Law dean finalists plan public talks

FAYETTEVILLE — Four finalists for the job of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville law dean will give public talks at the law school at 3 p.m. on the dates they visit.

Asmara Tekle, professor at Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law and previously an associate dean for research and faculty development at the school, will visit Tuesday. Tekle, 44, last year was a finalist for law dean at Wayne State University Law School. When asked about her experience since 2015, she said it was the only time in that period she’s been a dean finalist.

Robert Ahdieh, professor and director of the Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance at Emory University School of Law, visits March 13. Ahdieh is also a finalist for law dean at Texas A&M University.

Temple University, the University of Oregon, the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina and the University of Illinois previously named him as a law dean finalist since the beginning of 2015.

Ahdieh, 46, said that since 2015 there have been “at least five places where I was a finalist in every sense of the word,” including taking part in searches until “either I was offered the job and turned it down or someone else was chosen instead.”

Brooke Coleman, professor and co-associate dean of research and faculty development at Seattle University School of Law, will visit March 28. Coleman, 43, said this is her first time to be a dean finalist.

Margaret Sova McCabe, professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law, visits April 5. Sova McCabe, 47, previously was the school’s associate dean for academic affairs. When asked, she said she has not been a law dean finalist elsewhere since 2015.