Associate Dean of Students/Community Outreach (12-Mo-NTT)

Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law invites individuals interested in serving in a Christian university environment to apply for the position of Associate Dean of Students and Community Outreach.  The associate dean of students reports to the Dean of the Law School and serves as a member of the leadership team. This position collaborates closely with the associate dean of academic affairs and the director of student services. This is a full-time, non-tenure track, twelve-month faculty position.

The associate dean of students provides vision, leadership, strategic direction, and management of programs and services that promote students' academic and personal success, thereby increasing student satisfaction and student retention at the law school. The associate dean of students will oversee the administration of the law school’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmatic and training content and coordinate as appropriate with the Office of Diversity and Intercultural Initiatives.  In addition, this individual will oversee a newly developing Cumberland Connection Pipeline Program aimed at recruiting first generation students and students from underrepresented groups. The successful incumbent will also help the Dean of the Law School identify gaps in policies, systems and processes that are needed to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion among the student body and employees of the law school. The associate dean of students will develop policies filling those gaps and work with other departments and programs in the law school to improve their DEI efforts and impact.

The associate dean of students provides services that foster success and the well-being of law students and council those who need additional support due to challenging circumstances that arise during their studies. In addition, the associate dean of students administers the student disciplinary process for the law school. The associate dean of students plays a leading role in various student events throughout the year, including orientation activities, wellness programming and developing new opportunities in this area. This position regularly serves as a leader across campus and within higher education on issues that affect law students.

Candidates must have outstanding credentials, including a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school or equivalent degree and at least ten years of professional experience in management, legal practice and/or student services. Significant experience in conflict management, student advising, disability management and leadership in an academic setting is required.

Serving as a community model, the preferred candidate will be diplomatic, discreet, resilient, energetic strong, emotionally intelligent, and compassionate. Sophistication in student affairs, management best practices, the state of the legal profession and law pedagogy, and wellness issues with law students is required. A commitment to academic excellence and the ability to work effectively and collegially with faculty, students, and colleagues is expected.

Samford University (www.samford.edu) is the largest privately supported and fully accredited institution for higher learning in Alabama. Located in suburban Birmingham, the University was founded in 1841 and has 425 full time faculty and more than 5,700 students representing 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 22 countries. Samford has been nationally recognized for academics, affordability and value by a number of prestigious publications and rankings. The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranks Samford 1^st nationally for student engagement and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks Samford 34^th among private universities in the U.S. for value and affordability. The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package.

Salary is dependent upon qualifications and experience.  The successful candidate must pass a background check.  Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford will not sponsor any employment visas for this position.

The university and law school embrace diversity in their faculty, students, and staff and encourage applications from those who would add to the diversity of our academic community.  

Review of applications will begin September 20, 2022 and will continue through at least October 15, 2022.  Application materials should include a letter of interest, curriculum vita, application for faculty position (https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf), and faculty applicant Christian Mission Statement (https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx).

Please submit all materials in PDF format to:

FACAPP@samford.edu

Subject: Law Associate Dean

Except as specifically exempted by federal law requirements, Samford University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, disability or age in the administration or application of its educational programs and policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs. Consistent with its Christian mission and organizations, Samford is exempt from the religious provisions of Title VII pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Sections 2000e-1(a) and 2000e-2(e).