Dean, College of Law

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Dean, College of Law

Orlando, Florida

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Law (FAMU Law). FAMU is seeking an experienced and inspirational leader who is committed to the mission of access and opportunity, skillful in synthesizing the assets of an outstanding faculty, staff, student body, university administration, and alumni in the pursuit of excellence, and persistent in focusing every available resource on student success.

FAMU Law currently enrolls over 520 students pursuing the juris doctor (JD) degree. FAMU Law’s low tuition ($6,838 per semester for full-time, in-state students) and its enviable diversity (70% underrepresented minorities) demonstrate the school’s profound commitment to access and opportunity.  The current full-time, 40-member faculty consists of 31 (78%) faculty from underrepresented minorities and 23 (58%) women, thereby reflecting the student demographics as well. The faculty are highly regarded, award-winning professors and scholars.

FAMU Law occupies a state-of-the-art, modern facility in downtown Orlando, the fastest growing city in the State of Florida. The 250-mile physical separation of the law school from the central FAMU campus in the state capital of Tallahassee presents challenges, but some of these challenges are ameliorated by technological links and balanced by the opportunity of being the only public law school in the very attractive Central Florida region. FAMU Law’s ideal location, its exceptional faculty, along with its low tuition and unrivaled diversity, combined with its inspirational mission as a preeminent HBCU-based law school focused on racial equity and social justice, make FAMU Law a unique and compelling institution. Serving as the dean of FAMU Law similarly presents an unparalleled opportunity for a resourceful, highly competent, confident, and passionate leader. 

The FAMU Law Dean reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and serves as the chief academic and administrative officer for the College of Law. The Dean’s responsibilities include promoting and fostering excellence in teaching, research and service; overseeing faculty hiring, promotion and tenure; overseeing the College’s professional and support staff, the law library, student admissions, financial aid, and career placement; representing FAMU Law within the University community and to external constituencies, including alumni and members of the bench and bar; preparing and implementing an efficient and equitable budget for the College of Law; and developing new initiatives designed to educate lawyers for a rapidly changing global society. Responsibilities also include the enhancement of the faculty’s intellectual activities and development of necessary resources (financial, technological, and physical space) to support and improve the College’s curricular and research programs.

The successful candidate will present a distinguished record of scholarly and/or professional achievement demonstrating intellectual leadership in the field of law, as well as substantial administrative experience in higher education or another similarly complex enterprise evidencing organizational leadership. The successful candidate should also possess exemplary personal qualities, including integrity, fairness, inclusiveness, and transparency that indicate authentic, moral leadership.  The next dean will be expected to: lead the faculty in developing a vision for FAMU Law; ensure student success; attract the financial and human resources to advance the school’s mission; promote FAMU Law as an essential public institution; and build its brand as a champion of racial equity and social justice.

The Search Committee enthusiastically welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and experiences and will consider the following factors in evaluating candidates for this important leadership role. While no single individual will possess all the desired experiences and qualifications, the successful candidate should possess many of the following characteristics:

  • An earned J.D. or its equivalent from an accredited institution;
  • Distinguished record of achievement as a legal scholar and/or practitioner in the legal profession;
  • Strong record and a minimum of five years of success as an administrator/manager;
  • A deep commitment to educational access and opportunity and a dedication to the ideals of civil rights, racial equity and social justice;
  • A record of service;
  • Fundraising or development experience;
  • An ability to create an open organizational climate through shared governance;
  • Financial management and budgetary skills;
  • Excellent communication, interpersonal, decision-making, and leadership skills;
  • Ability and aptitude to establish a brand and identity for FAMU Law;
  • Evidence of commitment to and management of diversity;
  • Knowledge of the ABA accreditation process;
  • Exemplary moral character, integrity, authenticity, transparency, and honesty; and
  • Knowledge of marketing, recruiting, and admissions processing, and willingness to commit to the University’s motto of “Excellence with Caring.”

Process for Applications, Nominations and Inquiries

Interested applicants are required to send a cover letter and resume to the following web address: www.imsearch.com/6925   Nomination and inquiries must also be submitted to the same web address with correspondence addressed to the search firm representatives noted below. Electronic submission of materials is strongly preferred. Application reviews will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. To ensure timely review please submit materials by December 16, 2019. Please note that this search is subject to and being conducted pursuant to Florida “sunshine” and public records laws.

Tim McFeeley and Martens Roc

Isaacson, Miller

1300 19th Street NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

For more information about Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and the FAMU College of Law, please visit: https://www.famu.edu/  and https://law.famu.edu/

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.