Judicial Studies Graduate Program Director

University of Nevada Reno • Reno, NV

7d

About The Position

The University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Liberal Arts is recruiting for a Director of the Judicial Studies Graduate Program. This position provides academic, administrative, and strategic leadership for the program, including oversight of curriculum, graduate admissions and recruitment, student advising and progress-to-degree, and assessment and accreditation-related activities. The Director teaches in the Judicial Studies M.A. and Ph.D. programs, chairs and serves on graduate committees, and coordinates faculty participation in program delivery. In collaboration with the Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Law and College leadership, the Director advances program visibility, partnerships, and enrollment growth, and represents the program within the University and to external stakeholders. The position reports directly to the Dean and the program is housed under the Center for Constitutional Law. Duties include but are not limited to:

Requirements

• Terminal degree (Ph.D. or Ph.D. and J.D.) in a related field such as Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Communication Studies, Anthropology, Law, or related discipline.
• Experience working with courts, judges, judicial education programs, or legal institutions with demonstrated familiarity with the judicial system and the role of courts in U.S. society
• Administrative experience in academic or professional programs (e.g., graduate program leadership, judicial education, court administration, or similar), including coordination of programs, budgeting, or operational oversight.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, or advising graduate students and building effective relationships with academic, judicial, and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall academic and administrative leadership for the Judicial Studies Graduate Program, including long-term planning, enrollment management, and program assessment.
• Lead graduate admissions, recruitment, and retention efforts, including outreach at professional conferences, legal education events, and targeted engagement with prospective students and partner organizations.
• Coordinate and assign faculty to serve on graduate advisory and dissertation committees and ensure timely progress-to-degree for M.A. and Ph.D. students.
• Develop, revise, and implement program policies, curriculum requirements, and course offerings in consultation with participating faculty and College leadership.
• Serve as the primary liaison to external partners, including the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, to facilitate cooperative teaching agreements, shared resources, and aligned course offerings.
• Represent the program within the College, University, and to external stakeholders, and contribute to strategic initiatives that enhance program visibility and sustainability.
• Participate in the activities and initiatives of the Center for Constitutional Law.
• Engage in outreach and service to the University and broader legal and judicial community, including public programs, professional events, and collaborative initiatives that advance the mission of the College and the Center.
• Teach three graduate-level courses per year in the Judicial Studies M.A. and Ph.D. programs, including course development, delivery, and assessment in an online learning environment.
• Chair and serve on graduate advisory, comprehensive exam, and dissertation committees as needed.
• Provide academic advising and structured mentoring to graduate students, supporting scholarly development, professional pathways, and timely completion of degree milestones.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of teaching practices and curriculum through assessment of student learning outcomes and incorporation of best practices in online graduate education.

Benefits

• Health insurance options including dental and vision
• Generous annual, sick leave, long term disability and life insurance
• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.
• Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments.
• No state income tax!
• Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees
• Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees