Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana (USI) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.  USI is a vibrant state public university campus, enrolling more than 9,750 students from 90 Indiana counties, 45 states, and 45 nations.  The University is located in Evansville, IN, the third largest city in Indiana.  USI is a comprehensive public university, classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an “engaged university.”   

The College of Liberal Arts enrolls over 1630 undergraduate and graduate students, has over 200 full and part time faculty, and contributes significantly to the University’s core curriculum.  The College offers 30 major areas of study within 13 academic departments/programs: Art and Design; Communications; Criminal Justice, English; Global Studies; History; The Dr. Philip C. Hageman Performing Arts Department Performing Arts; Political Science, Public Administration & Philosophy; Professional Studies; Psychology; Social Work; Sociology; and World Languages and Cultures.  In addition, several interdisciplinary minors are offered including Africana Studies, Gender Studies, Religious Studies, and Cognitive Science.  The College has seven graduate programs, including Communication; Criminal Justice; English; Liberal Studies; Public Administration; Second Language Acquisition, Policy, and Culture; and Social Work with three academic centers in Communal Studies, Social Justice Education, and the Scripps Howard Center for Media Studies. The McCutchan Art Center and Pace Galleries, located in the Liberal Arts Center, and the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art in Historic New Harmony are supported by the College. In addition, the College oversees the Performance Center, the university’s student-operated radio station and video broadcasts, and various literary publications including the nationally recognized Southern Indiana Review.  The Dean leads a College with distinct, interdisciplinary, and cutting-edge programs, promotes the College’s mission, and attracts and retains students and faculty with diverse interests and backgrounds. 

The Dean reports directly to the Provost and serves as the chief academic officer of the College. The Dean must understand the challenges of higher education and demonstrate a willingness to guide the College of Liberal Arts to be a leader in innovation.

Responsibilities of the Dean include, but are not limited to:

  • Fostering a high-quality student experience
  • Overseeing student recruitment and retention initiatives to ensure strategic growth of the College
  • Recruiting, retaining, supporting, and mentoring diverse faculty who will continue the College’s progress
  • Nurturing an organizational culture that supports faculty, promotes shared governance, and fosters interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Guiding personnel matters, including tenure, promotion, and reappointment
  • Supporting department chairs and faculty in maintaining high standards of teaching, scholarship and creative works, and service
  • Leading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and programs in the College
  • Crafting and implementing a long-term vision for the College consistent with the University’s mission and strategic priorities
  • Actively maintaining the College’s program accreditations and assisting with the University’s regional accreditation
  • Analyzing, communicating, and responding to emerging regional, national, and global trends in liberal arts and higher education
  • Strengthening and building connections and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Using qualitative and quantitative data to manage and prioritize an annual operating budget
  • Fundraising and securing additional resources to achieve the College and its departments’ strategic goals
  • Advocating for the College and increasing its visibility and reputation in the local community as well as regionally, nationally, and globally

Candidates must have an earned doctorate or terminal degree with qualifications necessary for appointment to rank of tenured Professor within the College.  Successful applicants must have evidence of a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship and creative works, and an effective administrative record that demonstrates the following: leadership equivalent to the department chair level; a collegial administrative style that promotes respect and collaboration; an ability to foster strong connections between internal and external constituencies; and experience in supporting and developing a diverse community of students, staff, and faculty in a complex university setting.  Strong preference will be given to candidates who have served as department chair.

Information for Applicants

The review of credentials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For best consideration, please submit materials by January 10, 2022. Application materials must include a letter of intent describing interest in the position with an emphasis on leadership philosophy, including promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applications must include a curriculum vitae and the names, addresses (including email), and telephone numbers for five references. References will not be contacted until finalists are identified.
All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential. Finalists will be publicly identified prior to campus visit. Application materials should be submitted via the USI human resources website at:  https://usi.peopleadmin.com/postings/9293. Nominations and questions should be forwarded to Sarah Will, Associate Director of Human Resources, by email at skwill@usi.edu. More information is available on the USI website at https://www.usi.edu/ladeansearch/.

As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, the University of Southern Indiana considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or marital status, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law or identified by the University as a protected class.


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