Dean of Fine Arts

Dean of Fine Arts

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean of the College of Fine Arts. Reporting directly to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, the dean of fine arts will be responsible for setting strategic, operational, and financial directions for the College of Fine Arts. The university seeks a bold thought leader who will work in concert with faculty, staff, and students to promote a culture of excellence. The dean shall create and carry out a vision that leads the college to greater prominence in the Valley and beyond.

UTRGV was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions. UTRGV is the second largest Hispanic Serving Institution in the United States located in a growing region on the border with Mexico and Latin America, where the majority of the students are bilingual and bicultural.

The College of Fine Arts thrives on two distinct campuses (Brownsville and Edinburg) and its member units include the School of Art, School of Music, Department of Theatre, Dance Department, Creative Writing Department, and Center for Latin American Arts. In the College of Fine Arts, students participate in seminars, special projects, exhibits, workshops, internships, various performances, and interdisciplinary arts to hone their creative and technical skills. Faculty members work side-by-side with students to model, nurture, develop discipline, reveal, and explore technique, and share their knowledge of what it takes to become a master of one’s art.

The College of Fine Arts is seeking a dean who is a skilled leader with a history of administrative experience and an established track record of creative excellence. The new dean will be responsible for advancing the college’s academic and research/scholarly activity programs, working with faculty to articulate a shared vision of excellence, and focusing on developing, expanding, and strengthening excellent academic programs in the fine arts across the Valley.

Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities

The successful candidate must possess an earned terminal degree in a discipline offered by the College of Fine Arts and have significant experience and successful accomplishment as an administrative leader in higher education. Evidence of successful, progressive, and entrepreneurial leadership in a university setting at the level of department chair or above with an active creative practice and publication, performance, and/or music composition record, is expected. The next dean will be a tireless advocate for the arts and must be nimble and innovative in their approach to articulating the value and relevance of arts education to a wide range of audiences.

The full position profile can be accessed at https://greenwoodsearch.com/current-opportunities/.

How to Apply

Greenwood/Asher & Associates, LLC. is assisting The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. For a full application package, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Greenwood/Asher & Associates. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided by December 3, 2021.

Inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to:

Betty Turner Asher, Founder, Greenwood/Asher & Associates

Julie Schrodt, Executive Search Consultant

E-mail: bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com

E-mail: julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com

 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status.