University of Arkansas begins search for new law school dean
by October 23, 2017 2:03 pm 553 views
The University of Arkansas has named a search committee to find a new dean for the School of Law.
Stacy Leeds will step down in June after seven years as dean but will continue as law professor and interim vice chancellor for economic development, according to a press release from the UA.
The committee plans to begin reviewing applications this fall and is chaired by Todd Shields, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.
“Provost Coleman has convened a committee that represents the law school faculty and staff as well as students, alumni and friends,” Shields said, according to the release. “The committee and the entire law school community want to ensure we find the best person for the job and have a smooth transition in leadership.”
A list of the other committee members follows.
- John Alford, law school alumnus; co-chair, Law School Campaign Arkansas committee; attorney, Alford Law
- Carl Circo, Ben J. Altheimer Professor of Legal Advocacy
- Patti Cox, senior director of development and external relations, School of Law
- Caroline Currier, law school student liaison
- Uché Ewelukwa Ofodile, E.J. Ball Professor of Law
- Will Foster, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of law
- Sara Gosman, assistant professor of law
- Mary Beth Matthews, Sidney Parker Davis Jr. Professor of Business and Commercial Law
- Tiffany Murphy, associate professor of law
- Karen Roberts, law school alumna and executive vice president and general counsel, Walmart
- Susan Schneider, William H. Enfield Professor of Law
“This is an exciting time for the University of Arkansas School of Law,” Provost Jim Coleman said in the release. “Dean Leeds has been a truly effective leader of the law school through a combination of her tremendous leadership skills and her extraordinary commitment to excellence in education, scholarship and service to the state and to the legal profession. This change will allow her to continue in her interim role coordinating the University of Arkansas’ efforts to foster economic development and outreach throughout the state.”
Under Leeds’ leadership, the school has been named among the top 20 best values in legal education since 2011 by National Jurist magazine, according to the UA.
“Our entire law school community has worked incredibly hard as a cohesive group to reach new heights in terms of national prominence, community impact and student success,” Leeds said in the release. “Successful and smooth leadership transitions are critical for institutions, and I’m very proud that our law school will start this search from a position of strength.”