Dean College of Law

Grand Canyon University! One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University.Grand Canyon University (GCU) is seeking a dynamic Christian leader to become the inaugural Dean of the Grand Canyon University College of Law. This servant leader is responsible for providing vision, strategic direction, and operational excellence across all aspects of the college, including but not limited to achieving accreditation, academic planning, faculty recruitment, performance assessment, research and scholarly development, and program review. You will be joining a strong, seasoned team of academic leaders as you collaborate and partner to add an 11th college at GCU and continue growth of the largest Private, Christian university in the country.GCU's MissionGCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world’s deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing.Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to be innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors and transformative leaders who change their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.This leader must possess a strong combination of real-world legal experience, a passion for teaching and mentoring, and an operational mindset to effectively scale programs and maximize the impact of law school graduates grounded in a Christian worldview. This role integrates the practice of law, Christian faith, free market principles, and academic excellence.Location: 3300 W. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017What You Will DoChrist-Centered Leadership & CommunityPromote and model a Christ-centered worldview in all aspects of leadership, decision-making, and academic and faculty engagement within the College of LawFoster a strong sense of community, professionalism, and shared purpose among faculty, staff, and law studentsSupport the development of Christian character, ethical leadership, and professional responsibility within the legal professionEncourage intentional integration of faith and learning, emphasizing justice, integrity, and service in legal education in accordance with the Judeo-Christian western legal traditionStrategic Leadership, Innovation & GrowthProvide vision and strategic direction for the College of Law, including program development, expansion, and long-term growthLead initiatives that enhance the impact of law graduates grounded in Christian faithIdentify opportunities to scale programs effectively while maintaining academic rigor and operational excellence leading to high Bar Exam pass ratesDrive innovation in legal education, including experiential learning, partnerships, and workforce alignmentAcademic Excellence & AccreditationEnsure the integrity, rigor, and consistency of all law programsLead and oversee all efforts to achieve and maintain ABA accreditation, serving as the primary liaison for accreditation processesProvide executive oversight of curriculum design, instruction, and assessmentEnsure systems are in place to support student retention, progression, and graduationEstablish and promote a strong culture of Bar Exam preparation, including structured coaching and accountabilityPromote a culture of continuous improvement, using assessment data to strengthen learning outcomes and student successSupport scholarly activity, research, and institutional recognition within the legal and academic communityMonitor key performance indicators, including Bar passage rates, retention, academic performance, and engagementFoster an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and prepared for legal practiceLeadership & Organizational Effectiveness Establish clear ownership, accountability, and performance expectationsEnsure alignment between curriculum, faculty delivery, operations, and student outcomes Build systems that promote efficiency, transparency, and scalability in a matrixed university environmentCollaborate with university partners (e.g., Faculty Services, Faculty Development, Curriculum Design, Admissions, Marketing) to leverage best practices and drive resultsProvide oversight of college operations, budgeting, and resource allocation in alignment with university expectationsEnsure responsible stewardship of resources to support program growth and sustainabilityIntegrate into a matrix organization of centralized shared-services model, sharing all resources and collaborating on operations and execution with service providersFaculty Leadership & DevelopmentLead and support faculty in achieving excellence in teaching, service, and scholarshipPromote instructional excellence and innovation in legal educationSupport faculty in integrating faith, ethics, and professional preparation into the classroomFoster a culture of mentorship, accountability, and continuous professional growthExternal Relations & Institutional AlignmentServe as the primary representative of the College of Law to university leadership, accrediting bodies (ABA), and external partnersLead and engage the College of Law Advisory Board, collaborating with legal and business leadersPartner with Marketing, Enrollment, and Admissions to recruit and enroll high-quality students in collaboration with service providers in a centralized, shared-service modelSupport Advancement office efforts to fundraise for scholarships and program initiativesBuild strategic partnerships to enhance pipeline development, experiential opportunities, and community impactAdditional responsibilities as assigned by the Provost or President.What You NeedJuris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from an ABA-accredited institutionExperience in higher education teaching, law practice, scholarship, and/or administrationSignificant (10+ years desired), documented, legal experience and/or leadership rolesAbility and experience leading at operational and strategic levelsPassion to share your Christian faith as a leader and educatorProvide a positive example to students by supporting the University’s Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University.BonusExperience leading large, multi-program academic unitsExperience with online and hybrid program deliveryBackground in law program developmentExperience collaborating with external service providers or OPM partnersEvidence of scholarly or professional contributionsWhy Work At GCUExceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings planGenerous time off plan and 11 paid holidaysPaid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored eventsFree covered parkingWe also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount ProgramFree on-site gyms on campus#INDLOPESUP