Legal Definitions - dean

A dean is an officer who leads a chapter, parish, or other subdivision of a diocese, usually upon a bishop's request or appointment. In a school, college, or university, a dean is the administrative or academic head. The head or commander of a group of ten, such as ten soldiers or ten monks, can also be referred to as a dean.

• In the Church, a dean is an officer who leads a chapter, parish, or other subdivision of a diocese. They assist the bishop with advice in religious and temporal affairs. In some cases, deans are elected by the chapter, while in others, they are appointed by the bishop or the king.
• In a school, college, or university, a dean is the administrative or academic head. There may be several kinds of deans, such as a dean of admissions and a dean of student affairs. Within a university, there may be deans of specific schools, such as the dean of the School of Business.
• The head or commander of a group of ten, such as ten soldiers or ten monks, can also be referred to as a dean. For example, a military unit may have a dean who is responsible for leading and managing ten soldiers.

The examples illustrate how a dean can have different roles and responsibilities depending on the context. In the Church, a dean is a religious leader who assists the bishop, while in a school or university, a dean is an academic or administrative leader. The example of a military unit shows how a dean can also be a leader of a smaller group within a larger organization.