Finalists named: Law school dean selection process moves forward

The search for the new USD law school dean has been narrowed down to three finalists.

Committee members began their search for the law school dean last March. This search has been longer than other academic searches because the committee used an outside search form to help the search process.

The finalists are Christopher Behan, a professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law; Neil Fulton, former chief of staff for South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds; and Elena Langan, dean of Concordia University School of Law.

Kurt Hackemer, Interim Provost, said all three finalists offer different sets of skills that could make them a good fit for dean.

“What they have in common is they have experience managing administration, a deep knowledge of the law and of education. You are really looking for someone who can take this enterprise and can continue moving it forward,” Hackemer said. “These are folks who we think have the right set of skills to do that.”

This search enlisted the aid of an academic search form. The purpose of an academic search form is to reach a larger pool of candidates in the initial search.

“What they help us do is identify candidates and encourage them to apply,” Hackemer said. “They have their own networks of contacts across the country and they can keep in touch with people who want to get involved in academic administration. They encourage applications and help manage the entire process of the search.”

Liz Taggart, Director of Law School Admissions, said she feels the committee did an excellent job selecting highly qualified finalists.

“I am very thrilled with the list of candidates that have come forward,” Taggart said. “I am eager to meet all three of them as I believe that each one possesses the necessary skills that the next dean of USD Law will need.”

The finalists had to first submit an application, complete a phone interview and, in this case, complete what is known as an airport interview.

“They invite a larger group of people they have already voted through a phone call to fly in and be interviewed in the airport by the committee. They had a larger group that had those interviews and that’s what got us to the three finalists,” Hackemer said.

The law school has seen an increase in enrollment rates and bar passage rates in the past year. The challenge for the new dean, Hackemer said, will be maintaining the current success and taking it further.

“Anytime you bring in someone new, you inevitably have new energy. Whoever it comes in and takes a look around them and has ideas of things they would like to do,” Hackemer said. “Everyone has a slightly different set of priorities so there is always this confusion of energy when you get someone knew.”

Garrett Keegan, a second-year law student, said having a new deal could allow for more growth, such as fundraising for the older building.

“I hope the new dean will be able to bring more dollars to the law school to improve the aging building or work to expand the law school to provide students with more experiential learning opportunities,” Keegan said. “Along with this, more scholarship opportunities would ease the pain of students graduating law school.”

Besides fundraising, Keegan said he hopes the new dean will continue to build relationships with law students and alumni.

“A new dean can bring the connections that they have built throughout their career which creates new networking opportunities for students,” Keegan said. “I believe the dean needs to be approachable to the students and alumni. My favorite quality of USD Law is how connected the faculty is with the students and alumni, which I believe is crucial for the school’s success.”

Taggart said she believes a new dean will allow for students and staff to continue seeing growth, similar to the growth seen under the current Dean Thomas Geu.

“Dean Geu has been a fantastic leader at USD Law. We have been through lots of transition… I think we have now settled into a really great place,” Taggart said. “The law school will stay in Vermillion, we have an amazing staff and faculty, bar passage is up, the LSAT median has increased by 4 points, and our enrollment has increased by 27%. The students, staff, and faculty have all been a part of this tremendous growth, and now they will be able to see the benefits play out. A new dean will have the opportunity to take this growth and move forward.”

Hackemer said filling the law school dean is not only important to USD, but also to the state of South Dakota in general.

“By having a virtue of having the state’s only law school, USD law school has an impact on the entire legal enterprise across the entire state of South Dakota,” Hackemer said. “So getting the right person who can take the law school forward and not only make good things happen on campus but across the state.”