The University Law School announced Tuesday its final five candidates for the vacant dean position.

The candidates are: Nora Demleitner, interim dean and professor at the Hofstra University School of Law in New York; Gregory Alan Hicks, interim professor and dean at the University of Washington School of Law; Edward Larson, law professor and history professor at Pepperdine University in California; Leon Trakman, dean and professor of law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia; and David Wippman, vice provost for international relations and law professor at Cornell University in New York.

“The finalists possess an extraordinary range and depth of academic strength, leadership experience and insight,” University law professor Kevin Reitz said in a news release.

Fred Morrison and Guy Charles have served as interim deans since June 2006, shortly after the resignation of Alex Johnson.

The process for finding a new dean began in May when the position was first advertised. Since then, a 13-member search committee whittled down candidates and coordinated a first set of interviews.

The search committee will begin to interview the five finalists Nov. 12.