Dean of the Graduate School

Howard University, a private, comprehensive, culturally diverse, and research intensive historically black university, invites applications for the position of Dean of the Graduate School. As the primary representative of the School to the University and the community, the Dean champions the strategic priority of enhancing academic excellence, grant-funded research activity, and equity across programs. The Dean coordinates academic activities within the School and across the University; participates in University-wide planning and management activities; enhances instructional programs and research; and seeks interdisciplinary, cross-unit, and cross-campus opportunities to meet emerging needs and provide contemporary and visionary education. The Dean also pursues fundraising opportunities and directs the development of internal and external partnerships to support the School’s programs and services.

The Graduate School: Howard University has provided graduate education for over 150 years, offering its first master’s degree the year the University was established, in 1867. In 1934, the Howard University Graduate School was formally established, and in 1976, the school was reorganized into its current structure with divisions in the arts and humanities, biological and life sciences, engineering and physical sciences, and social sciences. The Graduate School houses a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Atmospheric Science and works closely with graduate programs housed in the Colleges and Schools across Howard University. Offering in total 28 master’s and 33 doctoral programs, the Howard University Graduate School is among the nation’s largest producers of African American students who complete doctorates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and is the nation’s top ranked university in producing African American doctorates in the applied and social sciences. The Graduate School consistently educates the nation’s largest number of on-campus African American doctoral recipients, producing 100 or more doctoral degree recipients annually. The school has earned a national reputation for its leadership role in preparing future faculty who will help replenish and ensure diversity among the nation’s professoriate. Graduate School faculty consistently receive top honors, and several programs, including History, Pharmaceutical Science, and Speech Language Pathology, rank among the top in their disciplines nationally. For more information about the Graduate School, visit https://gs.howard.edu/

The University: Howard University is one of the nation’s leading research universities dedicated to educating students from diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on African American students, as well as those of all other racial and ethnic groups from the United States and the world. Howard’s academic programs are offered by 13 schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, the College of Dentistry, the School of Divinity, the School of Education, the College of Engineering and Architecture, The Graduate School, the School of Law, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, the College of Pharmacy, and the School of Social Work. Howard is one of only 48 private, doctoral/research-extensive universities in the U.S. Its 10,500 students enjoy academic pursuits in more than 120 areas of study leading to undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. These students come from almost every state, the District of Columbia, and nearly 70 countries. Howard University has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, more than 70 Fulbright Scholars, and 22 Pickering Fellows. In recent years, U.S. News and World Report has named Howard as one of the nation’s great schools at great prices, and one of the Best National Universities. The University has long held a commitment to the education and advancement of disadvantaged persons in American society and throughout the world. The goal is the elimination of inequities related to race, color, social, economic, and political circumstances. A commitment to excellence across all of its programs is in keeping with the University’s motto, Veritas et Utilitas, or Truth and Service. For more information about Howard University, please visit http://home.howard.edu/

Qualifications: The Dean will be an ardent supporter of faculty research and student success, a strategic and collaborative academic administrator, an accomplished scholar, and a passionate advocate for graduate education. The Dean will be dedicated to the growth of a robust academic and research enterprise that works across the University to provide world-class education and inspire faculty and graduate students toward excellence. The ability to work across all disciplines, including arts, humanities, and STEM, is needed; the Dean will be experienced in building and managing interdisciplinary graduate programs, including allocation and accounting of faculty research, resources, and tenure across departments. The successful candidate should be a devoted advocate of civil rights, inclusion, diversity, and education as a means for social change. The successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial, nimble, and creative leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a deep understanding of fiscal planning and budgeting, and a focus on efficiency and transparency. The Dean must be able to foster personal interactions with students, focusing on student outcomes as well as meaningful relationships with faculty across the University. The Dean must be able to build these relationships internally as well as represent the Graduate School and Howard University externally. Experience with research grants as well as the ability to identify financial support for the School through external fundraising is imperative. Candidates for the Dean of the Howard University Graduate School must hold a Ph.D. and have a strong history of relevant academic experience, maintain a distinguished record of scholarly research, and be eligible for the rank of full professor.

Location: Howard University’s main campus is located in Washington, DC, within five miles of the United States Capitol. Howard has grown from a single-frame building, in 1867, to more than 256 acres, which consists of Howard’s main campus, the 400-bed Howard University Hospital, its East and West campuses, and a 108-acre research facility in Beltsville, Maryland.

Application: Interested candidates should submit only a cover letter and resumé/CV to RPA Inc. at HowardGraduateDean@rpainc.org. For a confidential discussion or to make a nomination, please email Amanda O’Donnell, Vice President and Senior Consultant, or Dana John Cohick, President, at HowardGraduateDean@rpainc.org. The first review of candidates will begin on December 2, 2020, followed by the first round of interviews. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, sex, marital status, religion, or disability. Veteran status and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Inquiries regarding provisions for persons with disabilities, equal employment opportunity and Title IX should be directed to the Office of the Vice President for Human Resources at 202-238-5960.