Austen Parrish was appointed dean and James H. Rudy Professor of Law effective January 1, 2014. Before his appointment, he had been serving as interim dean and CEO of Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles. From 2008 to 2012 he was the school's vice dean, with responsibility for its overall academic program.

Parrish is a well-known and widely published scholar in transnational law and the use of domestic law institutions to address global changes. In his recent publications, he has focused on critiquing the use of extraterritorial domestic laws and the role that national courts play in solving global challenges. His experience as both scholar and administrator fits closely with Indiana Law’s focus on finding innovative ways to prepare students for the challenges of the global legal profession.