Director, Bower School of Music & the Arts

Director, Bower School of Music & the Arts

Florida Gulf Coast University

Fort Myers, Florida

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) seeks a dynamic and creative leader to serve as Director of the Bower School of Music & the Arts (BSMA).   FGCU is a comprehensive public university offering undergraduate and graduate programs to 15,000 students.  One of 12 universities within the State University System of Florida, FGCU is Carnegie-designated as a master’s level university.  Founded in 1991 to serve the needs of the Southwest Florida community, FGCU has seen enormous growth in academic programs, research activity, campus life, donor support, and student outcomes.  Through its strategic planning process, five broad themes have emerged as priorities – student success, academic excellence, entrepreneurship, health sciences, and community engagement. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a school that embraces FGCU’s aspiration to become the cultural hub of Southwest Florida and that functions as a central pillar of community engagement.

One of 12 academic units housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bower School’s curriculum and programs prepare professionals for service in music education, music therapy, music performance and pedagogy, arts and theatre programs, and digital design in a multidisciplinary environment.  Bower School programs, performances, and exhibitions bring the larger community to campus, serving Southwest Florida’s cultural and social needs and forging a strong link between the community and FGCU.  BSMA houses four undergraduate degree programs and a minor in music, undergraduate degree programs in art and theatre, and minors in art, art history, theatre, and digital media design.  The music programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and the American Music Therapy Association. BSMA enrolls 170 students in music degree programs, 190 students in art programs, and 45 students in theatre programs; these students are taught by 13 full-time faculty in music; eight in art and design, and five in theatre; and by adjunct faculty drawn from around the region.  BSMA is also home to the FGCU Art Galleries and to a range of musical ensembles that perform at least once each semester.

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Director of BSMA serves as the administrative head of a multidisciplinary unit encompassing multiple degree programs.  The Director provides direct supervision for all music programs and music-related activities, and working in concert with the Assistant Director, has overall responsibility for the development and administration of programs in Art, Design, and Theatre areas.  The Director is responsible for all aspects of the academic administration of BSMA: development and implementation of curricula; faculty recruitment, evaluation, and retention; fiscal management; coordination of compliance activities for accreditation/approval; and the energetic pursuit of resources to support BSMA activities and a creative and innovative programmatic agenda.  The Director builds on existing relationships with external supporters and the local community and works with the FGCU Foundation to establish new relationships for friend-raising and fundraising.  The Director fosters an environment of collegiality, advocates a team approach to leadership, and demonstrates a commitment to diversity in staffing and student recruitment.  The Director works to increase the visibility of BSMA as a center of artistic performance and creative activity in Southwest Florida.  In addition to the Assistant Director, the Director oversees program coordinators, an events coordinator, and administrative specialists.

The University seeks an energetic and accomplished Director who reflects a balance of three essential areas of accomplishment – leadership, professional artistic achievement/scholarship, and administrative experience.  Requirements include a terminal degree from an accredited institution and academic qualifications that merit appointment as a full professor in a Music discipline;  a strong record of administrative experience, including at least three years of successful leadership of a complex organization at the chair, director, dean or equivalent leadership level; recognized contributions as a creator/performing artist/scholar in one or more substantive areas relevant to the mission of BSMA; a broad understanding of music and the arts within the context of a comprehensive regional university; the ability to develop, articulate, and realize a shared vision for BSMA that encompasses and advances all its programs, inspires confidence, and identifies a clear sense of direction for faculty, students, and staff; demonstrated experience in strategic  planning, faculty and staff development, budgeting and fiscal management, and program/faculty evaluation; a strong external focus that engages community and regional stakeholders in the mission of BSMA; and the ability to contribute to and lead development efforts and other extramural funding activities, including strengthening alumni relations, working effectively with donors, alumni, and other constituents, and building relationships with community arts and cultural organizations.

Screening will begin in January and continue until an appointment is made.  Nominations, inquiries, and applications (including a cover letter, CV, and the names of five references) should be directed electronically to FGCU_BSMADirector@divsearch.com.

Kim M. Morrisson, Ph.D., Senior Managing Director or John Mestepey, Managing Director

Nancy Helfman, Vice President and Senior Associate

Diversified Search

One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 3300, Philadelphia, PA  19103

215-656-3579

FGCU is a community committed to ensuring equity ad fairness in employment.  By cultivating diversity, we ensure an inclusive learning environment that contributes to student success. 

FGCU is an EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability Employer

For more information, visit www.FGCU.edu