After serving many years as our amazing leader, Dean Patricia Bennett has announced that she is stepping down as Dean of MC Law at the end of this academic year (May 2021). Dean Bennett has been a great friend and mentor, and she has shepherded our law school with a steady hand through many challenges. She will be leaving the law school in a great position!

MC is beginning its search for our next dean now, and I encourage interested applicants to submit their materials for consideration. The following is a brief description of the desired characteristics of applicants and the responsibilities of the position (and here is a link to more complete information about the position and a how to apply):

The dean must enthusiastically embrace the university’s historic mission and possess the personal qualities to inspire the faculty, students, and alumni to advance the academic program and reputation of MC Law. The dean of MC Law provides the vision to sustain and lead the school to prominence in teaching, scholarship, and service. The dean is responsible for strategic leadership, academic excellence, and administration of MC Law. The successful candidate will be a thoughtful, entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative leader who sees opportunity in the challenges facing legal education.

Candidates should demonstrate the capacity to lead a program of legal education, cultivate external funding, and in keeping with the mission of Mississippi College, be a committed Christian and a person of integrity.

Specific responsibilities are to ensure that the academic needs of students are met; recruit faculty, and recommend faculty appointments, reappointments, and promotions; and oversee curriculum development in shared governance with the faculty; support alumni relations, and cultivate external funding sources; construct and manage budgets for MC Law; see to the general administration of the law school; and interface effectively with the university, professionals in legal education, members of the bar and the state judiciary, and civic communities.