UNT System

UNT System Appoints College of Law Dean Search Advisory Committee

UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson has announced the formation of a committee to recruit, interview, and recommend candidates for Founding Dean of the UNT Dallas College of Law, the first new public law school to be established in Texas in more than 40 years.

The committee co-chairmen will be US District Judge Ed Kinkeade, Marcos Ronquillo and DeMetris Sampson.

Committee members are:

• Vicki Blanton, Senior Counsel, American Airlines
• Craig Capua, Of Counsel, West and Associates, LLP
• Jim Cowles, Shareholder, Cowles and Thompson
• John Creuzot, Judge, Criminal District Court #4
• Nancy Footer, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, UNT System
• Randy Gordon, Partner, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP
• O. Finley Graves, Dean, College of Business, UNT
• Teresa Guerra-Snelson, Associate Judge, Dallas County Civil District Courts
• Jean Keller, Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor, UNT Dallas
• J. Kenneth Menges, Jr., Partner, Akin Gump Straus Hauer and Feld LLP
• Harriett Miers, Partner, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP
• Jay Patterson, Retired Dallas County Civil District Court Judge.

The UNT System is searching for a proven leader with outstanding legal experience, academic vision, and administrative and personal skills. The Founding Dean will have a unique opportunity to establish and implement a clear, guiding vision for a 21st century law school through curricular innovation, appointment of a dedicated and focused faculty and staff, and recruitment of excellent students.

The search committee is comprised of outstanding DFW attorneys, educators and judges who will review applications, interview finalists, and make recommendations to the Chancellor of the UNT System. Committee members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to this process and will help the UNT System conclude this national search in early 2010.

Student recruiting is expected to begin in the fall of 2010, with the first class scheduled for admission in the spring of 2011 and the first classes in August, 2011. The UNT Dallas College of Law will begin operations at 1901 Main Street in downtown Dallas in the building that houses the Universities Center at Dallas. Ultimately the UNT Dallas College of Law will move into permanent quarters in the old Dallas Municipal Building at Main and Harwood.