THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Law. The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Law. The School is seeking a student-centered Dean who will bring intellectual leadership, strong management and interpersonal skills, and public relations and fundraising abilities to the institution. The Dean will serve an initial five-year term beginning July 1, 2018, and will report to the University’s Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Successful candidates must have a Juris Doctor from an accredited institution and a scholarly record appropriate for an appointment at the rank of tenured full professor. The successful candidate should possess strong administrative abilities, including team-building skills and a collaborative management style; demonstrate a strong commitment to the School’s scholarly mission and initiatives; encourage diversity and inclusion; and promote interdisciplinary programs within the school and across campus. The candidate should also display a strong support for the land-grant mission of the university and a commitment to engagement and external relations, including outreach to law firms, corporations, and foundations as well as government agencies, non‐profit organizations, and policy‐makers.
The responsibilities of the Dean include, but are not limited to, leading faculty and staff toward a new level of distinction; fostering excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, and service; promoting collaboration with other colleges and schools on campus in support of cross- disciplinary and campus-wide initiatives; initiating outreach efforts to heighten the visibility and distinctiveness of the School; cultivating an environment commensurate with University goals; and placing students first through a strong commitment to recruitment, development, retention, and graduation.
The University of Arkansas School of Law prepares students for success through a challenging curriculum taught by nationally recognized faculty, unique service opportunities, and a close-knit community that values students. With alumni in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, two territories, and 20 countries, it has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Values in Legal Education” by theNational Jurist magazine for five consecutive years. In the 2017 edition of U.S. News & World Report, the School of Law was included in the list of “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” ranking No. 42 among public institutions and No. 77 among public and private schools. The School enrolls approximately 400 students.
The Dean will arrive at one of the most exciting times in the history of the School of Law (http://law.uark.edu). The University is in the midst of a $1 Billion capital campaign, scheduled to conclude in 2020 (http://campaign.uark.edu). Funds raised during Campaign Arkansas will build on advancements during the previous campaign, which included a dramatic expansion of the School of Law buildings and facilities, additional library facilities, state-of-the-art classrooms, a coffee house, a signature courtyard, a Legal Clinic, student journals and organizations, and space for the School’s Graduate Program in Agricultural and Food Law (the first such program in the country).
The School of Law is located on the flagship campus (http://www.uark.edu) of the University of Arkansas system in Fayetteville (http://www.fayettevillear.com/about-fayetteville). This attractive, culturally vibrant city in the rapidly growing northwest region of the state was ranked No. 5 in U.S. News and World Report March 2016 “Best Places to Live.”
With a regional population of more than 525,000, U.S. News and World Report ranked Northwest Arkansas first among the “20 Best Affordable Places to Live.” The region is home to thriving international corporations including Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, the area features many opportunities for outdoor recreation with 70 public parks, 40 miles of trails, and three lakes. The area has a growing number of cultural and art venues, such as the Walton Arts Center, theatres and performance halls, symphonies, and the internationally recognized Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
The University is a land-grant institution that offers approximately 82 programs of major study in eight colleges to 27,558 students, is a nationally recognized student-centered research institution, and is ranked 56th in Kiplinger’s list of Best Values. Students compete among the best in the nation with prestigious, nationally competitive awards, including one Gates Cambridge Scholar, two Truman Scholars, two Goldwater Scholars, eight NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, two Fulbright Scholars, and one National GEM Consortium Full Fellowship in 2016.
The Search Committee will begin deliberations in November, but will accept applications and nominations until on-campus interviews have been held. Applications should include a curriculum vita, cover letter including a statement of interest, and list of at least three references. Only nominations and applications received by November 30, 2017, are assured consideration. The salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and background. For information regarding benefits offered, visit http://hr.uark.edu/benefits.
A complete position announcement and the link to apply is at the University Human Resources' job portal http://jobs.uark.edu/postings/23267.
The University of Arkansas is an Affirmative Action/EOE institution committed to achieving diversity in its faculty and staff. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates, especially individuals who contribute to diversity of our campus community. The University welcomes applications without regard to race/color, sex, gender, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, religion, marital or parental status, protected veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law. Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.