Job Description

Dean, School of Law

The University of San Francisco invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the School of Law to begin in the 2013-2014 academic year.

The University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is recognized nationally and internationally as a premier Jesuit, Catholic, urban University with a global perspective that educates leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. The University offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and professionals, and the values and sensitivity necessary to be men and women for others.

Established as San Francisco’s first institution of higher education in 1855, the University of San Francisco presently serves over 10,000 students in Arts and Sciences, Education, Law, Management, and Nursing and Health Professions. The University is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse institutions in the country, and in 2009 it was ranked as one of the top 100 universities considered to be “Saviors of our Cities.” In addition, the Corporation for National and Community Service has placed the University on the President’s Honor Roll for six years in a row, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has classified USF as a community-engaged institution. The U.S. News & World Report ranks USF sixth most successful in graduating low income students, and the Washington Monthly’s National University Ranking rates USF 48^th based on its contribution to the public good.

The Law School

Founded in 1912, the University of San Francisco’s School of Law is celebrating 100 years dedicated to pursuing the highest level of legal education, scholarship, and service in the pursuit of justice through its diverse, vibrant, and welcoming community. The School of Law is fully accredited by the ABA and is a member of the AALS. It offers full-time and part-time (evening) J.D. degree programs and a concurrent JD/MBA degree program, as well as LL.M degrees in International and Comparative Law and in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. The School’s Center for Law and Global Justice, McCarthy Institute for Intellectual Property and Technology Law, and Center for Law and Ethics sponsor research programs, speakers and symposia, and provide a range of student opportunities, including clinical offerings and access to global internships.

The faculty, with 33 full-time members, has been transformed over the last 15 years with the appointment of 20 entry-level and lateral professors. This influx has bolstered the School’s long tradition of excellence in both teaching and scholarship. The dynamic faculty, among the most diverse in the nation, is collegial, productive, and engaged in teaching, scholarship, and service across a wide array of legal fields – locally, nationally, and globally.

With 671 students, the School of Law’s student body is among the top ten most diverse in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The curriculum offers innovative programs that prepare students for the changing roles of lawyers in today's world and the increasing globalization of law practice. The School fosters a collaborative and supportive learning environment and provides students with the ethical and practical skills to succeed as professionals.

The School of Law prides itself on producing skilled, ethical professionals, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Its loyal network of alumni include approximately 300 judges, as well as partners in law firms, business leaders, government attorneys, and public interest lawyers.  Through a committed Board of Counselors and Board of Governors, alumni are engaged in and support the School’s on-going development.

The USF School of Law website can be viewed at http://www.usfca.edu/law/.

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Dean serves as the chief academic, fiscal, and administrative officer of the School of Law. The Dean reports to the Provost/Academic Vice-President and serves as a member of the Provost’s Council and the President’s Leadership Team. The successful candidate will be appointed as a Professor of Law with tenure. The Dean oversees 33 full-time faculty, approximately 67 adjunct faculty, and 51 staff members. In addition, the Dean: 

• As an executive officer of the University, envisions future trends, challenges, and opportunities in higher education and, in particular, legal education, and how USF can lead the way.

• Engages in innovative curriculum and program development to meet the demands of a transforming legal market. 

• Provides leadership and vision to the School of Law; works with faculty to create an academic, cultural, and physical environment conducive to scholarship, intellectual vitality, and learning; and establishes and nurtures a supportive diverse work environment. 

• Promotes the inclusive Vision, Mission and Values of the University as a Jesuit Catholic institution through the activities and programs of the School of Law and works with other University administrators to assure the well-being and success of the University and the School.  

• Ensures the quality of academic programs, faculty, and students; prepares and administers the School of Law’s annual budget; carries out strategic planning in collaboration with the School’s community; recommends appointment, promotion, and tenure to the Provost; and promotes faculty development and excellence in teaching and research.

• Oversees and spearheads the School of Law Development and Alumni Relations Office in cooperation with the University’s Advancement Office, recognizing that gathering resources and outreach to alumni are critical for the School’s future and one of the Dean’s primary responsibilities.

• Supports the continuous improvement of the School of Law through program review, assessment, and institutional accreditation.

Qualifications 

The University is searching for a visionary leader who will build on the School of Law’s strengths to reach new levels of educational innovation and scholarly achievement and impact.  The University seeks a proven leader in the field with a distinctive record of achievement. The candidate should demonstrate: 

• Understanding of, commitment to, and ability to promote the Vision, Mission, and Values of the University. 

• For academic applicants, an established record of superior university teaching, scholarship, and distinguished university, professional, and community/public service sufficient to merit appointment as full professor of law with tenure. (This qualification applies only to academic applicants, not non-academic applicants. Applications from non-academics are also welcome.)

• Administrative leadership, vision, innovation, and a record of increasing experience and responsibilities in a diverse environment characterized by collegial management, mentorship, inclusive decision making, and effective communication skills.

• Ability to create and  nurture a supportive environment that utilizes transparent processes to foster intellectual vitality, creativity, student learning, and outstanding teaching, research, and service. 

• A demonstrated commitment to and record of serving students (understanding, listening and being sensitive and responsive to their needs and concerns) and active participation in student activities and events that encourage social, professional, and intellectual growth and development.

• Commitment to affirmative action, social justice, and diversity in all its forms; experience in supporting, promoting, and implementing the learning opportunities offered by a diverse community.

• Experience with and commitment to fostering international perspectives in the curriculum and promoting global experiences for students, faculty, and staff.

• Ability to establish a visible presence and to represent the School of Law nationally in the legal academy, the practicing bar, among San Francisco Bay Area stakeholders, alumni, and the general public.

• Understanding of the changing legal market and the initiative to explore its implications for the structure of legal education generally and the School of Law in particular. 

• Commitment to continuing and building a proactive fundraising program that supports the School of Law’s growth, financial stability, and the University’s Vision, Mission and Values.

• Ability to work effectively with the University across all schools/college, the University’s Trustees, and as a member of the University’s Leadership Team.

Application Process

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited (no calls please). Candidates should send a CV and a cover letter describing their interest in the position and commenting on their background in the context of the qualifications described above. The names of five references should be provided with email and telephone contact information, and identification of your professional relationship to each reference. All materials should be submitted electronically to 4675@imsearch.com. Materials that must be mailed can be sent to 

Isaacson Miller
649 Mission Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94105-4128

The Committee will review applications as received and will continue until a selection is made. Applications should be completed as soon as possible but no later than December 15th, 2012. 

Inquiries or candidate nominations should be directed to Ana Karaman, Vice Provost and Dean Search Committee Chair, at takaraman@usfca.edu, or to Michelle Travis, Professor of Law, at matravis@usfca.edu. 

The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit Catholic university founded in 1855 to educate leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to work in a culturally diverse environment and to contribute to the mission of the University.

USF is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The University welcomes all applicants, regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability, and provides accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.