Rutgers Law School Dean Search: Community Update #1

August 8, 2022

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to launch the search for the dean of Rutgers Law School.

Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway has shared the vision for strengthening and simplifying the leadership structure of Rutgers Law School. We are seeking a thoughtful and dynamic individual to lead the Law School beginning with the 2023–24 academic year. The Law School will continue to be a vital part of both chancellor units. The new dean will serve on the deans’ council for both chancellors and will be expected to continue the excellent and important work of the Law School in service of the communities of Camden and Newark.

 As a steward of excellence at both Law School locations, the new dean will be responsible for ensuring that Rutgers Law School expands and deepens a coherent universitywide mission while continuing to support location-specific activities and commitments to local cultures. As we begin our search, we will be seeking diverse input regarding the detailed job description and leadership profile from the broader Law School community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clinical and institutional partners.  We look forward to hosting several in-person and virtual forums to engage with the community and shape the position prospectus.

By actively developing an inclusive search process, we will aim to ensure that we recruit a large, top-notch, and diverse applicant pool. We will be committed to constituting a committee that represents the diversity and breadth of the Rutgers Law School from the Camden and Newark communities and the law school partners throughout the state.

The Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, in consultation with the chancellors at Camden and Newark, will assemble the search committee, which will be comprised of faculty, staff, student and alumni representatives. The search profile will be informed by community feedback through listening sessions and an online survey. Additionally, the later phases of the search process will involve gathering feedback from community members and key stakeholders committed to the long-term success of the Rutgers Law School. Periodic updates will be shared with members of the Rutgers Law School community through email and via the search website.

We have retained a prominent external search firm, WittKiefer, which has extensive experience with recruiting talent to law schools at public research universities like Rutgers. Representatives from the search firm will help broadcast the search and manage the recruitment in close partnership with the search committee. 

We invite you to share any questions or feedback that would aid us in this search process. Please send all communications to our search email at RLSdeansearch@rutgers.edu.

We will aim to identify a leader who will improve the lived experience of staff, faculty, and students; who can amplify the aspirations of the two locations; and who will work with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to share the many strengths and accomplishments of the Rutgers Law School. 

Kind regards,

Prabhas Moghe
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Nancy Cantor
Chancellor, Rutgers University–Newark

Antonio Tillis
Chancellor, Rutgers University–Camden