Dean, College of Arts and Humanities

Central Washington University

Dean, College of Arts and Humanities

Central Washington University (CWU) invites expressions of interest, nominations and applications for the Dean, College of Arts and Humanities (CAH).

Located in historic Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a comprehensive, four-year public institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a range of disciplines that are housed in four academic colleges. The mission of CWU is to prepare students for responsible citizenship, responsible stewardship of the earth, and enlightened and productive lives. The University enrolls approximately 12,000 students in more than 145 majors and has a faculty-student ratio of 20.1. Externally sponsored grants and contracts funded during academic year 2017-18 totaled more than $14.3 million. With its robust focus on inclusivity and diversity, more than a third of first-year students were people of color in fall 2018. CWU enrolls and graduates the largest percentage of Hispanic students of any public baccalaureate institution in the state.

The College of Arts and Humanities is comprised of eleven departments and programs and is supported by 85 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 100 non-tenure track faculty (including both full time and quarterly appointments), and 25 staff members. Departments in the College of Arts and Humanities include: Art and Design; Communication; English; History; Music; Philosophy and Religious Studies; Theater Arts; and World Languages and Cultures. In addition, CAH also includes interdisciplinary programs in Asian Studies; Latino and Latin American Studies; and Africana and Black Studies. Affiliated interdisciplinary programs include the Douglas Honors College; American Indian Studies; and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. All of the departments and some of the programs of CAH offer undergraduate degrees as well as minors which supplement other degree programs. Five departments offer master’s degrees.

In addition to its role in providing degree programs, the College of Arts and Humanities is responsible for many of the course offerings of the general education program as well as extensive service coursework for the entire university. The College also plays a major role in CWU's teacher education programs, offering bachelor's and master's degrees for students preparing to be secondary teachers and providing coursework in educational foundations and discipline-specific methods for teacher education majors.

For more information about CAH, please visit http://www.cwu.edu/arts/

Position Summary

Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic/Student Affairs, the Dean is the chief academic and fiscal officer for the College of Arts and Humanities, and will provide vision, leadership, and support for continuous improvement in all matters affecting the College. Areas of supervision, responsibility and oversight for the next Dean, College of Arts and Humanities include: academic program planning, budget development and oversight, curriculum development and delivery, hiring and personnel actions, faculty/staff development, planning and development for facilities and equipment, departmental operations, and responsiveness to students. The Dean will work to ensure the effective utilization of the College’s human, fiscal, and intellectual resources and review faculty teaching and advising loads, committee assignments, and professional activities. Moreover, the Dean will recommend appointment, reappointments, promotion, tenure, and compensation changes for faculty, and will have responsibility for recruitment, selection, and the evaluation of College faculty and staff. The Dean will also be expected to lead College efforts to raise funds from sources external to the University and support faculty efforts to secure extramural funding.

The Dean supervises one full-time associate dean and office support staff, including a director of development, budget administrator, alumni relations coordinator, career counselor, and professional academic advisors. The Dean also supervises and works collaboratively with eight department chairs to develop policies and procedures to guide the functions of the College and lead the College's academic, strategic, and development planning efforts. The Dean will also plan and control college expenditures within established budgetary constraints, administer budget allocations in support of departments and programs within the College, and make budget recommendations to the Provost. The Dean serves as a member of the Provost’s Council, the main leadership body for the Academic and Student Life division.

Required Qualifications

Successful candidates for the Dean, College of Arts and Humanities position will possess:

  • A terminal degree from an accredited institution in a discipline associated with programs represented in the College of Arts and Humanities.
  • A record of academic accomplishment to hold the rank of professor, including teaching, research, and service.
  • Demonstrated commitment to high quality teaching, including online and multimodal learning.
  • Demonstrated successful leadership experience in an administrative position at a level equivalent to department chair or above.
  • Demonstrated skills in budget management, personnel management, and planning.
  • Demonstrated innovative and creative thinking, as well as strong problem-solving skills.
  • Strong interpersonal writing, speaking, and presentation skills.
  • Evidence of highly developed organizational skills, responsiveness, and professionalism.
  • Evidence of proactively nurturing the development of a highly qualified and diverse faculty, staff, and student body.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the aforementioned list of qualifications, the most competitive candidates for the Dean, College of Arts and Humanities position will also possess:

  • Demonstrated success in recruiting and retaining a highly qualified and diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
  • Experience with international initiatives.
  • Experience with and commitment to the development and management of graduate programs.
  • Experience in managing multisite environments.
  • Demonstrated commitment to and support of undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship, and creative activity.
  • Experience with Activity-based Budgeting (ABB) and/or Responsibility Centered Management (RCM).
  • Demonstrated commitment to fundraising, advancement, and outreach efforts.
  • Commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and programs.
  • Experience in and commitment to leadership in the preparation of K-12 teachers in Arts and Humanities disciplines.

Application Process

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must submit: a current resume or curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address and telephone number of the nominee. All applications and nominations will be handled in confidence. Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Email:  apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com

or

Navid Nakai, Senior Associate

Email: N.Nakai@storbeckpimentel.com

Refer to code “CWU-CAH” in the subject line

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates

6512 Painter Avenue

Whittier, CA  90601

562-360-1353 (FAX)

Central Washington University is an Equal Opportunity Employer