Cari L. Haaland is the Associate Dean of Admissions and Director of LL.M. programs at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Dean Haaland was a member of the law school start-up team in August 2000 and was charged with building an admissions office that included establishing a database system, drafting policies and procedures, assisting in the development of the first website and print publications, and ensuring compliance with the American Bar Association (ABA) and Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) standards and best practices. Since that time, she has been instrumental in developing and launching two pipeline programs with the undergraduate school at St. Thomas, an early admission program and a legal fellows program. More recently, she has helped to develop and launch an LL.M. in U.S. Law, and both an M.S.L. and LL.M. in Organizational Ethics and Compliance.

Dean Haaland earned her bachelor of arts degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead, her master of science degree from Boston College, and has taken advantage of numerous professional development opportunities through the University of St. Thomas. Prior to her current position, Dean Haaland served as the Director of Admissions at St. Thomas Law. She currently chairs or serves on a number of the university's strategic committees. Her other committee assignments have included retreat planning, LL.M. programming, multicultural affairs strategic planning, records and registration, international admissions, joint-degree work groups, mission marketing, and technology.

Dean Haaland also has served on the LSAC Information Services Advisory Group, was a member of the faculty for a LSAC Newcomers Conference, and has presented at numerous LSAC annual meetings as well as an LSAC Electronic Services Conference. She also has presented at prelaw advisory conferences around the country. Her presentation topics have included: Helping Students Understand the Financial Aspects of Law School; Diversity in the Legal Profession; Successful Collaboration; Paperless Admissions; Technology and Social Networking; Admitting for Mission; Mock Admissions; Faith Based Law Schools; Juggling Work and Family; Communicating with Millennials; Joint Degrees; Standards for Good Admissions Practices; Competing Demands and Multiple Constituencies; Answering Difficult Questions: Counseling from the Frontlines; The Diversity Mission in Admissions; The Law School Admission Decision-making Process; Alternative Admissions Programs; and Launching New Programs.