The ongoing search for dean of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center will reach its next step this week when the two finalists visit the University to meet faculty, staff and students across campus.
The search for the Law Center dean began in August, led by a committee of 19 people. Senior Vice Provost Jane Cassidy, who heads the committee, said the search has been better than originally expected.
“We had a very deep pool of applicants,” Cassidy said. “It was very difficult to get down to the final three.”
The Daily Reveille previously reported the third finalist accepted a dean position at another law school.
The two finalists are Thomas Galligan, president of Colby-Sawyer College, and Cynthia Fountaine, dean of Southern Illinois University School of Law.
The Law Center is looking for someone who has experience in an academic law setting, as well as legal experience outside of a university, Cassidy said. In addition to experience, the committee wants someone who can work well with a wide variety of people, including alumni and lawyers in the community, who knows how to recruit students and who understands law education from a national perspective.
“They’re kind of like the CEO of the law school, and that’s the same as deans in any other college,” Cassidy said.
In addition to faculty, staff and students, the finalists will meet with academic affairs personnel and a group of alumni and donors.
“We’re trying to get them a really broad view of what LSU is,” Cassidy said. “We also want to get a broad group of constituents to meet with them and give us their feedback.”
Galligan and Fountaine will have a forum open to the public where they will present their research and ideas for the Law Center on Jan. 26 and Jan. 28, respectively, at 3:30 p.m. in the Law Center Auditorium.