Dean of NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives

<p>Northern Arizona University (NAU) seeks an entrepreneurial, innovative, and collaborative leader to serve as the inaugural Dean of NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives. Through NAU Online, the university aspires to deliver a distinct, premier online education experience that is adapted to the needs of adult learners and utilizes the latest educational technology while staying true to NAU&rsquo;s longstanding commitment and personalized approach to teaching and learning.</p> <p>The successful candidate will have significant and successful prior experience developing, implementing, managing, and scaling an online education enterprise, having demonstrated an innovative approach to the delivery of online programs and a strong record of achievement in and commitment to serving online students and diverse learners.</p> <p>Over the past decade, NAU has seen tremendous growth in its student population, research agenda, and distance programming. New construction has enhanced a large portion of the 740-acre Flagstaff campus, increasing access and affordability for students across Arizona. Today NAU serves 31,000 students across 20-plus statewide locations and online. NAU offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, all distinguished by an ongoing commitment to close student-faculty relationships and rigorous academic quality. Six academic colleges make up more than 50 academic departments on campus.</p> <p>Under the leadership of President Rita Cheng, Northern Arizona University has embarked on an ambitious strategic initiative to leverage the myriad strengths across the institution in order to advance the university as <em>One NAU</em>. Building on a rich legacy of extended campuses, innovative delivery models, and a faculty passionate about teaching and learning, <em>One NAU</em> is focused on ensuring that the same standards of excellence and commitment to student success are experienced in each academic program and at every campus across NAU. A central pillar of this exciting endeavor is NAU Online.</p> <p>The Dean of NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives reports to the Provost and serves as a key member of the Academic Affairs team. Given the critical role NAU Online will play in the <em>One NAU</em> initiative, the Dean will have routine opportunities to work directly with President Cheng and other senior university leaders. In contrast to a traditional decanal role, the Dean of NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives will work across colleges and programs and will have strategic responsibility and accountability for both programmatic and operational matters related to online education initiatives across NAU divisions.</p> <p>Nominations, expressions of interest, and applications should be sent via email to the university&rsquo;s consultants, Nick Giannas, Phil Tang, and Melissa Fincher, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:NAUDeanOnlineEducationalInitiatives@wittkieffer.com">NAUDeanOnlineEducationalInitiatives@wittkieffer.com</a>.&nbsp;To receive full consideration, applications should be received by November 13, 2017.&nbsp;All candidate materials will be treated as confidential. Candidates should provide a resume or CV, letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile available at <a href="http://www.wittkieffer.com/position/dean-for-nau-online-and-innovative-educational-initiatives/northern-arizona-university/13628">www.wittkieffer.com</a>, and a list of five references submitted via email as three separate attachments. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge of and approval by the candidate. It is expected that the Dean of NAU Online and Innovative Educational Initiatives will be appointed in Spring 2018.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.&nbsp; Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.</em></p>