Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Search for the Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

University of California, Riverside

Riverside, California

The University of California, Riverside (UCR) seeks a collaborative, experienced, and intellectually dynamic academic leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS). As the largest and most academically diverse college on campus, CHASS represents the artistic, creative, and intellectual heart of UCR and directly enables the University to achieve its mission of delivering exceptional education, scholarship, research, and student outcomes as one of the country’s top public research universities. 

One of 10 campuses within the prestigious University of California system, UCR is a top-tier research university that excels at providing access to higher education while also contributing significant intellectual and social capital to the community, state, nation, and world. It is increasingly lauded for the successful outcomes of its ethnically and socioeconomically diverse student population and is repeatedly recognized for the strength of its faculty and research through competitive awards and extramural funding. In 2020, U.S. News and World Report ranked UCR ranked number one among universities in the United States for social mobility, enrolling and graduating a large proportion of Pell Grant recipients and setting a national standard for how a university can educate a diverse population, conduct research, and engage the broader community.

As the University’s largest and most diverse college, CHASS is home to 20 academic departments, five interdisciplinary programs, numerous research centers, and UCR ARTS, Riverside’s premier venue for arts and culture. Approximately 395 faculty, of which 290 are tenured and tenure track, serve over 10,000 undergraduate and 660 graduate students. In addition to educating the largest and most diverse cohort of UCR students, the College is also pioneering new programs and continuing a strong tradition of research, scholarship, and artistic production.

The next Dean of CHASS will join the University at a critical moment. The campus will soon be releasing its strategic plan and looks forward to welcoming its next Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor in May 2021, all under the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and its reverberating effects on higher education. UCR and CHASS seek an exceptional academic leader who can partner across disciplines, inspire the College and campus community, advocate for its vital needs internally and externally, and secure the resources necessary for CHASS to achieve its mission. The Dean will join a dedicated faculty of distinguished educators, artists, researchers, and scholars with an abiding commitment to teaching, a talented and diverse student body, and committed staff. The Dean will set a tone for decision-making, prioritization, and strategic resource allocation that is true to the strong UCR tradition of shared governance. Collegiality and inclusiveness will be the next Dean’s most ingrained habits of thought and practice. This is a complex and collaborative role that requires vision, intellectual curiosity, professional courage, financial acumen, and a commitment to transparency. To that end, the Dean will embrace and address the following opportunities and challenges: 

  • Provide collaborative and forward-thinking leadership of CHASS during challenging times, with an eye towards building sustainably for the future
  • Foster and deepen a strong sense of community, equity, and social justice
  • Leverage the strengths of CHASS in prioritizing, embracing, and promoting inclusive excellence
  • Enhance and support the scholarly reputation, research profile, and artistic stature of the College
  • Advocate for and champion CHASS across UCR and beyond
  • Generate and manage resources to effectively support the health and growth of the College

UC Riverside 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. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/7750. Applications should be submitted through UC Riverside’s AP Recruit system: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF01371. Electronic submission of materials is required. For best consideration, please apply by February 24, 2021.

Cati Mitchell-Crossley, Alanya Green, and Thea Kosmack

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA  94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.