Dean, College of Communication and Information

The University of Kentucky is seeking applications and nominations for the position of Dean, College of Communication and Information.

About the University of Kentucky, College of Communication and Information

The College of Communication and Information is comprised of two schools, the School of Journalism and Media and the School of Information Science, and two departments, the Department of Communication and the Department of Integrated Strategic Communication. Additionally, there is the Graduate Program in Communication that spans the College.

The School of Journalism and Media offers majors and minors in Journalism and Media Arts and Studies. Related to that, the school newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, has been consistently regarded as one of the top five college daily newspapers in the country; since 2001, the Kentucky Kernel has twice won the national Pacemaker award—considered the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism. It has been a finalist for the award six of the last eight years.

For more information about the College, visit https://ci.uky.edu/ci/

The Position

As the chief academic officer of the College, the Dean of Communication and Information reports directly to the Provost of the University and is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the College of Communication and Information. A key member of the University’s leadership, the Dean must be an internal advocate for the College within the University of Kentucky and have the ability to work across disciplinary and college boundaries. The next Dean will bring a strong commitment to the recruitment, retention, and post-graduate placement of a diverse group of excellent students, as well as the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty and staff. Finally, the Dean will encompass a strong research background and the ability to successfully network with alumni.

The next Dean will join the University and the College at a pivotal time. The College has been nimble and responsive to the ever-changing marketplace, meeting the need for flexible degree programs by offering online courses, certificate programs and online degree completer programs for students who are unable to complete their degree in a traditional on-campus format. Likewise, the College is one of only a few institutions that offer an ALA-accredited program with a fully online Master of Science in Library Science. These online opportunities offer students scheduling flexibility in addition to in-state/resident tuition rates for online learners, significantly cutting the cost of obtaining a graduate degree.

In short, the Dean of the College of Communication and Information will have overall responsibility for defining the College’s strategic priorities and securing resources to deliver these priorities; delivering educational programs and research of the highest quality; and attracting outstanding students.

Pivotal Experience & Expertise:

The academic credentials and record of scholarly achievement that merit the rank of a Professor with tenure in the College of Communication and Information.

  • Strong leadership and administrative management skills; demonstrated ability in management including strategic planning, program development and evaluation, and budgetary and operational management.
  • Experience in developing methods to recognize and support excellence in teaching and a proven track record of research. Broad interest in achieving exceptional standards in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education.
  • Cooperative relationship-building and fundraising skills; a leader who can create new partnerships while maintaining and strengthening existing ones.
  • Demonstrated ability to advocate for the College’s needs and priorities internally and externally. Ability and commitment to develop and expand private funding for the college.
  • Experience in leading/managing diverse groups of professional staff and complex, cross-organizational projects. Ability to build, nurture, support, and retain a strong team of professionals.

Nomination/Application Information:

Review of candidates will begin immediately. Applications and nominations can be sent to kentuckycomminfodean@heidrick.com.

The University of Kentucky is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. We strive to foster a community where people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives can feel secure and welcome.

We also value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place to work, learn, and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients, and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.