Dean, College of Law

The College of Law is one of the nation's premier public law schools. Its influence reaches across the nation and around the world through the work of ambitious students, productive faculty and staff, and talented alumni. Iowa Law's next dean will be positioned to move the school forward by creating new and innovative opportunities to learn, teach, and serve.

The dean will develop a clear and compelling vision for Iowa Law's next chapter, providing leadership in matters related to planning, curriculum, scholarship, and finances. The dean will engage with faculty, staff, students, alumni, the legal community, and state and federal governmental officials to advance the goals of the College of Law and the university. The successful candidate must possess a JD or its equivalent and must have a record of excellence in scholarship, teaching, and service that meets the standards for appointment to the Iowa Law faculty as a full professor with tenure. The candidate must possess a substantial record of leadership over time in a professional setting, with a strong preference given to candidates who possess substantial leadership experience in the legal academy. The successful candidate will demonstrate a capacity and readiness to advance the College of Law through fundraising and building external partnerships. The successful candidate will also demonstrate an ability to advance the university's philosophy and practice in the areas of access and opportunity.

Situated in a lively college town, the University of Iowa is one of the nation's leading public research universities, with more than 30,000 students from 100-plus countries and all 50 states. Founded in 1847, it is the State of Iowa's oldest institution of higher education and is located alongside the picturesque Iowa River in Iowa City. A member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) since 1909 and the Big Ten Conference since 1899, the university's distinctions range from the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop to one of the largest and most acclaimed medical centers in the country.

The College of Law is among the most distinguished academic units in the state's flagship university, boasting bright and eager students, a strong faculty and staff, and a devoted and impressive alumni base. With a legacy of excellence spanning more than 150 years, Iowa Law offers a dynamic learning environment that prepares students hailing from communities near and far to excel in a broad range of legal careers and contribute meaningfully to society. Iowa Law takes pride in its long history of providing a first-rate legal education to a talented and ambitious student body, producing graduates who pass the Bar and secure employment at impressively high rates and with lower levels of average debt than their peers at many competitor schools. The school immerses its students in a culture that values collaboration. It is a collegial community, where students with varied backgrounds and viewpoints learn to work and study together to achieve common aims, supported by a readily accessible faculty.

Iowa Law's faculty members are highly regarded and frequently cited experts. Their scholarship is integral to the College of Law's mission of excellence and central to the culture of the college, as is expert instruction within a broad curriculum. The college has a premier, comprehensive research library staffed by first-rate research librarians and assistants who share a deep commitment to supporting faculty scholarship and student learning. Among the library's frequent visitors are the students who write and edit for one of the school's four well-known law journals, including the nationally ranked Iowa Law Review and Journal of Corporation Law. The college's journals, together with an impressive slate of upper-level seminars and research-assistant opportunities, deeply involve students in the scholarly enterprise.

Iowa Law offers a strong legal writing program, led by seven full-time faculty members who offer first-year and upper-level writing courses. Their instruction is backed by the work of the college's Writing Center, which was the first of its kind at any law school and is staffed by a faculty member and a team of student tutors. The experiential education portfolio at the College of Law includes a robust field placement program led by a clinical faculty member, practicum and simulation courses, and in-house, live-client clinics grouped together in the Law Clinic. The Law Clinic functions like a single law firm with distinct practice groups, including federal criminal defense, immigration, technology and surveillance, federal civil rights, and the Community Empowerment Law Project. It is one of the few clinics in the country to offer practice opportunities in both federal civil and federal criminal cases.

In addition to the Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Laws (LLM), and Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD) degrees, Iowa Law offers an advanced-standing JD for lawyers trained abroad, and a variety of dual-enrollment programs, including the JD/MHA, JD/MPH, JD/MBA, JD/MD, JD/MS Business Analytics, JD/Master of Finance, JD/MA Philosophy, and JD/MS Library and Information Science.

Iowa Law enjoys a network of more than 11,000 highly engaged and accomplished alumni spanning the state, nation, and world. The Iowa Law School Foundation (with an endowment of nearly $100 million) and the University of Iowa Center for Advancement serve as ready partners to the dean and the College of Law to fundraise, build alumni relations, manage the endowment, and provide program support.

Successful candidates must self-disclose any misconduct history or pending research misconduct investigation, including but not limited to sexual misconduct in prior employment, and provide a related release. Candidates will be subject to a criminal background and credential check.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Iowa in this search. Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by November 2, 2026.

Nominations, inquiries, and applications can be directed to:

Werner Boel, LL.M. and Ashlee Musser
IowaLawDean@wittkieffer.com

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.