The search is on for a new dean of the
School of Law.

William Prokasy, vice president for
academic affairs, named an 11-member
search committee last week to replace
current dean Edward "Ned" Spurgeon,
who will resign at the end of this academ-
ic year.

Prokasy said the committee has not yet
had its first organizational meeting.
Russell Yeany Jr., dean of the School of
Education, was chosen as chair of the
committee.

"My job is to organize and facilitate the
committee’s efforts in a way that we. . .
select the best candidate for the position,"
Yeany said. "I understand what it takes to
attract high-quality students."

The selection process for the committee
was meticulous, Prokasy said.

"I view this search as a critical one for
the University," he said in a University
press release. "It is important . . . that the
person who assumes the deanship be one
who will lead the school not only in main-
taining, but enhancing, overall quality."

Ronald Ellington, one of the faculty
representatives, served as law dean from
1987 to 1993.

"We looked for a leader among staff
organizations on campus," he said of the
search for faculty members.

The student representative, Michele E.
Person, is a third-year law student from
Alpharetta.

Prokasy said he is extremely satisfied
with the selection of Person.

"We wanted to have a person who had
clearly been recognized by her col-
leagues," he said of Person.

Also represented on the committee are
three esteemed alumni of the University.

One of these alumni, Robert Benham,
is chief justice of the Supreme Court of
Georgia.

"We need to set up general operating
procedures for the committee," Prokasy
said.

"We will immediately set to . . . work
up a job description," Yeany said. "Then
make sure it is communicated . . . so that
all possible corridors of communication
are alerted."

The committee is expected to select a
new dean by August.