Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Norfolk State University (NSU), a historically black university, invites nominations and applications for a visionary, strategic and collaborative leader to serve as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The College of Liberal Arts consists of seven departments:  English and Foreign Languages, Mass Communications and Journalism, History and Interdisciplinary Studies, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, and Visual and Performing Arts.  The Dean’s position is a full-time 12- month senior level faculty/administrative position. The Dean will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of the school.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts’ major responsibilities include providing visionary leadership to the College that advances its mission and is aligned with the University’s strategic priorities.  The Dean will engage in strategic planning, fiscal decision-making, resource allocation, and objective review of all academic programs, working directly with department heads, directors, program coordinators, faculty, students, major university and college committees, the executive cabinet, and other agencies, as directed by the Provost and President, to improve the university.

The Dean will be responsible for providing leadership in all aspects of curriculum planning and development, faculty and staff hiring, faculty development and evaluation—including tenure and promotion—and budget preparation. The Dean must be able to build consensus through all departments and seek scholarships to enable student retention. We are seeking a visionary leader who will operate with integrity and transparency, drive innovation, cultivate creativity, support an environment that values high-quality teaching and learning, foster academic research, and create a model for the future of the liberal arts.

 QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will possess the following: a demonstrated ability to articulate and implement a vision and the ability to innovate; experience in data-informed decision making to guide program development, implementation, evaluation, resource allocation, and quality improvement; exhibit a passion for the liberal arts and the ability to articulate the value of a liberal arts education to external constituencies; experience in the supervision, evaluation and professional development of faculty and staff; sensitivity to the needs and concerns of people from diverse backgrounds, with a demonstrated commitment to and respect for cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender and sexual orientation; ability to navigate successfully in a highly decentralized organizational structure; leadership skills rooted in integrity and transparency that appreciate and embody shared governance in effective decision-making and following policy; excellent written and oral communication skills and excellent interpersonal and communication skills; and proven commitment to the mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities or similar institutions.

MINIMUM SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Terminal degree (Ph.D. preferred) and credentials to qualify for the rank of professor in one of the College's academic departments
• Excellent record in teaching, research, creative activities, and service
• Record of securing grants and fund-raising
• Minimum of five years of strong leadership experience in academia, with increasing responsibilities at or above the level of department head
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion and access, and experience working in a diverse higher education environment with students and faculty from underrepresented groups

 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES:

• Develop imaginative approaches to achieve individual, departmental, and institutional strategic initiatives
• Knowledge of issues and trends in higher education; issues related to diverse learners and a large multicultural constituency
• Experience developing and/or teaching online academic programs
• Experience in and/or deep commitment to the mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities

SALARY:  Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with the successful candidate's experience.

INQUIRIES, APPLICATIONS, AND NOMINATIONS: 

Norfolk State University is an affirmative action, equal-opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Parker Executive Search is assisting the University in the search process.  The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume/CV, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm.  Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.  It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted prior to January 18, 2023.  For additional information, please contact:

 

Porsha Williams, Vice President

Erin Raines, Senior Principal

Parker Executive Search

Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875

Atlanta, GA 30328

770-804-1996 ext.: 117

pwilliams@parkersearch.com || eraines@parkersearch.com

 

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application process should call the Office of Human Resources (757) 823-8160 (Voice)/(757) 823-2876 (TDD).