University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee - United States
For more than 135 years, the Winston College of Law has educated generations of Tennessee's lawyers, judges, and civic leaders. Today, buoyed by a recent $32.5 million naming gift and recognized as a top-13 Best Value law school in the nation with one of the most favorable student-faculty ratios among public law schools, Winston Law stands at an inflection point.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Winston College of Law (Winston Law). The University seeks an experienced, collegial, and energetic leader who will provide inspiration, cohesion, and an entrepreneurial vision for Winston Law and serve as its chief academic and administrative officer. The Dean reports to the Provost and works closely with the vice provosts, deans of other academic colleges, and Winston Law faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders (including members of the Tennessee bench and bar), in setting overall academic and strategic priorities for Winston Law, allocating resources to move those priorities forward, and developing a collaborative community committed to student success.
As the leader of the state’s flagship law school at a land-grant university, the Dean must recognize and support the institution’s duty to serve the people of Tennessee. Because Winston Law’s graduates will join a dynamic and rapidly changing legal field at a historic moment of technological change, the Dean should recognize the significance of preparing law students to be adaptable, future-focused, and competitive for a multitude of practice areas and professions. Moreover, the Dean must be able to balance an internal role that engages the law school community with an external role that develops and maintains a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with alumni, state and local government officials, local bench and bar, and other Tennesseans.
The next Dean inherits an active, involved faculty committed to shared governance, a dedicated staff, a strong student body, a supportive campus administration, and a loyal alumni base. Winston Law has developed an engaged and respectful culture among its faculty, staff, and students. The successful candidate will not only be a scholar but also a collaborative, transparent, and inspiring leader who is equally committed to teaching, service, and scholarship. The Dean will further Winston Law’s commitment to access and community engagement; continue to develop a successful fundraising and alumni-engagement program; promote and, where possible, advance Winston Law’s local, regional, and national reputation; and work to build community and consensus across all its stakeholders.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate relevant experience in managing a comparable enterprise within a complex system like UTK; leading and inspiring a multifaceted mission-driven community and stakeholder base; and promoting engagement inside Winston Law, across the campus and the greater university, and within the legal profession and the public. The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, a capacity for creative thinking, and the enthusiasm and demonstrated ability to lead with the highest integrity and a spirit of service
WittKieffer is assisting the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in this search. Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal using the buttons above or below. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 7, 2026.
Nominations, inquiries, and applications can be directed to:
Werner Boel, LL.M. and Ashlee Musser
The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.