The search for the next dean of the University of Idaho College of Law continues this week with campus visits from the three finalists for the position.
The finalists are current Interim Dean Michael Satz, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Utah School of Law Christian Johnson and Mark Adams, law professor at Valparaiso University Law School.
A vacancy announcement for the position was posted on UI’s website in October, and the search committee advertised nationally for the position. Review of applications began Nov. 3 and the search committee conducted phone interviews in January. The committee then chose the most qualified candidates as the finalists.
“The next step was for the committee to make a recommendation for candidates to bring to campus, so we wrote a report and gave that to the provost and she gave us the approval,” said Lodi Price, search coordinator.
The candidates were invited to the Moscow and Boise campuses and scheduled for open sessions where they will present their background, experiences and goals. Afterward, there will be a forum for questions and answers.
Michael Satz, the current interim dean in the College of Law, also served as associate dean of the faculty from 2012-2013. Satz’s open sessions took place Feb. 24 in Moscow and Feb. 25 in Boise.
Christian Johnson’s open sessions are at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Law School Courtroom in Moscow, and 9:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Idaho Water Center Room 150 in Boise.
Candidate Mark Adams, a law professor at Valparaiso University Law School, spent time in the roles of vice dean, associate dean for Academic Affairs and director of International Programs. He will have open sessions at 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the Law School Courtroom and at 9:45 a.m. Friday at the Idaho Water Center Room 150 in Boise.
Video of the open sessions held in Moscow will be posted on UI’s website and those who have input can submit feedback to Interim Provost Katherine Aiken via a form on the website.
“The provost is the hiring authority for the position and the provost confers with President Staben,” said Mary Stout, assistant to the provost and executive vice president. “They collectively make a decision, but the Dean of the College of Law is a direct report to the Provost and works on the academic affairs division of the university,”
Stout said candidates will meet with students, faculty, staff, the provost and Staben during their campus visit.
Following the visits, the search committee will collectively summarize the overall process, and discuss what the committee members observed. The summary is forwarded to the provost, who will meet with the committee to discuss their findings.
“She (the provost) wades through all of the feedback, which is from the general public and anyone who came into contact with the candidates,” Stout said. “The online feedback forum is one mechanism, but people often seek her out to provide input too.”
Aiken then confers with Staben to decide which candidates to conduct additional background on and check references.
“They’re very diligent in ensuring the people who move forward in the process are truly going to meet the needs of the university and the expectations of the position as we advertised it,” Stout said.
Stout said an optimistic goal is for the new dean to be named by the end of March and to be in position by the start of the new fiscal year, July 1.
Arianna Anchustegui can be reached at [email protected]