PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by St. Mary’s University for Dean of the School of Law Search

(July 24, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Dean of the School of Law at St. Mary’s University.  Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

St. Mary’s University, a Catholic and Marianist institution, seeks an accomplished and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the School of Law. The next Dean will have the opportunity to lead the distinctive Catholic Law School during a defining period of growth, innovation, and institutional momentum. Enrollment across the School’s J.D., Online J.D., and graduate law programs has grown by 20% over the past two years, reflecting increasing demand for St. Mary’s distinctive approach to legal education. As the only Catholic law school in Texas, the School continues to distinguish itself through academic excellence and innovation, including launching the nation’s first ABA-accredited Online J.D. program. Nationally recognized for its advocacy and trial programs and deeply connected to the Texas bench, bar, and judiciary, the School provides students with exceptional opportunities for experiential learning, professional engagement, and public service. Located in San Antonio, one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, the School is well positioned to strengthen these partnerships and expand its impact as it approaches its centennial in 2027.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean serves as the School’s chief academic and administrative officer and a key member of the University’s academic leadership team. Working alongside dedicated faculty, accomplished alumni, University leadership, and an engaged legal community, the Dean will strengthen the School’s reputation, expand its influence, and prepare future lawyers who will lead with integrity, professional excellence, and a commitment to serving others. View the full Leadership Profile.

St. Mary’s University, founded in 1852, is the oldest Catholic university in the Southwest and a Hispanic-Serving Institution grounded in the Catholic and Marianist traditions. The University enrolls approximately 3,500 students across four schools, offering more than 40 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including doctoral and professional degrees. Guided by the five Characteristics of Marianist Universities, St. Mary’s integrates rigorous academics with faith, service, leadership, and community, creating an educational experience that prepares graduates to lead lives of purpose and impact. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, experiential learning, and a vibrant campus community that extends to a global network of more than 36,000 alumni. Nationally recognized for academic quality and value, St. Mary’s is ranked the No. 1 Best Value School in the West and has been recognized among the region’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report for more than three decades.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.