Karl Foster Dean (born September 20, 1955) served as the sixth mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. He was sworn in on September 21, 2007. From 1999 to January 9, 2007, Karl Dean served as Nashville's Director of Law under Mayor Bill Purcell. In 1990, 1994, and 1998, he was elected the city's public defender. Karl Dean is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University Law School.