ElonUniversity

Dean, School of Law

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ElonUniversity

Dean

School of Law

ElonUniversity invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Law. The Dean, who reports directly to the Provost, is the chief administrative and academic officer of the School of Law, which welcomed its charter class in August 2006 and received ABA provisional approval in June 2008. The School of Law intends to seek ABA full approval and AALS membership at the earliest possible opportunities.

The University, founded by the Christian Church (now the United Church of Christ) in 1889,is a vibrant, private, comprehensive university known for excellence in the arts and sciences along with outstanding professional programs. The campus encompasses 575 acres between North Carolina’s Triad and the ResearchTrianglePark. Designated as a botanical garden, the campus is frequently cited as one of the nation’s most beautiful.

ElonUniversityis composed of ElonCollege, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the School of Education; and the School of Law. Master's programs are offered in business administration and education, and doctoral programs include physical therapy and law. The University offers 50 undergraduate majors, taught by more than 300 full-time faculty members.

Elon is consistently recognized as a national leader in engaged learning, with top ratings in the National Survey of Student Engagement. Elon sends more undergraduate students to study abroad than any other master's-level school in the nation. In their 2009 college rankings, U.S. News and World Report ranks Elon #2 among 118 master’s-level universities in the South. In addition, the magazine named Elon the top “Up-and-Coming” school in a listing of colleges and universities that have made “striking improvements or innovations – schools everyone should be watching.”

With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 5,000 and a graduate enrollment of approximately 500, students come from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and 45 other nations.

A highly selective University, Elon has an acceptance rate of approximately 41 percent. In addition, Elon’s graduation rates are among the best in the nation.

The student-athletes at Elon participate in 16 intercollegiate men's and women's sports in NCAA Division I (FCS football). Elon is a member of the Southern Conference along with institutions such as Davidson, Furman, and Wofford.

MISSION STATEMENT

The School of Law is building on the University’s national reputation for excellence in engaged learning and leadership education. Graduates of the School will not only attain the knowledge and skills they need to be effective lawyers, they will also be thoroughly prepared in leadership skills. They will become exceptional lawyer-leaders working for the betterment of their professions and society.

To fulfill this vision, Elon’s LawSchool will:

  • complement and strengthen the University’s existing programs, particularly those that relate to the arts and sciences, experiential education, technology and its application, international studies and programs, business, leadership, and public service;
  • be a national leader in examining and addressing opportunities and problems in the legal profession and legal education through research, public service, and innovation;
  • provide a distinctive program of legal education that will develop exceptionally educated, well-motivated, technologically savvy, internationally aware, and effective lawyer-leaders for whom there will be a continuing need;
  • help meet the national and regional demand for legal education in times of great demand, and compete successfully for excellent, well-motivated law students in times of diminished demand;
  • be positioned qualitatively within the University as a synergistic center of excellence that helps generate resources of talent, energy, commitment, information, credibility, and capital that will assist Elon in implementing stable, continuous improvements to each and every one of the University’s integral components.

Engagingstudents in participatory and experiential learning activities; placing an emphasis on leadership skills that are used in the service of others; instilling a perspective that reflects an awareness of global issues and their impact; fostering close mentoring relationships with faculty and membership in a community of learners; and emphasizing a strong ethical base and awareness of personal responsibility and opportunity are the hallmarks of an Elon education that will be manifest in the School of Law.

Elon’s law program fully engages students throughout all three years of instruction, using the best practices of leadership education to enhance legal education. The program is distinguished by:

  • emphases on total student development, exceptional legal knowledge and skills, engaged learning, leadership, and civic involvement;
  • small school, emphasizing close relationships among students and faculty;
  • constant, constructive feedback
  • outstanding faculty members recruited nationwide for their exceptional abilities, values, and commitment to the vision of this School;
  • top students recruited for their demonstrated aptitude, achievement, and interest in civic engagement and leadership;
  • access to learning opportunities in the area’s leading law firms, federal and state courts, businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations; and
  • January Term opportunities for innovative skills and perspectives courses, exploration of international study opportunities, and community involvement.

The Dean is expected to have a distinguished academic record, a prominent background in the legal profession, a thoughtful and insightful vision of the future of legal education, a commitment to the School of Law’s mission, and a strategy for promoting the academic, reputational, and financial development of the School of Law. In addition, the Dean should have a distinguished pedagogical and scholarly record (or equivalent experience) and demonstrated capacity to inspire excellent teaching and productive scholarship by the faculty. The academic achievements of the Dean should be appropriate for an appointment at the rank of Professor of Law.

The School of Law’s faculty members challenge students to achieve at the highest levels, thereby preparing them to become lawyers who fully embrace their roles as society’s problem-solvers and leaders. The School of Law also involves the legal profession in the education of its students to an unprecedented degree. For more information about Elon University School of Law, please visit the School of Law’s web site at

Elon University School of Law is located in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, a city that blends an upbeat urban lifestyle with historic southern charm. With a variety of museums, art galleries, theatres, and historic sites near the School of Law, the downtown area offers a rich cultural experience for students, professionals, and families. Greensboro is North Carolina’s third largest city and is located in the piedmont Triad area, about 80 miles west of Raleigh and 95 miles northeast of Charlotte. More than 40,000 college and university students in Greensboro create a vibrant intellectual and cultural community.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and will continue until a successful candidate is identified. All correspondence relating to the position should be directed electronically to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Jerry H. Baker, President

Baker and Associates LLC

10 Glenlake Parkway – SouthTower – Suite 140

Atlanta, GA 30328

ElonUniversity is an equal employment opportunity employer.