The University of Southern California (USC) is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology, and international business. As a member of the prestigious American Association of Universities, USC is recognized for especially strong research and academic programs. In its comprehensive 2021 ranking, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education ranked USC 19th among more than 1,000 public and private universities. Home to Southern California’s first law school, USC Gould School of Law is an elite school committed to academic excellence, world-class faculty, and a close-knit and diverse student body. USC Gould boasts a supportive and tight-knit alumni population of more than 10,000 professionals around the globe. Its alumni are partners in the world’s largest law firms, head major international companies, and serve leadership roles in government and public service organizations. More than 500 USC Gould alumni have served as state or federal judges.
The Position
Reporting to the Dean of the Gould School of Law, the Dean of Students and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be responsible for providing personal counseling to students; and management of student life, including development of student-friendly initiatives, assisting student organizations with planning and implementing projects, and serving as administrative liaison and advocate for students to both faculty and administration. Personal support includes counseling students facing difficult personal issues and, when appropriate, facilitating referrals for professional treatment. Supervising staff includes recruiting, screening, hiring, training, evaluating, and managing employee performance, as well as providing guidance and feedback; setting departmental goals and objectives; and reassessing or redefining priorities as appropriate in order to achieve performance objectives.
The Dean of Students and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion must also work closely with other offices within the law school that provide student services. The position works collaboratively with the Registrar’s office in overseeing various aspects of the examination process; with Admissions and Financial Aid on new student orientation and financial aid matters; with the Business office on other financial matters; and with the Supervisor of Student Organizations, who is responsible for oversight of student organizations and activities. In addition, the position will serve as a liaison for the law school with other offices across the University including Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention, Title IX, Disability Services & Programs, Office of International Services, and Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards.
The position is also responsible for the strategic direction of the school’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities and promoting a diverse, equitable, and respectful environment for faculty, staff, and students. This includes 1) planning, implementing, and evaluating goals related to diversity and inclusion within the school, 2) facilitating new initiatives and activities that promote DEI, 3) monitoring and measuring the DEI outcomes in the strategic plan, and 4) overseeing and reporting on recruitment efforts to increase diversity within the school.
The position serves on various faculty committees and is occasionally asked to participate in University-wide committee, and assists in maintaining the law school’s ties to the legal community by attending various local, state, national bar association, and other professional meetings.
Qualifications
The successful candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree and at least five years minimum experience with a field of expertise in student personnel administration or related field with management experience.
Qualified candidates possessing a terminal degree and a minimum of five years in higher education, student support, or related field are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates must demonstrate a clear commitment toward supporting and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion of students, faculty, and staff from differing backgrounds. Qualifications include a history of successful leadership in promoting diversity and engaging in activities that support equity and respect in the work environment. The successful candidate must possess strong leadership abilities, managerial and organizational skills, good judgment, excellent verbal/written communication skills, and the ability to interact comfortably in multiple and diverse settings.
Application and Nomination
Review of applications will begin February 12, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Quincy Martin III at qm3@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.
Visit the University of Southern California website at https://www.usc.edu/
Equity, diversity, inclusion, opportunity and access are of central importance to the Gould School of Law (Gould). Gould holds a unique position in society, and within the university, as every aspect of these principles are influenced by and can be protected through legal rules and institutions. At Gould, we are proudly committed to maintaining a community in which each person respects the rights of others to live, work, and learn in peace and dignity, to be proud of who and what they are, and to have equal opportunity to realize their full potential as individuals and members of society.
We are sensitive to how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting work and personal lives, and will offer the utmost flexibility throughout the interview process. The search committee expects to conduct initial interviews virtually for the safety and well-being of all involved.