The University of Iowa invites applications for the position of dean of the College of Law.

DEAN, COLLEGE OF LAW

The University of Iowa seeks a visionary dean to join its vibrant community and lead its nationally recognized law school.

The person who fills this important position is expected to be an inspiring leader with a clear vision for maintaining and enhancing the excellence of Iowa Law. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader with a distinguished record of academic achievement and outstanding professional accomplishments.

Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership

The dean of Iowa Law will be tasked with meeting the following leadership requirements, among others: 

Academic Leadership 

The dean will champion and foster excellence in faculty scholarship and teaching. The dean must prioritize the research and teaching missions of the College of Law, supporting the faculty’s scholarly engagement and instructional innovation. The dean must work to continually strengthen the College of Law's faculty through recruitment, retention, professional development, and support. Recruiting strategies will focus on attracting and retaining highly qualified faculty and advancing Iowa Law’s commitment to inclusion and diversity. Additionally, the dean must cultivate a highly collegial environment that supports and uplifts the entire community of faculty, staff, and students.

Priority Setting and Administrative Planning 

The dean will be a strategic and visionary leader who will set the benchmark for achievement and intellectual engagement at the College of Law. In conjunction with the Iowa Law faculty, the dean will be responsible for formulating annual and long-term goals for the College of Law. In ways consistent with the institution’s longstanding commitment to shared governance, the dean will articulate a vision and strategic plan that will lead the College of Law into its next era of success. The dean will balance tradition with innovation by identifying priorities for the College of Law's future that build on existing strengths. The dean will engage all constituents, including faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni, and the Iowa Law School Foundation Board, to successfully execute the College’s mission. The dean will work closely with these and other Iowa Law constituencies to ensure that plans and resource allocations align with College of Law and University of Iowa priorities.

The dean is responsible for all personnel administration of Iowa Law's faculty and its administrative, technical, and research staff. In collaboration with the law faculty, the dean is responsible for hiring entry-level and lateral faculty members. The next dean must work to systematically and critically evaluate strengths within the College of Law, assess where investment could create new opportunities, and spur productivity, impact, and recognition in teaching, leadership, and scholarship. 

The dean will be responsible for prioritizing budgetary goals and fundraising for the College of Law. The dean must play a leadership role in fundraising efforts and seek new opportunities to expand the College of Law's resource base. The dean will work to enhance Iowa Law's alumni outreach and involvement to ensure that alumni around the country and the world maintain a connection to the College of Law. The dean must be proactive and entrepreneurial in identifying priorities for support, developing productive relationships through engagement with the legal community and donors, and maintaining excellent communication with internal and external constituencies. The dean will also be effective at promoting Iowa Law's reputation and increasing goodwill within legal education, the legal profession, and the legal and business communities at local, state, and national levels. 

Commitment to Fostering a Welcoming and Respectful Community

The dean must foster and promote a welcoming and respectful work environment where people of all backgrounds and perspectives can feel part of the community.  The dean will have a record of engagement and leadership in advancing these core values and understanding the essential role they play in a professional school environment. The dean’s commitment will extend to every facet of Iowa Law, including its mission, faculty, and staff hiring, student recruitment and support, curriculum and programmatic offerings, scholarly activity, and partnerships across the University of Iowa and in the broader community. 

Collaborative Leadership University-Wide and Beyond 

In addition to working closely with the Provost, the dean plays a critical role as a facilitator and advocate for the College of Law. In that regard, the dean will seek collaborative opportunities with other University of Iowa colleges to build innovative programs and expand approaches to teaching and research. The dean will support creative engagement with other University of Iowa colleges and with other institutions. The dean will fully participate in the relationship with the Iowa Law School Foundation, Board of Regents, alumni, state and federal government officials, and sources of philanthropy. The dean will be a catalyst for collaboration and innovation with legal partners and leaders.

Qualifications

The ideal qualifications and qualities for the next dean of the College of Law are as follows:

Required Qualifications:

Educational Background and Tenurable Record
The successful candidate must possess a JD or its equivalent and a record of teaching, scholarship, and service that meets the standards for appointment to the Iowa Law faculty as a full professor with tenure.

Vision, Strategic Thinking, and Capacity for Execution 
The ability to articulate a clear and compelling vision and to unite a community around it; an equivalent capacity for building consensus around implementing strategic plans and initiatives. 

Collaborative and Courageous Leadership 
An appreciation of, and the ability to work within, a model and tradition of shared governance. Ability to facilitate broad constituencies' input, as well as the ability to take decisive action. Willingness and ability to communicate openly and transparently about strategic and policy decisions.

Experience in Advancing Access, Opportunity, and Diversity 
Experience with, and a record of leadership in advancing, access, opportunity, and diversity, broadly defined, and exemplary skill in communicating with, collaborating with, and supporting a diverse community. 

Credibility, Stature, and Commitment to Excellence 
A reputation for maintaining the highest standards for excellence in administration, scholarship, and teaching. A broad intellect. An ability to articulate the value of Iowa Law and each of its programmatic areas. An ability to mentor and advocate for students, staff, and faculty. 

Successful Fundraising Experience or Demonstrable Potential for Successful Fundraising 
A capacity to lead an effective fundraising effort that inspires others to strengthen and support Iowa Law and its mission. The ability to collaborate with the University of Iowa Center for Advancement, the Iowa Law School Foundation Board, faculty, and other constituents to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities. 

Prioritization of Scholarly Achievements
A commitment to advancing the research mission of the College of Law by promoting and supporting the faculty’s research, writing, and other scholarly achievements. A commitment to increasing the national and international impact of scholarship produced by Iowa Law’s faculty.

Focus on Students 
A commitment to understanding student needs and concerns and to providing students with a legal education suited to the evolving nature of the legal profession. A genuine passion for student development, with a commitment to providing an enriching educational experience that prepares graduates for a broad range of law-related careers and for leadership roles in their workplaces and communities. An advocate for student needs, ensuring that the College of Law offers robust support services, career development opportunities, and access to a broad network of alumni and professionals.

Attention and Responsiveness to the Demands of Legal Practice 
A deep understanding of the needs of the legal marketplace and responsiveness to the demands of the practicing bar—in law firms, corporate legal departments, the judiciary and other branches of government, and the non-profit sector.

Managerial, Operational, and Fiscal Skill 
The ability to work and thrive in a large, complex environment, and the ability to successfully manage faculty, staff, centers, programs, and change. The ability to inspire and promote excellence, engagement, and community for all employees of the College and its centers and programs. 

Resourcefulness, Pragmatism, Resilience, and Resolve 
The ability to identify opportunities afforded by Iowa Law's strengths and to catalyze the organizational agility required to take maximum advantage of them. Likewise, the ability to work within constraints and the wisdom and experience to navigate the cultural, political, and bureaucratic realities of a public university efficiently and effectively. 

Emotional Intelligence 
The empathy, skills, and capacity to relate to others, see other points of view, and build broad support for decisions. 

Ethics and Integrity 
Excellent ethical judgment and the highest integrity, both in public settings and behind closed doors. A reputation for fair, even-tempered, and praiseworthy treatment of allies and non-allies alike. 

Ability to Establish and Steward Effective Relationships 
The skill and experience to steward relationships across public and private sectors. 

Superb Communication Skills 
Exceptional capacity to promote Iowa Law's interests, mission, and brand across and beyond the University of Iowa. Ease with diverse constituencies inside and outside the College of Law, and the ability to connect with audiences large and small, both in person and in writing.

Desirable Qualifications:

• A track record of successful strategic planning.
• A track record of developing and articulating a compelling case for support that aligns with the organization's goals and mission. 
• Demonstrated success in leading major fundraising campaigns within an academic setting. 
• Experience with budgets, financial planning, market research, and strategic resource allocation. 
• A record of facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations.