Baylor University (Waco) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean to the School of Law.

Background Information

Baylor University

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

School of Law

Established in 1857, Baylor University School of Law is the oldest law school in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. With one of the lowest student-faculty ratios in the country, Baylor Law has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. Baylor Law strives, in the context of a Christian commitment, to integrate excellence in teaching and scholarship to develop lawyers who will practice law with competence, serve with compassion, and provide effective and ethical leadership.

Today, Baylor Law ranks among the top 50 best law schools in U.S. News & World Report and enjoys a national reputation for preparing lawyers for a legal career. Baylor Law is ranked #3 in trial advocacy among the 199 law schools ranked by U.S. News, #1 in the country by the Blakely Advocacy Center for its moot court program, #13 in the nation for law schools with the highest percentage of federal clerkships (per the ABA), #1 in the percentage of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, and earned an A+ for Best Schools for Practical Training by The National Jurist. Baylor Law’s record of bar passage success tops the other nine Texas law schools, and the ABA-calculated ultimate bar passage rate is 99.23%. Baylor’s rigorous program produces outstanding lawyers recruited by employers who seek lawyers with the preparation, poise, and proficiency to hit the ground running.

The School has more than 7,800 living alumni and is the proud alma mater to two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and members of the Texas Legislature.

Baylor Law consists of 26 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 7 lecturers, 2 academic professionals, and 36 full-time staff. In Fall 2022, Baylor Law enrolled 427 students. The School has an operating budget of $29.9 million, is fiscally quasi-autonomous, and has a dedicated endowment of well over $400,000 per student.

Position Overview and Key Responsibilities

The next dean will oversee the daily responsibilities of the School of Law and will focus on the following opportunities:

• Lead the School of Law in alignment with the University’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community and the University’s strategic plan to build on its preeminence as a Christian research university;
• Provide strategic direction for the School and its mission, based on an assessment of its strengths and needs, in alignment with the University’s strategic plan;
• Enhance the strength of the core programs in advocacy and litigation and support the continued growth of other programs such as business and transactional law;
• Raise the School’s scholarly profile and foster a climate of support for faculty scholarship;
• Secure and deploy the financial resources to advance the priorities of the School;
• Broaden philanthropic engagement and lead ambitious fundraising efforts to support key initiatives such as capital improvements and financial assistance for student scholarships;
• Recruit, develop, retain, and support talented and diverse faculty, staff, and students;
• Maintain excellence in teaching and support the School’s practice-oriented mission;
• Build, sustain, and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion and promote a culture that focuses on institutional support for a diverse school community;
• Drive enhancements that improve the student experience, including wellness, academic achievement, affordability, and career preparedness;
• Foster a collaborative and collegial community among faculty, staff, and students;
• Build and strengthen partnerships between the School, Baylor University, the profession, and the surrounding legal community;
• Deepen engagement with alumni and employers to develop robust resources and opportunities for students and graduates; and
• Advance the School’s reputation and raise its prominence nationally

Professional Experience and Personal Qualifications

The dean should demonstrate the qualifications and personal characteristics that are well-matched with the University’s values, strengths, and aspirations. The search committee seeks strong candidates who have demonstrated an excellent record in:

• Academic credentials, including a J.D. and a record of scholarship sufficient for appointment as a tenured full professor at Baylor Law;
• The ability to lead by faith, embrace leadership as public service, and formulate, articulate, and execute a shared vision that operationalizes the Christian values of Baylor University;
• Effective leadership in promoting positive change in an academic setting;
• Knowledge of the legal field, including trends and opportunities;
• Emotional intelligence, humility, courage, and the qualities of a servant leader;
• The ability to serve as the chief advocate, a strong manager, and a cultivator of teams;
• A collaborative, empathetic, creative, and transparent leadership style for an environment of shared faculty governance;
• The capacity to work in a fast-paced environment;
• Managerial acumen, including budgetary, human resources, and finance skills;
• Successful fundraising or related skills that would suggest high potential in this regard; and
• Oral and written communication skills including the ability to actively listen and adapt communication to various audiences.

Nominations

Baylor University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Law. Interested candidates should confidentially submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest (Adobe PDF files preferred) to [email protected]. To access the full position description, please visit: https://russellreynoldsassociates.sharefile.com/d-sd0f7f607f7d3491882db4f264dfd4ac6 

For fullest consideration, materials should be received as soon as possible and preferably by July 17.

Contact

Joi Hayes-Scott
Russell Reynolds Associates
1700 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20006-5208
Tel: +1-202-654-7816
[email protected]