West Virginia University has appointed a search committee to seek candidates for the top post at the College of Law, Provost Gerald Lang announced to the faculty Friday (Sept. 14).

WVU is seeking a new dean to take the place of John W. Fisher, II, who has announced his intention to step down at the end of the current academic year.

A majority of the voting members of the search committee are faculty in the college,Lang said.I believe we have a very strong committee fully capable of identifying top candidates for this important leadership role.

The committee also includes a law student and several prominent members of the legal profession.

Law school members of the committee include professors Gerald Ashdown, Vince Cardi, Robert Lathrop, Marjorie McDiarmid and Caprice Roberts and associate professors Camille Riley and John Taylor; Grace Wigal, director of legal research and writing; Carla C. Williams, assistant dean for development and alumni affairs; Renee Sulipek, administrative assistant; and law student Alvin Hathaway, president of the Class of 2009.

External members of the committee are Norman White of the Board of Governors of the West Virginia State Bar and the Shaffer and Shaffer law firm; Andy Richardson, vice president for Wells Fargo Disability Management; John Allevato of Spilman Thomas&Battle PLLC ; and Brian Glasser of Bailey&Glasser LLP .

WVU Vice President for Legal Affairs Alex Macia will chair the committee, and Ellen Cappellanti of Jackson Kelly PLLC , Charleston, will represent the University Board of Governors. Both are ex-officio, non-voting members.

Fisher announced in May that he will retire after 10 years as dean of the College of Law, where he began teaching 36 years ago. Fisher will step down June 30, 2008, but will continue to teach at the law school.