Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Posting Number: F194P
Summary:
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at John Carroll University invites applications for the position of Dean. As the chief academic and administrative leader of CAS, the Dean will play a pivotal role in shaping the college's vision and strategic direction, fostering a culture of academic excellence, innovation, intellectual inclusivity, and student-centered engagement. The ideal candidate will possess a collaborative leadership style, a strong commitment to Jesuit values, and a proven track record of advancing the liberal arts and supporting faculty, staff, and students. This position offers the chance to lead a vibrant college that spans the liberal arts, in a thriving university engaged in significant academic innovation that is preparing students to think critically, engage ethically, and positively impact the world.
The Dean leads a highly credentialed academic team of dedicated educators and accomplished scholars who work closely with students to inspire a love of learning and a commitment to service. The College of Arts and Sciences' 109 full-time faculty and 42 full-time professional staff exemplify professionalism through their deep commitment to academic excellence, student success, and the Jesuit tradition of holistic education. Faculty are supported through CAS research and teaching grants, travel funding, and sabbatical leave. The faculty members bring both intellectual rigor and practical experience to their teaching.
The College of Arts and Sciences houses 15 academic departments, 58 undergraduate programs, and 35 majors in the liberal arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Rooted in the Jesuit Catholic tradition, the College emphasizes a well-rounded education that fosters personal formation, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and a deep understanding of the full human experience. Students are encouraged to explore diverse disciplines, develop strong analytical and communication skills, and engage in intellectual inquiry that prepares them for leadership roles in their careers and communities.
Inquiries and nominations are invited. Please contact search chairs, Dr. Jeffrey Dyck, Professor, Physics and Engineering, at jdyck@jcu.edu, or Dr. Mindy Peden, Professor, Political Science, at mpeden@jcu.edu, with questions or referrals. Interested candidates should complete an application and upload a curriculum vita, a cover letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Profile, including your interest in working in a liberal arts environment informed by a Jesuit Catholic mission and the ways that you've contributed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in prior professional settings; and the names and contact information of three references. The priority deadline is December 4, 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Candidates will be notified before the University contacts any references.
Please review the leadership profile to learn more about this opportunity via this link:
Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (or https://www.jcu.edu/sites/default/files/2024-11/Dean%2C%20College%20of%20Arts%20and%20Sciences.pdf)
Duties and Responsibilities:
The next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will offer visionary leadership to a dedicated faculty and staff who provide exceptional liberal arts education within a Jesuit Catholic tradition steeped in experiential learning. Duties will include:
Providing strategic leadership and vision to advance the mission and values of the College and the University, including defining and championing the role of the liberal arts in a 21st-century Jesuit Catholic university
Leading, in collaboration with the other academic units on campus, academic innovation efforts, including developing new curricula, new programs, and new interdisciplinary opportunities, as well as continuing to innovate within our existing programs
Stewarding the human and financial resources of CAS to ensure alignment with the University's strategic priorities and to ensure an academic, cultural, and physical environment conducive to scholarship, intellectual vitality, and learning
Working closely with the other college deans to identify opportunities to deepen interdisciplinary relationships - e.g., via shared curricula, interdisciplinary and interprofessional partnerships, joint faculty appointments, and more
Managing the hiring, annual review, tenure, promotion, and professional development activities of CAS faculty
Overseeing the design, development, delivery, and assessment of the College's undergraduate and graduate academic degree and non-degree programs
Ensuring an innovative and engaged learning experience with clear pathways to strong outcomes for CAS students
Inspiring support for CAS's people and programs through ongoing active participation in the University's $125M comprehensive campaign, and through engagement with the university's Sponsored Programs and Foundations offices to seek and secure external funding for the College's many programs and activities
Representing CAS and the University externally to a broad range of constituents, potential partners, and external stakeholders;
Partnering with the University's enrollment management offices and integrated marketing and communications offices to develop and deliver on effective enrollment strategies for an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing environment.
An appreciation for the Jesuit Catholic mission of John Carroll University and how it influences instructional design and student and employee experience.
Required Qualifications:
To be considered for the position, a candidate must possess a doctoral degree in a discipline relevant to the College of Arts and Sciences academic portfolio. The candidate must hold a tenured position at a higher education institution and have teaching and scholarship credentials to qualify for the rank of Full Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at John Carroll University. Candidates should have a record of progressively more responsible academic administrative and leadership positions. Significant prior leadership experience within an academic unit in higher education is required.
Preferred Qualifications:
While recognizing that no single candidate will contain all qualities, the ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:
Ability to work effectively across disciplines and Colleges, building partnerships and creating shared, innovative programs and curricula.
Ability to attract, retain, and motivate an outstanding and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff.
Ability to negotiate effectively and lead challenging conversations.
Ability to communicate transparently and with courage with direct reports and to the senior leadership team.
Ability to take a holistic approach to analyzing how parts of a system interact and influence one another within a whole.
Ability to develop a mission-aligned branding strategy to attract students and top talent to the College.
Success and facility with external audiences (corporate partners, alumni, donors).
Success in managing people and process change with solid communication and project management skills
Commitment to faculty and staff development and the ability to mentor effectively across the lifespan of faculty and staff careers.
Commitment to and support of student-centered learning and academic excellence.
Success in implementing and assessing data-driven decisions and the ability to explain these decisions to diverse audiences to build trust.
Experience with budgetary management in a complex environment.
Experience building or growing innovative academic programs in a competitive academic environment.
Success with the critical decision-making areas of academic planning, faculty promotion/tenure, and program prioritization and resource allocation, all in a context of constrained resources.
Experience creating and executing a strategic plan while leading others to achieve effective outcomes.
Experience leading diverse groups with a commitment to enhancing equity, inclusion, and belonging and meaningfully addressing social justice issues
Record of promoting shared governance balanced with an ability to make clear decisions
About John Carroll University:
John Carroll University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit Catholic university, founded in 1886, dedicated to developing people with the knowledge and character to lead and to serve. The University is located in University Heights, Ohio, an attractive residential suburb 10 miles east of downtown Cleveland. Academically, the University consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and the Boler College of Business, which include graduate programs. The University offers more than 70 Academic Programs in the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and business at the undergraduate level, and in select areas at the masters level.The University enrolls approximately 2,300 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. John Carroll University is one of 27 Jesuit universities in the United States and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report magazines top 10 rankings of Midwest regional universities for more than 30 consecutive years.
EEO Statement:
John Carroll University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from women and minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities.
To apply, visit https://jcu.peopleadmin.com/postings/3612
jeid-1eded44911ca4c4e8f64b0b6e929116c
