St. Thomas University Embarks on National Search For School of Law Dean Successor

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Mar 29, 2010, 05:42 ET

MIAMI, Fla., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- St. Thomas University President, Monsignor Franklyn M. Casale, announced today Dean Alfredo Garcia's decision to step down as School of Law Dean at the end of this academic year.

Dean Garcia will have completed three and one half successful years as Dean. Under his leadership, the School of Law's quality was strengthened, with applications up by nearly ten percent, exceeding the national average. The School's faculty increased, adding new members with excellent credentials and both legal and academic experience. Dean Garcia was instrumental in maintaining the Law School's healthy financial position. He also launched a naming fundraising campaign for the School, raising almost $1 million.

"I am very grateful to Dean Garcia for his service," said Monsignor Casale. "The Dean will

return to teaching, his first love, for which he is so highly esteemed by his colleagues and students."

Most recently, Dean Garcia launched the Center for Global Justice and Dialogue, a think tank to address issues of global concern, and hosted the National Conference of Law Reviews. The School of Law won various Moot Court and Mock Trial Competitions, including the prestigious Orseck Competition, sponsored by the Florida Bar.

In this steady growth rate, the School of Law received expanded grants for its Human Rights Institute to cover Broward and Palm Beach counties. Two new graduate law programs were initiated: the J.S.D. in Intercultural Human Rights and the LL.M. in Environmental Sustainability.

To begin a national, broad-based search for a successor, the President appointed a committee which will be comprised of representatives from the Law School's faculty, students, administration and alumni, chaired by Victor Mendelson, a member of the University's Board of Trustees, who is also an attorney and President of HEICO Electronic Technologies Corporation. "Because both the Law School and the University enjoy a unique status in the higher education community, I am certain that St. Thomas University School of Law will attract high quality candidates, and I look forward to ensuring that our Law School enjoys continued success," added Monsignor Casale.

SOURCE St. Thomas University