Dean of the School of Physical Sciences

The University of California, Irvine

Search for the Dean of the School of Physical Sciences

Irvine, California

The University of California, Irvine (UCI), among the nation’s top public research universities and one of the fastest growing campuses in the world-renowned University of California system, seeks an inspiring, visionary, and strategic scholar-administrator to serve as Dean of the School of Physical Sciences. Since the University’s founding in 1965, the physical sciences have played a pivotal role in elevating the institution’s intellectual rigor and contributing to its national prominence. The next dean will lead the School to further distinction by inspiring excellence in teaching and research, and continuing to strengthen existing infrastructure that supports interdisciplinary thought and creative partnerships locally, nationally, and globally.

As a newly designated Hispanic-serving institution and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, The University of California, Irvine (UCI) serves approximately 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 1,240 ladder rank faculty, and over 10,300 staff members. Founded as an interdisciplinary campus, it boasts excellence across its arts and sciences core and in its professional schools. In U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 “Best Colleges” survey, UCI climbed to seventh among all public universities and 33rd out of the 1,600 universities evaluated nationwide. As one of the youngest members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), UCI combines the strengths of a major research institution with the dynamism and nimbleness of an emergent campus. In addition, its mission as a public and land grant institution plays a significant role in contributing to the advancement of the state, the nation, and the world.

The School of Physical Sciences has grown in both size and reputation since its founding over 50 years ago. The School is currently home to 2,500 undergraduate majors, 512 graduate students, and 159 faculty members, with 96.5% of UCI undergraduates taking at least one course in the School of Physical Sciences to help them achieve the basic skills for their various majors. The School is composed of four departments: Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics & Astronomy, and Earth System Science, all ranked in the top five among UCs and top 20 among AAUs, according to Academic Analytics. To date, 12 faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and 10 have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Further, the School is a leader in science education more broadly, with initiatives in modern instructional methods and interdisciplinary education.

The University of California, Irvine has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/6889. Electronic submission of materials is required.

David Bellshaw, Courtney Wilk-Mandel, Sunny Zhang

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Fax: 415.655.4905

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. A recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity, UCI is responsive to the needs of dual career couples, supports work-life balance through an array of family-friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education