DEAN OF THE MAXWELL BECTON COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY

Northern New Jersey

DEAN OF THE MAXWELL BECTON COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 

Fairleigh Dickinson University, a private, multi-campus university in Northern New Jersey, announces a national search for the Dean of the Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences and invites nominations, applications, and expressions of interest.

Founded in 1942 as a two-year college in Rutherford, New Jersey by Dr. Peter Sammartino and named for its primary benefactor, Fairleigh Dickinson University is a center of academic excellence dedicated to the preparation of world citizens through global education.  It offers over 100 undergraduate majors, over 80 master’s programs, and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, higher education, nursing practice, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology.  Its 11,000 students study on one or more of its four campuses: two in New Jersey, one in Great Britain, and the other in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

Ranked 44th among the regional universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report, Fairleigh Dickinson is the largest private university in New Jersey.  It is internationally recognized for its longstanding commitment to global education.  It was the first American university to own a British campus; it has a large number of exchange relationships with universities in Latin America, South Korea, and Western Europe; and its proximity to New York City and the United Nations has enabled it to create a number of unique opportunities for global education.  It also has a history of embracing innovative curricula and pedagogies that more effectively serve the career aspirations of its students and the emerging needs of society.  To support its continued growth, the University is in the midst of a $125 million comprehensive campaign that will provide new facilities and additional scholarship funds.  To help keep a Fairleigh Dickinson education affordable for all, the University announced a tuition reset of nearly 25 percent for the fall of 2021. 

The largest of Fairleigh Dickinson’s academic units, Becton College has a primary focus on undergraduate education.  This affords the College the opportunity to have a strong impact on its students, many of whom are first-generation and from diverse backgrounds.  An uncommon spirit of collegiality pervades the College, and faculty genuinely enjoy working together and with students.  The College recently completed a restructuring that has combined faculty into departments that span its four campuses. The new dean will have the opportunity to work with the faculty to meet the new challenges of distance, new structures, and new programs.  As the College operates in a competitive higher education environment, the new dean will need to provide leadership in defining the future shape and direction of the College, creating new and enhancing existing programs, developing more effective advising structures and improving retention, and ensuring that the College’s programs are supported by effective marketing and admissions strategies.  The new dean will also need to provide leadership in creating a culture of grant-writing and fundraising to support special initiatives.  Consistent with the University’s mission and the need and opportunity to serve an increasingly diverse student body, the new dean will also need to provide leadership and support to the College’s efforts to further diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The ideal candidate for this position will be an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader who has a demonstrated commitment to the liberal arts mission of the College, faculty rank of tenured associate professor and a record of pedagogical success and innovation in one of the disciplines offered by the college, five years of administrative experience as department chair, assistant/associate dean or comparable leadership experience, and demonstrated success with external relations and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

For further information about this opportunity and instructions to applicants, please review the position profile.

For fullest consideration, applications should be received by January 24, 2022.  Early submission is welcome.

To apply, please submit application materials in MS Word or PDF document to: FDUDAS@agbsearch.com

Applications must include:

  1. A letter of interest that addresses specifically the leadership priorities described in the profile,
  2. A current curriculum vitae, and
  3. Five professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers. References will not be contacted without the applicant’s expressed authorization.

The search is being assisted by AGB Search.  Nominations and inquiries are welcomed and should be directed to:

Robert Holyer, PhD

Executive Search Consultant

AGB Search

robert.holyer@agbsearch.com 

804-708-0834 (o)

804-402-6736 (c)

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status.  Fairleigh Dickinson University takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.