The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Arts and Architecture (CAA). Penn State is the land-grant University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with the University Park campus as its administrative hub. Penn State has 23 other campuses located throughout the Commonwealth and a highly regarded online World Campus. The dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of CAA and reports to the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University.
Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture is a comprehensive arts community and one of only a few colleges in the nation that embraces a breadth of artistic activity including academic programs in music, theatre, visual arts, art education, graphic design, art history, architecture and landscape architecture. The College is home to approximately 200 full-time faculty, 60 part-time faculty, 120 full-time staff, and nearly 1,500 students.
Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture proudly serves as one of the major cultural centers between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The College also includes the Center for the Performing Arts, the Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State Centre Stage and Penn’s Woods Music Festival, which serve as important cultural resources that provide educational outreach programs for Penn State and area communities. In addition, the College is home to several research centers and institutes, which help to foster a vibrant culture of inquiry that promotes excellence within the arts and design disciplines, while leveraging the potential of a comprehensive research university.
The opportunity to serve as the next dean of the CAA offers both challenges and exciting possibilities for growth. The College’s distinctive disciplinary configuration and the collaborative interdisciplinary environment and strategic prioritization of Arts and Humanities at Penn State provide an unusual opportunity for a leader ready for this role.
The Dean will provide insightful leadership to further develop the reputation of the College both locally and globally through collaboration and cross-disciplinary communication among the faculty and students of all the units. The Dean has the leading role in building alumni relationships and will be engaged in significant fundraising efforts within the professions and creative communities represented by the College. The Dean will foster expectations for high impact scholarship, research and creative work, effective undergraduate, graduate and professional education, service to the local and state community, and valuable collaborations with other units at the University.
Penn State seeks a successful candidate who will have experience enabling leadership in a premier academic setting and will serve as a strong advocate for CAA. The next dean of CAA will possess visionary, innovative, and influential leadership skills, including supervisory and budgetary experience and a deep understanding of the academic enterprise. The candidate will show commitment to the recruitment and retention of a diverse and talented faculty, staff, and students. The successful candidate will possess a terminal degree in a related field or equivalent and a distinguished record of scholarly achievement appropriate for an academic appointment of Professor with tenure at the University.
Nominations and applications will be held in the strictest of confidence, and will be reviewed immediately. Applications should include 1) a detailed resume and 2) a letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and requirements, as well as the applicant’s motivation to apply.
To ensure full consideration, inquiries, nominations, and applications should be submitted electronically, in confidence, to:
Rosa Morris
Principal, Global Education Practice
Korn Ferry
The search will continue until an appointment is made. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies. Final candidate(s) for the position must complete a full background check process, including education, employment, credit, motor vehicle verifications, criminal, and child abuse as appropriate.
To review the Penn State Annual Security Report, visit http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/ – a hard copy of the report is available on request.
Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.