Description

Dean

Washington College of Law

American University

Washington, DC

SEARCH SUMMARY

American University (AU) seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as dean of the Washington College of Law (WCL), commencing no later than July 2026. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a large, student-focused, and forward-leaning law school in the nation’s capital to global prominence. WCL’s distinctive brand is anchored in the quality of its academic programs, the scholarly achievements of its faculty, the diversity of its student body, and its impact on the challenges facing the legal profession and society today. At WCL the elements of excellence await a leader with the vision and vitality to synthesize its strengths, raise its ranking, and intensify its impact.

WCL is one of eight colleges and schools at AU, a private, student-centered, research university chartered by Congress and established in 1893. Today, AU employs more than 900 full-time faculty members and enrolls approximately 11,300 students from every US state, the District of Columbia, and 126 countries. The R1-level university offers a rich array of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Founded in 1896 by two pioneering women at a time when women were generally excluded from practicing law, WCL is an institution with a distinctive and proud heritage of creating opportunities for those historically outside the mainstream of the legal profession. That commitment to inclusion and outreach continues. WCL has a well-earned and enviable reputation for civic engagement by students, faculty, and alumni at the local, national, and global levels. WCL stakeholders are pioneers in advancing the rule of law in multiple fields.

Accredited by the ABA, WCL provides a superb education, while achieving national and international recognition for its programs with a faculty that is lauded as among the most productive in the country. Faculty members occupy important leadership positions in academia and domestic and international organizations, reflecting their engagement in a broad range of educational, legal, civic, and policy issues. Recent WCL program rankings from U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) include: #2 in Clinical Training; #5 in the Part-time JD Program; #6 in International Law; #6 in Intellectual Property Law, #20 in Health Law; #24 in Trial Advocacy; #29 in Criminal Law, and #27 for Law Schools with the Most Graduates in Public Interest Law.

As the chief executive of WCL, the dean reports to AU’s provost and is responsible for all program and unit activities within the school. The dean provides strategic, intellectual, and inspirational leadership to faculty, students, and staff; leads administrative, personnel, fundraising, planning, and program-development efforts to build and sustain excellence in operations; and is the principal representative for the school at the AU leadership table. Bringing a deep respect for both the practice-based and scholarly aspects of legal education, the dean works cooperatively and closely with faculty, administrative staff, other deans, and au leaders to advance the university and the law school. Additionally, the dean is a visible force on the world stage, working with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and local and global leaders to enhance and build external relations and revenue.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $450,000 to $500,000 annually. When extending an offer of employment, American University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position; the candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; federal, state, and local laws; contractual stipulations; grant funding; and external market and organizational considerations. Applications, which should include a resume or curriculum vitae and cover letter, should be sent to the following electronic mailbox: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/american-university-washington-college-law/dean. Electronic submission of materials is strongly preferred. Inquiries and nominations may also be sent to the web address cited above or directed to:

Ernest Brooks, Partner

Tim McFeeley, Partner

Miguel Santiago, Senior Associate

All inquiries and expressions of interest will be held in strict confidence. The search will continue until an appointment is made. For full and timely consideration, applications should be received by November 25, 2025.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

This document has been prepared based on the information provided by American University. The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by American University would supersede any conflicting information in this document.