Dean of the Honors College

The University of Alabama (UA) seeks an innovative leader with a broad institutional perspective to serve as the next Dean of the Honors College. The Dean will outline a vision for continuing the Honors College mission and enhancing the programs that are the hallmark of its nationally recognized undergraduate honors curriculum. The Dean will work across UA to provide leadership on planning, curricular, and budgetary decisions in a student-centered environment in which one-third of freshman students participate in some type of honors programming. The Dean will also engage with alumni, fellow deans, and other internal and external stakeholders to advance the goals of the Honors College and University. The successful candidate must possess a terminal degree and qualify for appointment at the rank of full professor in one of the University’s departments. The candidate must also possess a significant and progressive record of higher education leadership.

 

The University, located in the city of Tuscaloosa (http://www.tuscaloosa.com/), is one of the nation’s premier public universities offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 200 fields of study. UA’s more than 1,000 acres of tree-lined pathways and state-of-the-art facilities are a source of inspiration for students, faculty, and staff. In fall 2018, UA reached a record high enrollment of 38,392 with 6,663 entering freshmen. Approximately 40 percent of UA’s freshman class scored 30 or higher on the ACT. The University is a leader among public universities nationwide in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars with more than 600 currently on campus. As the state’s flagship university, UA has recently achieved Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity (formerly R1) status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The University has over 1,800 faculty with twenty-six receiving the NSF’s CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top-performing young scientists, in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

 

Rather than offering specific degrees, the Honors College enhances UA’s undergraduate curriculum. The foundation of the Honors College is the Honors Experience, which provides students with an enhanced academic curriculum and the ability to work with their peers and outstanding faculty members in an enriched academic environment. Honors pedagogy is distinguished by enhanced experiences that promote heightened reflection and learning. Instructors in University Honors (UH) courses stress the development of critical, analytical, and interpretive skills. The Honors College offers two selective programs. The Randall Research Scholars Program is a nationally recognized undergraduate research program that pairs exceptional students directly with leading research professors and cutting-edge computing technology to complete scholarly research projects in any field of study. The University Fellows Experience is a community of elite scholars from diverse disciplines who share a similar passion to become change agents through commitment to leadership and service.

 

Additional information on the institution and position, including a full list of responsibilities and requirements, can be found in the position profile at http://academic-search.com/sites/default/files/UADeanHonorsProfile.pdf.

 

Applications should consist of a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence to: UADeanHonors@academic-search.com. Best consideration will be given to applications received by September 2, 2019.

 

Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting Ann Die Hasselmo at Ann.Hasselmo@academic-search.com, Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academic-search.com, or Jennifer Kooken at Jennifer.Kooken@academic-search.com, consultants with Academic Search, Inc., Washington, D.C.

 

Further information about the University of Alabama is available at https://www.ua.edu/. For more information on the Honors College see https://honors.ua.edu/.

 

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases.