California Western School of Law (CWSL), one of California's most diverse, inclusive and innovative law schools announces the search for the Dean of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity (Dean of Students).

California Western School of Law is San Diego’s oldest law school and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024. CWSL is an ABA-approved (1962), AALS member (1967), independent, not for profit law school with over 650 JD students and the nation’s only fully Spanish language LLM. Situated near San Diego's Little Italy district, CWSL was named in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report as among the top ten law schools in the country for ethnic diversity and among the nation's top three law schools for experiential education credits.

The Dean of Students provides vision, direction and strategic leadership to facilitate students' growth, personal and academic achievement, and career success through programs and services that support and enhance the mission and strategic directions of the School. CWSL aspires to help students develop and support their career and professional goals while providing a supportive learning environment. The Dean of Students leads the following departments and services that support the mission: Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO); Office of Admissions and the Office of Student and Diversity Services (which includes disability services, counseling and mentoring resources, and support for Commencement and major events, as well as support for a robust group of student organizations).

Reporting to Dean Sean Megan Scott who began her tenure as the President and Dean in August, 2020, the Dean of Students is member of the leadership team and works closely with the other deans, the faculty and students to advance the mission of the School. The Dean of Students will be a creative and resourceful leader with both the passion and the experience to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion aspirations of the school and to build on a deeply felt commitment to these values. The new leader will be a partner to the faculty and the academic deans in their efforts to support students and create an optimal climate for learning. By providing vision, direction and strategic leadership to departments, services, and programs that have a direct impact on the entire student life cycle from admission through the arc of the program of legal education to graduation, this position offers an opportunity to matter by helping to change the trajectory of students' lives.

The ideal candidate will be a natural collaborator, an excellent communicator and a valued leader of an experienced staff. A J.D. and administrative experience in student affairs in a law school setting will be assets to this role. Candidates with law school student affairs experience and a graduate degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling or other related field, as well as candidates with a J.D. and comparable administrative experience from another relevant setting will also be given full consideration. This search is moving on a quick timeline. The Dean of Students will be expected to begin as soon as possible but not later than the summer of 2021. WittKieffer is assisting California Western School of Law in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials, including a resume, cover letter and statement of commitment to diversity should be received by April 2, 2021. Please find the comprehensive leadership profile here.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Sheila Murphy and Shelley Arakawa, J.D.
CWSLDeanSACD@wittkieffer.com

California Western School of Law is committed to using the law to prevent and solve human and societal problems. In conjunction with our mission - to train ethical, competent, and compassionate lawyers, representative of our diverse society and equipped to use the law effectively and creatively on behalf of all members of society - we value a rich diversity among our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as in the larger communities of which we are a part.

The law school is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The law school provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.