Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies

The University of New England

Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies

Portland, ME

The University of New England (UNE) seeks an agile, entrepreneurial, and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS), the University’s online college, which is home to all of UNE’s fully online programs. One of the fastest growing private universities in the Northeast, UNE has established itself as a leading comprehensive university with particular strengths in the health sciences with vibrant academic programs offered both onsite and online to more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and advance a vision for online education and training in a university committed to preparing learners to thrive in a rapidly changing world and, in so doing, to improve the health of people, communities, and our planet.

CGPS is housed in Innovation Hall on UNE’s Portland campus, a vibrant, quintessential New England campus setting of 41 acres. Located one hour and 45 minutes from Boston, Portland’s diversity, world-class cultural, art, and entertainment offerings, wonderful restaurants, small-town sense of community, and proximity to beautiful natural resources have contributed to its ranking as #4 in Livability’s 2020 top 100 Places to Live and to Outside Magazine’s list of the greatest places to live in America.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean of CGPS is the chief executive for online programs, driving strategic and operational efforts to position UNE as a leading provider of graduate and professional education for the local region and nationally. The Dean has direct reports who oversee academic programs, accreditation and assessment, the instructional design and technology team, student admissions, student support, research and strategy, and marketing. The Dean oversees a total staff of about 85 people. The Dean is a member of the Deans’ Council and the Provost’s Council. The Dean also meets regularly with the president of the University.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead an enterprise that is critical to the continued growth of the University. UNE seeks an academic leader to design and implement innovative new online programs that will expand CGPS’s breadth of academic offerings and offer credit and non-credit opportunities that meet the needs of the adult learner. The successful candidate will be a leader of recognized accomplishment, vision, and intellectual breadth with demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination and a track record of implementing enrollment and revenue growth in online programs. The Dean must possess the drive to motivate, inspire, and influence others, to execute a vision, and to show tangible results and outcomes.

The Dean must possess the academic credibility and collaborative personality to work across disciplinary and college boundaries to offer excellent, innovative, and strong programs and degrees that make sound academic and financial sense. The following criteria are essential:  Established track record of conceiving, developing, implementing, and managing innovative, high quality, and financially successful online academic and professional development programs for adult learners;  a broad base of knowledge and skills in academic program planning, management, and evaluation with directly relevant experience in online graduate and professional education and the professional accreditation process; vision for the education of adult learners and the unique learning needs of post-traditional students; a demonstrated commitment to and appreciation for equity and inclusion; knowledge of graduate and professional development trends and practices; understanding of critical success factors driving innovative academic and professional education programs; evidence of entrepreneurial strength, strategic thinking, innovative attitude, and willingness to experiment. A post-graduate or terminal degree from an accredited institution is preferred together with strong team-building skills, the ability to work well with diverse constituencies within the larger University community; and a successful track record of collaboration in achieving objectives and building bridges.

The University has retained the Diversified Search Group to assist in this process. Screening will begin in March and continue until an appointment is made. Nominations, inquiries, and applications (including a CV, cover letter addressing interest, leadership philosophy, and commitment to diversity, and the names of five references) should be directed electronically to UNECGPSDean@divsearch.com.

The University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors will not be permitted to have an adverse influence upon decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.