Dean, The Ohio State University at Lima

The Ohio State University invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Lima Campus. The regional campuses are integral in the success and identity of Ohio State, and the Dean will have a unique opportunity to play a defining role in shaping the future of the Lima campus, develop new and additional priorities and aspirations, and lead the campus to even greater levels of excellence and impact.

The dean is the academic leader of a regional campus, has faculty status and tenure in an appropriate department, and works collaboratively and consultatively with faculty, staff, and university administrators. The regional deans serve on the Ohio State Council of Deans and have collaborative working relationships with their cohort of regional deans, college deans, department chairs, and academic administrators. The dean will be expected to align the campus priorities with the current university academic plan and work collaboratively with college deans, unit vice presidents, and other academic leaders to clearly articulate and operationalize the regional campus as an anchor institution, locally. The dean reports to the Senior Vice Provost for External Engagement and works closely with the Executive Vice President and Provost.

Experience and Requirements

• Doctoral degree or other terminal degree.
• Experience as a dean, academic director, chair, or academic leader of a unit and/or campus is preferred.
• Record of teaching, research, innovation, and community engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership and administrative accomplishments.
• Strong commitment to success in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusive environments for all.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with communities and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success raising funds through private individuals, foundations, and public grants.
• Ability to meet requirements for tenure, preferably at the full professor level, in an academic unit at Ohio State.

The Ohio State University at Lima offered its first classes in 1960. The Lima campus sits on 565 acres which is comprised of 270 acres of woods, 35 acres of natural prairie, 200 tillable acres, and 60 acres that contain the academic campus. Ohio State Lima currently enrolls 818 students who are taught and supported by 26 tenure track faculty, 52 associated faculty, 5 visiting faculty, and 56 staff members.  Outside of the classroom, students have vast opportunities for experience through internships, undergraduate research, leadership projects, and community engagement. Since 2020, faculty at Ohio State Lima have secured $8.8M in external grants, and two current faculty have received the University’s highest award for teaching.  The annual operating budget for Ohio State Lima is $12.6M.

Buffkin/Baker, an executive search firm, is assisting the university in the search. The search will remain open until filled, however, for optimal consideration, application materials should be received by January 1, 2024. 

Candidates should submit a current curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing their interest and qualifications for the position. Inquiries of interest, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to the Buffkin Baker site:  https://osujoblinks.com/bbi0 

or directly to Martin Baker, osulima@buffkinbaker.com.