Arizona State has launched a national search for Dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. The Dean Search Committee, of which I am a member, had an organizational meeting last week and we’re rearing to go. ASU is an energetic university with a very active and engaged law school. We’re a law school going places both figuratively and literally, as there is serious discusion of moving the law school to the legal district in downtown Phoenix. Outgoing Dean Paul Schiff Berman recently resigned the post to become Dean of the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.
There is no doubt in my mind that becoming Dean at ASU presents a fantastic opportunity for the right person. If you know anyone who would be interested in this opportunity, feel free to email me directly at art.hinshaw@asu.edu.
This is a deceptively difficult question because in the abstract every good quality you can think of in a person, manager, leader is what one wants. In my mind, a good dean needs to be talented in three different skill sets: (1) strong interpersonal skills, (2) strong organizational navigation skills (ie – working w/in the university), and (3) strong academic skills. Very few people have all 3, and the primary task of the search committee and university administrators is to determine where each viable candidate’s weaknesses are. In doing this kind of due diligence we determine if we consider these weaknesses fatal to the candidacy or if we’re willing to accept those failings because of the candidate’s overriding strengths.
What are the top traits and qualifications that the committee is looking for in the new dean?