Dean College of Law

Grand Canyon University!  One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning.  Located in the Valley of the Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona. GCU is an institutionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University. 

Grand Canyon University (GCU) is seeking a dynamic Christian leader to become the inaugural Dean of the Grand Canyon University College of Law.  This servant leader is responsible for providing vision, strategic direction, and operational excellence across all aspects of the college, including but not limited to achieving accreditation, academic planning, faculty recruitment, performance assessment, research and scholarly development, and program review.  You will be joining a strong, seasoned team of academic leaders as you collaborate and partner to add an 11th college at GCU and continue growth of the largest Private, Christian university in the country. 

GCU's Mission

GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world’s deep needs by cultivating compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing.

Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to be innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors and transformative leaders who change their communities by placing the interests of others before their own.

This leader must possess a strong combination of real-world legal experience, a passion for teaching and mentoring, and an operational mindset to effectively scale programs and maximize the impact of law school graduates grounded in a Christian worldview. This role integrates the practice of law, Christian faith, free market principles, and academic excellence.

Location: 3300 W. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85017

What you will do:

Christ-Centered Leadership & Community

• Promote and model a Christ-centered worldview in all aspects of leadership, decision-making, and academic and faculty engagement within the College of Law

• Foster a strong sense of community, professionalism, and shared purpose among faculty, staff, and law students

• Support the development of Christian character, ethical leadership, and professional responsibility within the legal profession

• Encourage intentional integration of faith and learning, emphasizing justice, integrity, and service in legal education in accordance with the Judeo-Christian western legal tradition

Strategic Leadership, Innovation & Growth

• Provide vision and strategic direction for the College of Law, including program development, expansion, and long-term growth

• Lead initiatives that enhance the impact of law graduates grounded in Christian faith

• Identify opportunities to scale programs effectively while maintaining academic rigor and operational excellence leading to high Bar Exam pass rates

• Drive innovation in legal education, including experiential learning, partnerships, and workforce alignment

Academic Excellence & Accreditation

• Ensure the integrity, rigor, and consistency of all law programs

• Lead and oversee all efforts to achieve and maintain ABA accreditation, serving as the primary liaison for accreditation processes

• Provide executive oversight of curriculum design, instruction, and assessment

• Ensure systems are in place to support student retention, progression, and graduation

• Establish and promote a strong culture of Bar Exam preparation, including structured coaching and accountability

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, using assessment data to strengthen learning outcomes and student success

• Support scholarly activity, research, and institutional recognition within the legal and academic community

• Monitor key performance indicators, including Bar passage rates, retention, academic performance, and engagement

• Foster an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and prepared for legal practice

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

• Establish clear ownership, accountability, and performance expectations

• Ensure alignment between curriculum, faculty delivery, operations, and student outcomes 

• Build systems that promote efficiency, transparency, and scalability in a matrixed university environment

• Collaborate with university partners (e.g., Faculty Services, Faculty Development, Curriculum Design, Admissions, Marketing) to leverage best practices and drive results

• Provide oversight of college operations, budgeting, and resource allocation in alignment with university expectations

• Ensure responsible stewardship of resources to support program growth and sustainability

• Integrate into a matrix organization of centralized shared-services model, sharing all resources and collaborating on operations and execution with service providers

Faculty Leadership & Development

• Lead and support faculty in achieving excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship

• Promote instructional excellence and innovation in legal education

• Support faculty in integrating faith, ethics, and professional preparation into the classroom

• Foster a culture of mentorship, accountability, and continuous professional growth

External Relations & Institutional Alignment

• Serve as the primary representative of the College of Law to university leadership, accrediting bodies (ABA), and external partners

• Lead and engage the College of Law Advisory Board, collaborating with legal and business leaders

• Partner with Marketing, Enrollment, and Admissions to recruit and enroll high-quality students in collaboration with service providers in a centralized, shared-service model

• Support Advancement office efforts to fundraise for scholarships and program initiatives

• Build strategic partnerships to enhance pipeline development, experiential opportunities, and community impact

• Additional responsibilities as assigned by the Provost or President.

What you need:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from an ABA-accredited institution

• Experience in higher education teaching, law practice, scholarship, and/or administration

• Significant (10+ years desired), documented, legal experience and/or leadership roles

• Ability and experience leading at operational and strategic levels

• Passion to share your Christian faith as a leader and educator

• Provide a positive example to students by supporting the University’s Doctrinal Statement, Ethical Position Statement and Mission of Grand Canyon University.

Bonus:

• Experience leading large, multi-program academic units

• Experience with online and hybrid program delivery

• Background in law program development

• Experience collaborating with external service providers or OPM partners

• Evidence of scholarly or professional contributions

Why work at GCU:

• Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan

• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays

• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events

• Free covered parking

• We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program

• Free on-site gyms on campus

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