Holly Maguigan & Avi Soifer at the Deanship Workshop

Organized by Seattle University School of Law, and co-sponsored by SALT, the Deanship Workshop, held September 28-20, 2007, brought together current, former, and several leading associate deans from more than 25 law schools with law school professors considering the leap from teaching to administration.

The workshop, attended by some 65 registrants, was designed to increase the ability of non-traditional dean candidates to break through the glass ceiling that is keeping these groups underrepresented in decanal ranks.

The discussion was frank, authentic, and insightful. Four core areas were included in the two days of panels:

• Determining whether a deanship is really desired, and whether it is the right time and place to pursue such a position.
• Understanding the nuts and bolts of the dean's role: developing an administrative team, personnel matters, internal administration, budgets, advancement, external relations, university relations, and accreditation.
• Preparing oneself to be a successful dean candidate.
• Negotiating the terms of appointment and ensuring a successful transition to the decanal role.

The gracious hospitality of Dean Kellye Testy added to the remarkable openess of the discussions both during the sessions, at meals, and during the receptions.

For a full view of the schedule of panels, click here.