Dean of the Law School
Walter F. George School of Law
Mercer University
Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean. The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer for the Law School and reports directly to the Provost of the University. The Law School seeks for its Dean an outstanding individual who can build on the Law School’s recognized role as a leader in preparing ethical lawyers for practice and advance the Law School’s mission of contributing to society through scholarship and public service.
The Law School, located in Macon, Georgia, has approximately 430 students and 32 full-time faculty. It is part of a dynamic university with degree programs in medicine, pharmacy, nursing, engineering, business, education, and theology. The University has over 8,000 students on its Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah campuses. The Law School is located in a beautifully restored historic district in downtown Macon. The city of Macon, which has 150,000 residents, is known for its antebellum mansions, cottages, churches, and museums. Macon’s moderate climate and moderate cost of living, as well as proximity to Atlanta, the Smoky Mountains, and the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, make it a desirable place to live.
Candidates may currently be serving as a law school dean, associate dean, as a faculty member with recognized leadership ability, or in a leadership role in a law-related organization. Candidates should have a record of achievement and a reputation in the academic community, bench, or bar reflecting consistent, high-order accomplishments in academia, law practice, or public service. The ideal candidate will have a JD or equivalent degree from an accredited university/college and be a recognized leader in the legal profession who can build consensus among the faculty and foster outstanding teaching and scholarship, work effectively with the University administration, and instill confidence in students, alumni, and the academic community. A persuasive and collaborative leadership style is essential.
The candidate should appreciate the dynamics facing a private law school and be prepared to lead a school that places heavy emphasis on excellence in legal education and an equally heavy emphasis on respect for ethics and professionalism. Successful experience in administrative leadership, strategic planning, fund raising, budgeting and resource allocation, faculty, student, and program development is strongly preferred.
It is vitally important that the new Dean be able to enthusiastically articulate and advance the mission of the Walter F. George School of Law. The Law School is distinguished by its small size, its focus on the individual student, and its long, varied service in the broader legal community. A successful Dean will marshal the Law School’s substantial resources to inspire all segments of the Law School community to learn, grow, and thrive in their lives in the law. Because the Law School is a diverse community, expressions of interest from minorities, women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged.
The Law School’s Dean Search Committee is prepared to receive nominations and applications immediately. Application materials must be submitted online at the above website and should include a letter of interest, a full curriculum vitae, an executive summary of qualifications, and five professional references, in Word or PDF format. Candidates are urged to submit materials by December 11, 2009, although applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled. The preferred start date is July 1, 2010.
Please address nominations and inquiries to:
Professor James P. Fleissner
Chair, Dean Search Committee
Walter F. George School of Law
Mercer University
1021 Georgia Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31207
(478) 301-2637
Fleissner_jp@law.mercer.edu
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