Dean of the School of Liberal Arts

Merrimack College invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. Merrimack College seeks an exceptional leader with a strong record of academic accomplishment and a forward-looking vision for the future of a Liberal Arts education to serve in this key leadership position. The new Dean will have the opportunity to join an accomplished and collaborative academic leadership team to advance the strategic direction of the College.

Background and Position: Merrimack College is a private, selective, comprehensive college located 30 miles north of Boston in the historic and scenic Merrimack Valley. Founded in 1947 by the Archbishop of Boston and the Order of St. Augustine, the College offers more than 100 undergraduate programs in liberal arts, science and engineering, business, and education and social policy. Merrimack also offers graduate programs in clinical mental health counseling, spirituality, spiritual direction education, business, engineering, management, accounting, public affairs, and criminology. The College has over 3,500 undergraduate and 600 graduate students from 32 states and 31 countries that form an engaged community of thinkers, learners, and achievers integrated in an academic culture of excellence, diversity, and stature. The implementation of the College’s ten-year strategic plan, the Agenda for Distinction, has led to renewed energy and sense of community, combined with growth of faculty and the student body. The strategic plan is supported by the college’s current $50 million campaign, Together for Good. This is an essential time for Merrimack College, and the next Dean will play a role in sustaining the College’s positive momentum. For additional information on Merrimack College, please explore www.merrimack.edu.

The School of Liberal Arts at Merrimack College embodies the Catholic and Augustinian identity of the College and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to a constantly changing world and excel in a variety of career paths. The School offers 23 undergraduate programs in the departments of Communication and Media, Economics, English, Environmental Studies and Sustainability, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religious and Theological Studies, Social Justice, Sociology, Visual and Performing Arts, Women’s and Gender Studies, and World Languages & Cultural Studies. The School also offers a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in Spirituality and Spiritual Directions, and a Master of Public Affairs through the College’s Office of Graduate Studies. The School of Liberal Arts is home to 700 undergraduate majors, 61 tenured and tenure track faculty, 9 non-tenure track faculty, the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations, the Interdisciplinary Institute, and the Rogers Center for the Arts.

The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Liberal Arts. Reporting to the Provost and serving on the Council of Deans, the incumbent is expected to exercise broad responsibilities for both the internal and external dimensions of the position. The ideal candidate will be a visionary and energetic leader; an advocate for faculty, staff, and students; and have a track record of attracting and supporting talented and diverse faculty, staff, and students. The next Dean should have a good grasp of national debates on the value of Liberal Arts education and an ability to advocate for the Liberal Arts on campus and nationally. The Dean is expected to foster opportunities for scholarly and creative activities, as well as, community and alumni engagement, promote interdisciplinary and multicultural programs, and to build key partnerships and collaboration both within the School of Liberal Arts, across campus, and in the broader community. The School of Liberal Arts at Merrimack College is also in the process of a general education revision, and the next dean will play a key role in that process to ensure a solid grounding in the Liberal Arts for all students at the College.

Qualifications: Qualified candidates must hold an earned doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree and have a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and/or creative accomplishments to qualify for appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure in a discipline within the School of Liberal Arts. Successful experience as a college/university administrator in a leadership role at the department chair level or above is required. Evidence of collaborative decision-making, consensus building, and teamwork are required for the School’s next leader. Candidates should also have a track record of excellent management, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills and an ability to oversee the School’s fiscal, physical, and human resources, including faculty, staff, and students. The next Dean should also have an understanding of a dean’s role in external fundraising and demonstrated success in working with varied constituencies and stakeholders. Candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to experiential education, community engagement, and evidence of promoting a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff in alignment with Merrimack’s goals and priorities. 

Information for Applicants

Review of application materials will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations, inquiries, and applications, including letter of interest and curriculum vitae, should be forwarded, in confidence, to:

Steve Leo, Partner

Brian Bustin, Associate

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LP

MerrimackDeanLA@storbecksearch.com

(484) 263-5534

For more information on Merrimack College and its programs, please consult its website: www.merrimack.edu

Merrimack College is an AA/EEO/ADA employer