Dean of the School of Business and Economics

Sonoma State University

Search for the Dean of the School of Business and Economics

Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University (SSU or Sonoma State), a comprehensive residential public institution in Sonoma County, California, seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the School of Business and Economics (SBE or the School). This is a distinctive opportunity to provide essential leadership at one of California’s most sought after institutions, unique in its liberal arts and sciences mission and located in the economically booming San Francisco North Bay Area amidst the natural beauty of Sonoma County. The Dean, working with various stakeholders and constituents, will have the opportunity to shape and execute the vision for SBE’s next chapter of growth aligned with a new University strategic plan, Strategic Plan 2025. The Dean will join a new and pioneering leadership team that is working to build the future of Sonoma State and deliver on its vision to embrace innovation in the institution’s quest to be a national model for public higher education by 2025.

Founded as a liberal arts college in 1961, Sonoma State has approximately 9,400 students (92 percent undergraduate), and has evolved into a diversified university with six schools—Arts and Humanities, Business and Economics, Education, Extended & International Education, Science and Technology, and Social Sciences—that provide students with the intellectual framework and hands-on skills to thrive in a variety of professional careers. A major contributor to the North Bay workforce, Sonoma State offers degrees in 46 majors and 49 minors at the bachelor's level and 15 at the master's level, as well as nine credential programs and eight undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. The University operates as part of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system, the largest four-year system of higher education in the United States.

The next Dean of SBE will take the reins after several years of rapid growth and following the recent opening of the Wine Spectator Learning Center in May 2018 and a successful Association for Advancing Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) re-accreditation. The Dean, working closely with various stakeholders, will set new directions based on SBE’s many strengths, and will inspire action from the School and University, as well as among alumni, the business community, and other constituencies. In order to take the School to new levels of success, the Dean will address a number of key opportunities and challenges, including: 1) Develop and articulate a compelling vision for the School that aligns with the new University strategic plan; 2) Recruit, retrain, and empower faculty and staff to provide an excellent student experience; 3) Manage and diversify revenue streams and grow resources; 4) Continue to prioritize, embrace, and promote diversity and inclusion; 5) Be a connector within the University and externally. The School currently has an endowment of approximately $3.2M and the Dean will oversee a budget of approximately $5M.

Sonoma State University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process/until the position is filled. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/6589. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Deborah Hodson, Courtney Wilk-Mandel, Sunny Zhang

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Fax: 415.655.4905