Organized by UGA School of Law faculty Usha Rodrigues with further discussion facilitated by UGA Law Library Director Carol Watson and Grants Coordinator Amanda Shaw. The group discussed the book Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders by Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carle.

The University of Georgia School of Law's Dean delivers a welcome message to conference attendees.

This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities for American law schools in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Panelists — including constitutional law professors, current and former law school associate deans, a clinical professor specializing in sexual abuse, and a journalist who reported on sexual harassment within the judiciary—will consider the scope of the movement, the obligations of law professors and law school administrators, and the challenges facing law schools as they interact with students, faculty, judges, employers, the bar, and the community.

This interactive workshop will focus on challenges faced by women in leadership roles and women aspiring to leadership roles in the legal academy. Each of the three leaders – a law school dean, a full professor, and a newly tenured professor who also directs the legal clinic – will present relevant research that participants will apply to two hypothetical situations and then in small groups engage in a discussion of concrete reforms.

President and CEO of LSAC delivers a lunch address to conference attendees drawing on her years of experience as a woman in academia and sharing advice for others in the field based on her years of service as dean of the University of Washington School of Law and president of AALS.

Managing conflict is an essential leadership competency. This session focuses on thinking about conflict as an opportunity for change and connection. Participants will identify where conflict might occur on strategies for resolution, facilitation, and negotiation. In addition, facilitators introduce the concept of “bridging questions” and participants will practice creating questions that bridge two or more sides of an issue. Participants will gain the opportunity to understand her conflict management styles and strategies to use the best style in the right circumstance.

Unrecognized implicit biases often result in women faculty members performing a disproportionate share of teaching, student mentoring and advising, and departmental and university service. This time-consuming work benefits the institution, yet it goes largely unrewarded. It also can negatively impact women faculty members’ career advancement because the time required to do this work takes time from other pursuits such as scholarship, or other leadership activities, that are more highly valued and rewarded. This presentation addresses these dilemmas and provides concrete solutions.

Dr. KerryAnn O'Meara is Professor of Higher Education, Director of the ADVANCE Program for Inclusive Excellence, Affiliate Faculty in Women’s Studies and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Studies in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. KerryAnn's research examines faculty careers and academic rewards systems with a particular focus on organizational practices that support and limit the full participation of women and URM faculty and the legitimacy of diverse forms of scholarship in the academy. Dr. O’Meara will speak about her work to help faculties become more transparent about workload activities and her experience working with faculties to develop and implement organizational reforms to enhance workload equity.

This session focuses on service leadership opportunities for law school faculty and staff outside the law school--elsewhere on campus or within the greater university (for law schools on campuses in university systems). Fundamentally designed to cover central why, what, when, and how questions a law school faculty or staff member may have about broader academic leadership opportunities, the session involves both formal presentation and audience participation and engagement.

A recently appointed Dean and recruiters from top search firms will discuss the academic search process, provide insights and tips, and answer questions.

Director of UGA's Institute of Higher Education, Interim Provost and Zell B. Miller Distinguished Professor of Higher Education speaks to attendees about taking leadership roles in academia and her life experiences with being a woman in higher education.

This session will explore the particular challenges women may face when negotiating salaries, leaves, course loads, and service and other administrative work. This is a skills-based workshop that will discuss how gender intersects with other aspects of identity and offer concrete exercises and strategies.

Mentoring is recognized as important to professional advancement and to cultivating leadership. While it is not uncommon for faculty to be in mentor-mentee relationships for teaching, scholarship, or professional development, pursuit of mentoring relationships in the context of legal education leadership may be less prevalent. This interactive session will explore mentoring frameworks and competencies. Participants will explore essential questions about mentoring from the perspective of the institution, the mentor, the mentee, and the relationship itself.

Former and current women deans share their experiences, offer guidance, and answer questions in this panel discussion.