An appreciation for a balance between excellence and innovation in teaching, scholarship, and service in law schools
A collaborative leadership style conjoined with assertiveness, flexibility, integrity, patience, and humor

Responsibilities

Responsible for the financial health of the Law School to sustain its long-term vitality
Responsible for the scholarship and academic excellence of the faculty and students to enhance the Law School’s overall academic reputation
Responsible for the administration of the Law School, all in harmony with the University’s Catholic and Marianist character
Guide the strategic direction of the Law School in building on its recent accomplishments
Put strategies and initiatives into place to enrich the Law School’s reputation and visibility
Oversee efforts to fund new faculty positions and recruit new faculty members
Foster a collaborative working environment within the Law School
Advance diversity and inclusive excellence and UDSL’s commitment to being an anti-racist institution
Advance an Entrepreneurial Approach to Non-JD Programs
Focus on fundraising to increase the endowment
Build synergies and collaborations with the other schools at the University
Respect and support the University’s distinctive Catholic and Marianist identity