Assistant Dean for Student Services

Summary of Position

Penn State Law, located on Penn State’s largest campus, University Park, is seeking its next Assistant Dean for Student Services. Penn State Law is in the process of reunifying with its sister law school at Penn State University, Penn State Dickinson Law. The reunified law school, which will be known as Penn State Dickinson Law, will have its primary location in Carlisle, PA, the historic home of Penn State Dickinson Law. This position will be situated in University Park, the reunified school’s additional location, and will primarily serve students in that location. Both locations will have all levels of J.D. students in residence, as well as LL.M. and S.J.D. students. This is a primarily in-person role, with the possibility of occasional remote work. More information about reunification is available here.

The Assistant Dean for Student Services is responsible for providing leadership, direction, management, and implementation of all initiatives of the law school’s Office of Student Services in University Park. Key areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Student support

• Works to create a climate that is welcoming, supportive, and conducive to learning for all students;
• Develops and oversees programming to promote law student and lawyer well-being;
• Assists students needing academic accommodations and coordinates accommodations with Penn State Office of Student Disability Resources and faculty;
• Serves as primary contact for law students with personal needs and concerns; 
• Provides referrals for mental health and substance abuse issues; 
• Monitors student compliance with non-academic conduct policies. 

Leadership

• Develops and fosters collaborative relationships with Law School and University leaders, including University Student Affairs, Student Care and Concern, Educational Equity, and Counseling and Psychological Services; 
• Collaborates with Assistant Dean for Student Services in Carlisle to create reunified Student Services policies and procedures; 
• Develops in-depth knowledge of University resources and processes to provide guidance to law students;
• Maintains relationships with other law schools, professional associations, and service organizations to stay up-to-date on national, regional, and local trends in law school student services administration; 
• Represents the law school at professional meetings and conferences. 

Administration

• Collaborates with CFO and other administrators to establish policies and processes for student organization funding; 
• Represents and advocates for law students on University-wide issues;
• Serves as liaison to Honor Code Administrator(s) in Honor Code matters;
• Collaborates with Penn State Office of Student Conduct and Educational Equity in addressing student misconduct;  
• Collaborates with faculty and administration on the development and updating of the student handbook; 
• Collaborates with facilities managers on parking, café operations, and student locker distribution.

Student organizations and events 

• Oversees the planning and execution of new student Orientation; 
• Oversees the planning and execution of Commencement; 
• Sets policy and procedures for student events and enforces those policies; 
• Contributes to the planning and execution of other student-focused events including award ceremonies, pre-graduation celebrations, and other events.

Management

• Leads Student Services office, including managing operating budget; 
• Supervises and supports development of Associate Director(s) of Student Services, Student Services Administrative Support Assistant(s), and Student Workers; 
• Conducts and facilitates employee evaluations per university HR policy.