Description
St. Mary’s University
Dean of the School of Law
Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist St. Mary’s University in its search for Dean of the School of Law.
For full consideration, please apply by September 9, 2026.
St. Mary's University, a Catholic and Marianist institution, seeks an accomplished and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the School of Law. For nearly 175 years, St. Mary's University has prepared ethical leaders committed to service, justice, and the common good. The next Dean will have the opportunity to lead the distinctive Catholic Law School during a defining period of growth, innovation, and institutional momentum. As the School enters its second century, the next Dean will help shape the future of an institution with a proud history, a growing national profile, and a clear vision for continued excellence.
Enrollment across the School's J.D., Online J.D., and graduate law programs has grown by 20% over the past two years, reflecting increasing demand for St. Mary's distinctive approach to legal education. As the only Catholic law school in Texas, the School continues to distinguish itself through academic excellence and innovation, including launching the nation's first ABA-accredited Online J.D. program. Nationally recognized for its advocacy and trial programs and deeply connected to the Texas bench, bar, and judiciary, the School provides students with exceptional opportunities for experiential learning, professional engagement, and public service. Located in San Antonio, one of the nation's fastest-growing cities, the School is well positioned to strengthen these partnerships and expand its impact as it approaches its centennial in 2027.
Reporting to the Provost, the Dean serves as the School's chief academic and administrative officer and a key member of the University's academic leadership team.
Working alongside dedicated faculty, accomplished alumni, University leadership, and an engaged legal community, the Dean will strengthen the School's reputation, expand its influence, and prepare future lawyers who will lead with integrity, professional excellence, and a commitment to serving others.
To learn more about this opportunity, view the full Leadership Profile.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will bring the academic credentials, professional experience, leadership capacity and mission alignment necessary to lead the St. Mary’s University School of Law.
- An understanding of legal education in the context of a Catholic and Marianist university and a commitment to advancing the mission of St. Mary’s University and the School of Law;
- A J.D. or equivalent terminal degree from an accredited institution;
- A record of teaching, scholarship, professional achievement and service appropriate for appointment as a tenured member of the law faculty;
- Significant experience in legal education, including an understanding of ABA accreditation standards, bar passage, student success, faculty governance, curriculum and the evolving needs of the legal profession;
- Demonstrated administrative leadership experience, including responsibility for personnel supervision, faculty or staff evaluation, budget oversight, planning and resource allocation;
- Evidence of the ability to recruit, retain, support, and develop a strong faculty committed to teaching, scholarship, service and student success;
- Experience advancing enrollment, academic quality, bar passage, career outcomes, and student support in a complex and competitive legal education environment;
- A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, University leadership, alumni, members of the bench and bar and other external partners;
- Experience with assessment, accreditation, program review, strategic planning and data-informed decision-making;
- A record of effective external engagement, including alumni relations, advancement, professional partnerships, and public representation of an institution or academic unit; and
- Evidence of a strong commitment to inclusive excellence, access to legal education, professional formation and the success of all students.
St. Mary's University, founded in 1852, is the oldest Catholic university in the Southwest and a Hispanic-Serving Institution grounded in the Catholic and Marianist traditions. The University enrolls approximately 3,500 students across four schools, offering more than 40 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including doctoral and professional degrees.
Guided by the five Characteristics of Marianist Universities, St. Mary's integrates rigorous academics with faith, service, leadership, and community, creating an educational experience that prepares graduates to lead lives of purpose and impact. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, experiential learning, and a vibrant campus community that extends to a global network of more than 36,000 alumni.
Nationally recognized for academic quality and value, St. Mary's is ranked the No. 1 Best Value School in the West and has been recognized among the region's top universities by U.S. News & World Report for more than three decades.
Founded in 1927, the St. Mary's University School of Law is the only Catholic law school in Texas and will celebrate its centennial in 2027. With approximately 45 full-time faculty members, the School offers J.D., Online J.D., Master of Legal Studies, and LL.M. programs that combine academic rigor with experiential learning and professional formation.
The School has experienced significant momentum in recent years, including 20% enrollment growth across its academic programs and continued expansion of innovative educational offerings. St. Mary's pioneered the nation's first ABA-accredited Online J.D. program and recently expanded access to legal education through the Rio Grande Valley Legal Education Hub, broadening opportunities for students across Texas.
Nationally recognized for advocacy, dispute resolution, experiential learning, and service, the School consistently earns distinction among the nation's leading law schools. Its Trial Advocacy program is ranked No. 12, its Dispute Resolution program is ranked No. 18, and the School is recognized among The Princeton Review's Best Law Schools and National Jurist's Top Law Schools for Social Justice. Through six legal clinics, robust externship opportunities, and a deeply embedded culture of pro bono service, students develop the knowledge, skills, and professional values needed to become leaders in the legal profession.
Living in the Area
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States and the second-largest city in Texas, with a population of more than 1.3 million residents. Situated in the south-central part of Texas, it serves as the seat of Bexar County and offers a dynamic combination of culture, history, and economic opportunity.
San Antonio boasts a thriving culinary scene, world-class arts, and vibrant neighborhoods, offering both Mexican, Tex-Mex, and international cuisine. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy parks, trails, and proximity to nearby hill country. The city also has a strong military and healthcare presence, including Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base), the South Texas Medical Center, and the San Antonio Military Medical Center.
Economically, San Antonio is home to five Fortune 500 companies and an emerging cybersecurity, bioscience, and higher education ecosystem, providing diverse professional opportunities. With a cost of living below the national average, excellent schools, and a welcoming community, San Antonio offers an exceptional quality of life for professionals and families alike.
For more information about the area, visit: www.sanantonio.gov, www.sachamber.org, www.visitsanantonio.com.
To Apply
For full consideration, please apply by September 9, 2026.
To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjy92xoi
Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.
Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.
Inquiries and questions: Please send to [email protected].
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to [email protected].
Institutional Information
St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer.
