Job Details

Dean, Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Main Campus - Boston, MAMain Campus - Boston, MA
R10046

Please note: Interested parties should apply via Harris Search Associates's website here.


Simmons University (Simmons) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Simmons seeks a visionary Dean with the highest academic standards who will provide active and engaged leadership, have an unwavering commitment to faculty, staff, and students, and work to enhance the successes of the School in key areas of pedagogy, scholarship, and research. Reporting to the Provost, the Ifill Dean should be an accomplished leader who fosters innovation, values shared governance, and supports collaborations aligned with the University-wide goals outlined in Strategy 2026.

With input from the faculty and staff, the Dean serves as the School's chief academic officer responsible for academic program development and review, faculty and staff recruitment and development, budget oversight and student relations, and fundraising. In collaboration with the Provost and the other deans, the Dean is responsible for academic and administrative planning, fundraising and external/alumni relations. The successful candidate will lead the School to new levels of excellence through enhanced programming, outreach, fostering an integrated academic community, and enhancing interdisciplinary opportunities, such as in inclusive leadership, social justice, global engagement, and accelerated graduate programs (the "Simmons Edge") while advancing the founding principles, values, and mission of the Gwen Ifill School and Simmons University.

The Dean is expected to be a clear and effective communicator, treat students and colleagues with respect and compassion, and demonstrate the ability to work in a diverse and inclusive environment. The Dean should inspire confidence in the faculty and staff, be able to argue for the value of the liberal arts, and set the stage for the School's long-term growth.

POSITION SUMMARY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Cultivates a climate of intellectual and creative vitality that unifies constituents around a shared vision for the School;

Provides leadership and support for the various Chairpersons, Program Directors, and auxiliary units in maintaining an excellent instructional and research environment;

Ensures, as the goals of the School evolve, that they continue to align with the University-wide goals outlined in Strategy 2026;

Fosters an integrated academic community, collaborating with Deans of the other Schools to enhance interdisciplinary opportunities, such as in inclusive leadership, social justice, global engagement, and accelerated graduate programs (the "Simmons Edge");

Guides the various Directors and Chairpersons in the recruitment and evaluation of personnel and makes recommendations to the Provost and President concerning appointment, retention, tenure and promotion, leaves, and other personnel transactions;

Supervises preparation for site visits and program development related to professional accreditation, certification, credentials, and licensure;

Provides leadership in establishing and enhancing community relationships, including fieldwork agencies and internship sites;

Provides direction for the development and implementation of policies concerning student admission, recruitment, retention, and evaluation;

Advocates for, develops, and implements strategies to secure resources in support of the School;

Serves on appropriate administrative advisory groups and committees;

Promotes constructive liaisons with the University/School community, the Colleges of the Fenway, and with appropriate national and state agencies;

Serves as liaison with the Office of the Executive Vice President, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, and the Office of Development.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Preferred candidates for Dean of the Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences should have the following attributes:

Earned doctorate and record of accomplishment suitable for tenure as full professor;

Demonstrated operational and administrative acumen, including successful administrative and management experience in a higher education environment. Experience managing personnel; complex budgets; and facilities, IT, and other infrastructure. Ability to empower a team and make data informed, principled decisions. Demonstrated commitment to staff retention, professional development, and advocacy;

Commitment to high-quality pedagogy including an understanding of various pedagogical approaches, support for academic freedom, and demonstrated support for faculty development in teaching;

Broad and inclusive view of scholarship and research including demonstrated support of scholarly and creative activity and an appreciation of the diverse forms of intellectual and artistic pursuits in various disciplines;

Demonstrated multidisciplinary orientation including evidence of collaborative relationships across diverse academic disciplines. Interest and intellectual curiosity in disciplines beyond one's own. Capacity to understand the issues, varying research grant realities, opportunities, and challenges in unfamiliar areas of study in order to collaborate and advocate on their behalf;

Demonstrated effective advocacy, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills including experience building strong relationships internally with faculty, staff, administrators, and students, as well as externally with community organizations, corporate partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Proven history of success in advocating for humanities and social science fields;

Demonstrated track record of managing existing resources and identifying potential resources, success in securing new funding through grants, fundraising, and other revenue streams;

Demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders to provide a compelling vision of the humanities and social sciences, both in relation to other Schools and to student long-term success;

Successful track record of transparency and partnership with faculty, faculty leadership, staff, and students through shared governance, effective communication, and consensus-building;

Demonstrated ability and willingness to support and promote faculty-student engagement to enhance the student experience. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, social justice, and inclusion with respect to the student populations served;

Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion including a track record of leadership grounded on these core values and a deep personal understanding of the essential roles they play in education. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural campus and community setting.

ABOUT SIMMONS UNIVERSITY

Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons University is a private, not-for-profit university, home to a respected women-centered undergraduate program, as well as coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, social work, public health, library and information science and liberal arts. For more than a century, Simmons has offered a pioneering liberal arts education integrated with professional preparation and education. Since its founding in 1899, Simmons has been at the forefront of expanding opportunities for women and pioneering fields that advance equity and justice locally and globally. Founder John Simmons was a prominent Boston clothing manufacturer who provided in his estate funds to establish a "female college best calculated to enable the scholars to acquire an independent livelihood." His commitment to women's professional success in business has a long legacy within the institution.

Simmons has established a model of higher education that colleges and universities today are only beginning to emulate: the combination of education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. The result: a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life -- a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life's work. In the more than one hundred years since its founding, Simmons has changed dramatically, but the mission and commitment to helping its undergraduates and graduate students find meaningful work is as strong as it was at its founding.

The Simmons Vision: Rooted in an age-old fight for equality, we envision a future where our historic foundation as a women's college offers scholars an opportunity to pursue their life's work; where our expertise in fields that improve the human condition serves as a resource for the nation; where the relationships that are formed through teaching and learning are a cornerstone of our success; and where our home in the city of Boston welcomes all genuine forms of intellectual curiosity, imagination, and self-expression.

In the summer of 2018, Simmons College became Simmons University - a transition that resulted from many years of planning and reflected the institution's growth over the previous decade. As part of that process, the University renewed its commitment to maintaining a diverse portfolio of offerings, including online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate programs, and a partnership with 2U that expanded on-campus program offerings to its online platform. Today, Simmons offers its unique women-centered undergraduate degree completion program, Complete Degree, and five online master's degrees in partnership with 2U, with students from all 50 states enrolled. In addition, a new master plan includes state-of-the-art science facilities, and, starting summer 2023, the building of a "Living and Learning Center" that will house students and student-facing services.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY

Applications should include a letter of interest and curriculum vitae. Applications and nominations will be accepted until the position is filled. Confidential review of materials and screening of candidates will begin immediately. Harris Search Associates is assisting Simmons University for this search.

For immediate consideration, please upload application materials to: APPLY HERE- Harris Search Associates.

For additional information, please contact Jeffrey Harris, Managing Partner, or Jon Schwantes, Senior Consultant.

Jeffrey Harris, Managing Partner Jon Schwantes, Senior Consultant

Tel: 614-798-8500 Tel: 614-798-8500

Cell: 614-354-2100 Cell: 614-989-5136

Email: jeff@HarrisSearch.com Email: jon@HarrisSearch.com

Salary Grade
Annual Compensation Grade

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Dean--Gwen-Ifill-School-of-Media--Humanities--and-Social-Sciences_R10046

Located in Bostons historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.