Search for new College of Law dean moves forward

MIAMI – The search committee charged with finding FIU College of Law’s next dean discussed a preliminary list of candidates this week.

This list, published in several newspapers, is not a final slate of candidates. In future meetings, the committee will consider these and other candidates and will continue to solicit applications for this position until it is filled.

“We have, and continue to receive, applications from throughout the country to lead this young and promising law school,” said College of Medicine Dean John Rock, who is heading the search committee. “We will not settle on anyone until we are absolutely certain that we have chosen the right candidate.”

The next meeting of the search committee will be on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.

The current dean, Leonard P. Strickman, came to FIU in January 2001 as a professor and founding dean of the College of Law.

Under his stewardship, the College of Law received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association. Graduates have passed the Florida Bar Exam at rates exceeding the statewide pass rate and at the most recent examination, in July 2008, FIU graduates passed at the second highest rate when compared to graduates from all law schools in the state of Florida.

Strickman will remain a member of the law faculty after he steps down this summer.

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About FIU College of Law

The Florida International University College of Law meets an important need in the community by providing a quality, affordable legal education for South Florida residents. The student body, while principally from South Florida, is diverse in racial, ethnic, and professional background.  FIU College of Law graduates have passed the Florida Bar Exam at rates exceeding the statewide pass rate.  At the most recent examination, in July 2008, FIU graduates passed at the second highest rate when compared to graduates from all law schools in the state of Florida.

About FIU:

Florida International University was founded in 1965 and is Miami’s only public research university. With a student body of more than 38,000, FIU graduates more Hispanics than any other university in the country. Its 17 colleges and schools offer more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations and law. FIU has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a “High Research Activity University.” In 2006 FIU was authorized to establish a medical school, which will welcome its first class in 2009. FIU’s College of Law recently received accreditation in the fastest time allowed by the American Bar Association.