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Current Deans: Homework Key to Applying for This Job

SAN FRANCISCO — When Camille Nelson applied for Suffolk College’s law dean opening, she knew that her lack of fundraising experience — she had held only faculty roles at that point — could hinder her prospects.

So Nelson sought out development officers in order to learn more about what goes into successful fundraising, the jargon and exactly what a dean is expected to do and not do. Nelson prepared to talk about all this, too, during job interviews.

And after being hired, she reached out to a runner-up, internal candidate for the post to talk candidly about what that person wanted to do professionally at the law school going forward. Nelson repeated this gesture with another runner-up, internal candidate at a second law school where she was hired as dean last summer.

“These were really strong internal candidates,” she said. “They were invaluable in helping me make the transition to each new school. I felt it important to see what I could do to support each of them.”

Nelson’s remarks came during the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools, which concluded last weekend.

Now American University’s law dean, Nelson participated in a panel discussion titled, “So You Want To Be A Dean?” She and seven of her peers from around the country spoke about their job-hunting experiences, academic positions held prior to becoming deans and how candidates can boost their chances. The panel was diverse; three deans including Nelson are Black.

Several panelists became deans rather than stick to teaching because they wanted to contribute beyond what they were already doing. However, dean applicants shouldn’t feel wowed by the advertised salaries.

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