Dean of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL)

Situation Overview

ZRG has been engaged to recruit a Dean of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law (TMSL) for Texas Southern University.

About Texas Southern University

Founded in 1927, Texas Southern University is a comprehensive, doctoral-granting institution located in Houston, one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the nation. As a historically Black university, Texas Southern continues to expand access to opportunity while advancing innovation, research, and economic mobility.

Texas Southern University is also recognized with the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, reflecting its deep and sustained commitment to community partnerships and public impact.

Through its ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan, the University is executing a bold, performance-driven vision focused on student success, academic excellence, and institutional growth.

Position Description

The Dean will lead the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in alignment with Texas Southern University’s ASCEND 2030 Strategic Plan, advancing the priorities of student success, academic excellence, research growth, and institutional impact. The Dean will serve as a visionary architect of legal education in an era defined by artificial intelligence, digital justice, global governance, and evolving challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Create the infrastructure and control that cultivate an environment of academic excellence through high student engagement, exceptional teaching, faculty research, and a rigorous curriculum designed to produce consistently competitive bar performance scores.
• Supervise the Law School's daily operations, budget management, student recruitment, and academic activities.
• Establish priorities and sustain an environment of academic excellence through the development and assessment of curricular, research, collaborative, and partnership initiatives.
• Position the Law School to continue to meet and exceed ABA standards.
• Raise revenue for the Law school's development initiatives through sustained institutional and external fundraising.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• A distinguished career in legal education, and/or law, whether in practice, on the bench, in government, or a combination thereof.
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience.