The phrase "founding dean" refers to the person who establishes and leads a new educational institution or department when it is first created. Full definition
It's hard to find a dean who has a truly distinctive vision for a school. (fortune.com)
As founding Dean of Tyler School of Art, Blai instilled Tyler School of Art with a commitment to progressive education emphasizing the student's mastery of technique within the framework of a liberal arts curriculum. (tyler.temple.edu)
* Retired U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson Jr. will be retiring as founding dean of the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law as of June 30, 2018. (abovethelaw.com)