The University of Richmond seeks a dynamic and distinguished academic leader with a track record of notable contributions in the legal field to serve as its next Dean of Richmond Law. The current dean, who has led Richmond Law with distinction for 14 years, will be stepping down in Summer 2026. The new Dean will build on Richmond Law’s record of success and momentum and advance Richmond Law to the next level of excellence.
Richmond Law is a vital part of the University of Richmond and is one of the few law schools affiliated with a top liberal arts institution. Richmond Law is a private institution with approximately 45 full-time faculty and 420 students. Relatively small in size, Richmond Law has enjoyed remarkable success attracting first-rate faculty and increasing its faculty profile; recruiting and supporting a stable class size of between 120-150 students while steadily raising entering student credentials; and building innovative programs and infrastructure to support its educational mission.
Reporting to the Provost and working closely with the President, the next Dean will serve as the Law School’s visionary leader and champion, as well chief academic and administrative officer, with overall responsibility for its academic programs and faculty governance processes, departments, operating budget, marketing and communications, alumni relations, fundraising, and more.
Richmond Law seeks a Dean with the vision, creativity, drive, and stature to build on these successes. The Dean will continue to foster and build an excellent educational experience, raise the school’s national profile, recruit and cultivate excellent faculty and staff, engage and catalyze alumni, and ensure the school can innovate and succeed in the shifting educational landscape—all while developing a vision for Richmond Law’s role in the future of legal education. The Dean will be an excellent and transparent communicator, a successful teacher and mentor, a proven manager and administrator who cultivates talent, a skilled relationship builder who promotes fundraising and external partnerships, and will have a demonstrated commitment to inclusion and belonging. Candidates must have a J.D. degree or its equivalent and the scholarly achievements necessary to satisfy the requirements of a tenured law professor at Richmond Law.
The University of Richmond has retained WittKieffer, a global executive search firm, to assist in this search.
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by October 14, 2025.
Application materials should be submitted through WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Werner Boel, LL.M. and Ashlee Musser
The University of Richmond prohibits discrimination and harassment against applicants, students, faculty or staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, military or veteran status, or any classification protected by local, state or federal law.
