Dean, Stamps School of Art & Design

DEAN

STAMPS SCHOOL OF ART & DESIGN

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

The University of Michigan (U-M), a premier research university, seeks a collaborative and entrepreneurial leader to serve as the dean of the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design (Stamps). This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a distinguished school as it charts a course for its future. With the creative dexterity offered by its interdisciplinary curriculum and the academic rigor and breadth of opportunity provided by a world-class university, Stamps is well positioned to prepare its students for careers as impactful leaders in society. Working in a dynamic environment, the next dean will find passionate, committed colleagues, proud of their school’s history and eager to advance Stamps’ mission.

 

The Stamps School of Art & Design, ranked number eight nationally by U.S. News and World Report, has a long history of training artists and creators of the highest caliber. Stamps is distinctive among art schools in offering a single interdisciplinary major in Art and Design at the undergraduate level, leading to BFA, BA, and joint BFA degrees with other U-M schools and colleges. Graduate programs include the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Master of Design (MDes) in Integrative Design. The mission of the Stamps School is to be an internationally recognized leader in interdisciplinary art and design education, grounded in research, practice, creative excellence, and community engagement. It will prepare the next generation of globally competent creative professionals who will responsibly engage and collaborate in a wide variety of fields and cultural contexts to address the challenges of the present time. The next dean will need to embrace and embody this mission while guiding Stamps as it embarks on its next chapter.

 

The dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of the school and reports directly to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. As the leader of Stamps, the dean will be expected to develop, implement, and effectively communicate a strategic plan and promote collaboration both within the school and across the university. Mirroring the University of Michigan’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, the dean of Stamps will continue to develop, devise, and implement strategic DEI and anti-racism policies and foster an environment of inclusion and belonging for students, faculty, and staff. As an advocate for Stamps and the broader art and design field, the dean will enthusiastically and compellingly tell the story of the school and generate wide-ranging philanthropic support to accommodate the school’s growth and goals of expansion. The successful candidate will be an artist, designer, scholar, or arts professional with a record of collaborative, inspiring, and engaging leadership. A terminal degree in a related discipline is preferred, with experience that meets the qualifications for tenure within the Stamps School of Art & Design.

 

The University of Michigan has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. All inquiries, nominations/referrals, and resumes with cover letters should be sent electronically to Sheryl Ash, Ben Tobin, and Rediat Mersha at www.imsearch.com/8119.

 

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic university community committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. Potential applicants who share this goal are encouraged to apply.