Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Search for the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Portland State University

Portland, Oregon

Portland State University (PSU) seeks an enthusiastic, collegial, and visionary leader to serve as next Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).  One of the few remaining combined Liberal Arts and Sciences colleges of its size, the College provides highly quality liberal arts education in an urban, engaged setting, pioneering new programs and boasting a strong research tradition across a broad range of disciplines. The next Dean at CLAS will harness the disciplinary diversity of the College to establish a vision for its future direction in challenging times and advocate for the vital role of liberal arts and sciences in advancing the mission of the public urban research university and modern higher education.

The Dean will lead a College featuring many of PSU’s signature programs and educating more than half of PSU’s students, as nearly every student who attends the University will take a course in CLAS at some point. CLAS embodies the breadth and depth of experience and study, bridging connections between the classroom and the surrounding community, and providing students with innovative learning opportunities. The Dean will support approximately 600 CLAS faculty members who are not only dedicated to PSUs mission of student upward mobility, but who are also pioneers in their fields, researching topics ranging from environmental extremes to migration and peace studies.

Located in the heart of Oregon’s economic and cultural center, Portland State University (PSU) is the most diverse public university in Oregon. PSU enrolls approximately 28,000 students from every state in the nation and more than 80 foreign countries in 88 bachelor’s, 88 master’s, and 37 doctoral programs. Founded in 1946, PSU is hailed by The Princeton Review as one of the best colleges and universities in the West. The University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and all programs are accredited by professional bodies. PSU encompasses eight primary divisions: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences; College of Urban & Public Affairs; College of Education; Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science; School of Business; School of Social Work; and OHSU-PSU School of Public Health; as well as the University Library, University Honors College, and the University Studies Program. A Carnegie Doctoral Research University (High Intensity), PSU has grown its sponsored research in recent years, with $60.5 million in research expenditures in 2017-18. From a vibrant campus spanning 50 buildings in downtown Portland, PSU is an integral part of the Metro area.

Portland State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest and most diverse college, home to 24 departments and two Schools spanning the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. It serves 7,000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students. The College’s research clusters cut across disciplines and explore important issues such as social justice, migration studies, community resilience, computation and complex systems, environmental extremes, and improving undergraduate STEM education.

The new Dean will build on a strong foundation and can expect in the immediate future to address several key opportunities and challenges:

  • Provide collaborative and decisive leadership of CLAS during challenging times
  • Articulate a strategic vision and plan for the future impact and success of CLAS at PSU and in the Portland metro area and region
  • Generate and manage resources effectively to support the health and growth of the College
  • Guide CLAS to strengthen student experience and success
  • Draw on and cultivate the complexity of the College and the talents of faculty and staff

Portland 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: http://www.imsearch.com/6838 Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Deborah Hodson and Alanya Green

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Fax: 415.655.4905

Portland State University is an equal opportunity employer.