The first dean candidate for the School of Law, Oren Griffin, will hold an open forum for the campus community Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m. in the E.J. Ball Courtroom in the School of Law.

During the open forum, Griffin will describe the University of Arkansas School of Law as he envisions it in five years, including its public engagement and service to Arkansas, partnerships with business and industry, student outcomes and scholarly profile. He will also speak to what may remain the same and what may change as part of his vision and identify the key leadership skills he will leverage to achieve it. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The campus community can attend in person or virtually through Zoom using the following information:

• Zoom link
• Passcode: b?+Fg5k7

A recording will be available within 24 hours following the presentation at this link for those who are unable to attend in person. The recording will only be accessible to individuals with a U of A email address and credentials.

U of A faculty and staff can provide their feedback on the first dean candidate by completing this evaluation form. Faculty and staff must sign in with their university credentials to access the form.

About Oren Griffin

Griffin is a professor of law at The University of Tulsa College of Law. From 2022-2025, he served as the dean of the college and the Chapman Endowed Chair. His experience in higher education spans more than 20 years. Prior to his roles at The University of Tulsa College of Law, he served as a professor of law, associate dean for academic affairs and associate dean for strategic initiatives at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He has also served as a practicing attorney with large and midsize law firms.

Griffin's teaching and scholarship focuses on civil procedure, labor and employment law, and higher education law. His work has been published in law review and policy journals across the nation. He has authored the book Investigating College Student Misconduct, which was published by Johns Hopkins University Press and concentrates on legal issues affecting the investigation of student misconduct in higher education. He has several upcoming books slated to be published over the next year, which center on legal issues surrounding employment in higher education.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Virginia. He also holds a doctorate from the University of Iowa, a master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a bachelor's degree from the Southern University at New Orleans. For more information on Griffin, view his curriculum vitae or visit the School of Law dean search website.

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About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.