Mamiseishvili to chair search committee for next UA law school dean

The University of Arkansas has initiated the search for the next dean of the School of Law. Provost Terry Martin has appointed Kate Mamiseishvili, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, to lead the search committee.

“I’m excited to launch the dean search for the School of Law with Kate Mamiseishvili at the helm,” Martin said. “Kate is a great leader, and I know she, along with the search committee, will find candidates who are best suited to advance the School of Law, further our research mission and support our service to the state as a land-grant institution.”

The UA is looking for a permanent replacement for Margaret Sova McCabe. She was the School of Law’s last full-time dean from 2018 to 2022.

That year, she started Jan. 1 as a senior adviser for strategic projects and a law professor at the university. She still holds both those jobs and is now also interim vice chancellor for research and innovation.

Alena Allen, a law professor and associate dean for research and faculty development, was interim dean from January 2022 to June 2022. Allen was named dean of LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center earlier this year.

Cynthia Nance, the School of Law’s dean from 2006 to 2011, has been interim dean since July 1, 2022.

Search committee members are:

• Kate Mamiseishvili, chair, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions
• Timothy Brooks, district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
• Steve Clowney, professor of law
• Tracy Deffebaugh, director of admissions for the School of Law
• Jane Duke, vice president, associate general counsel and chief compliance officer at Tyson Foods
• Caleb Griffin, assistant professor of law
• Kellie Knight, assistant vice chancellor for the Office of Foundation Relations
• Jill Lens, associate dean for research and faculty development and Robert A. Leflar Professor of Law
• Connie Lewis Lensing, counsel at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
• Tiffany Murphy, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law
• Lexi Robertson, president of the Student Bar Association
• Susan Schneider, William H. Enfield Professor of Law
• Eddie Walker, attorney at Walker Law Group PLC, Arkansas Bar Foundation member and Arkansas Bar Association delegate on the board of the American Bar Association
• Colleen Williams, associate librarian at Young Law Library
• Kay Brusca (support), executive assistant to the dean and chief of staff for the College of Education and Health Professions

According to a UA news release, the next dean of the School of Law will be a dynamic, strategic leader who will shape and support the law school’s growth as part of the state’s only university with high research activity. In addition, the next dean will build on the school’s long tradition of legal scholarship and continue to build an inclusive program of legal education and strong relationships across campus and throughout the state.

The dean of the School of Law is an important member of the university’s leadership team and will help advance the university’s land-grant mission of teaching, discovery and service. As dean, this position reports to the provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs.

Interested individuals can access the job description and submit applications here.

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Sept. 1. Campus interviews are likely to be held in October and November 2023.