Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is one of the largest colleges at North Carolina State University, housing the following academic units (Department of Communication, Department of English, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Department of History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Department of Psychology, School of Public and International Affairs, School of Social Work, Department of Sociology and Anthropology) and supporting three community-oriented centers (Center for Family and Community Engagement, Genetic Engineering and Society Center, Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies). The college offers more than 55 undergraduate majors, more than 40 undergraduate minors, 12 master’s degrees, five Ph.D. programs, three dual-degree honors programs and four graduate certificate programs.

The mission of the college is to support the research, education, scholarship and engagement that advance frontiers of knowledge in the college’s disciplines and programs, which impacts the human condition and problems facing local communities, the nation and the world as well as develop future leaders and global citizens.

One way the college fulfills its mission is by creating a welcoming and inclusive community and is a campus leader in promoting and exploring diversity through events, research and engagement activities. The college works to both recruit and retain a diverse, inclusive and high-achieving student population. Departments create and maintain diversity recruitment and retention plans for faculty. Minority representation in the college has increased over the last 10 years, and percentages of underrepresented minority students and female faculty are higher than the university average.

The college consists of more than 600 faculty and staff and 324 teaching and research assistants. The college’s nationally-recognized, productive faculty are Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellows. They have earned top awards in their fields and are called upon by state government and industry, national corporations, the White House and international media for their expertise. They inspire students to think critically, creatively and independently and to act purposefully.

The college’s scholarship and research yields new knowledge and perspectives. More than 4,200 students develop a lifelong commitment to learning, to seeking out innovative solutions to personal and global challenges, and to engaging with their communities. The highly competitive college is home to several programs ranked in the top 50 nationally and leverages the resources of a STEM-intensive university to engage students and faculty in interdisciplinary study.

The college graduates more undergraduates each year than any other college at NC State. More than 43,000 alumni make the college proud every day. They’re national policy leaders, financial managers, counselors, attorneys, entrepreneurs for social change, New York Times best-selling authors, James Beard award-winning chefs, concerned and involved citizens and generous souls. In addition to their unique areas of expertise, they’re all critical thinkers who use their collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills for the betterment of people, communities and society.

The college expended $65.3 million in FY 2020, with research expenditures totalling $6.4 million and endowment assets of $24 million.

The Opportunity
NC State invites applications and nominations for the position of dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The university seeks a visionary leader with a bold commitment to refine and enhance the college’s international reputation as a place which equips students and communities with knowledge that solves problems and leads to productive and satisfying lives.

The Position
The dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences must be an experienced, innovative, creative and collaborative leader who understands the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship on human thought and action to help students and faculty learn, create new knowledge and to solve complex problems. The dean should have a healthy appreciation for the humanities and the social sciences, their role in contemporary thought and society, and the unique methods and goals of various disciplines within both the humanities and social sciences. The dean should have a strong commitment to student achievement, faculty scholarship and staff development, and possess the drive to move the college forward nationally and internationally. The dean is the chief academic, administrative and budgetary officer of the college. He or she is the spokesperson for the college and reports directly to the executive vice chancellor and provost.

The dean is responsible for the following:

• Providing strong leadership and strategic direction for the college;
• Representing the college within the university at a skilled, politically astute level with respect to campus resources and issues;
• Representing the diverse clientele, programs and interests of the college persuasively to both internal and external constituencies;
• Promoting a culturally competent and inclusive environment, with a strong commitment to recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff and students;
• Openly communicating in a transparent manner that provides clarity in financial management and decision-making;
• Being a successful fundraiser and a visible, interactive participant in external-facing activities with alumni and donors;
• Recognizing and valuing the contributions of everyone in the college;
• Fostering high-impact interdisciplinary collaboration and partnership within the college and externally with other programs;
• Integrating diverse academic units under one vision for the college;
• Supporting innovative, traditional and distance-delivered educational programs;
• Promoting, recognizing and rewarding excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students;
• Providing programs and opportunities for students to develop research, leadership and communication skills;
• Serving faculty at all levels (including tenured, tenure-track and professional track) and supporting their research, extension and engagement activities;
• Providing transparent supplemental support of the departments; and,
• Encouraging the high-performance and excellence of faculty, staff and units within the college and the delivery of high-quality academic programs.

Qualifications
The successful candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following qualities or experience:

• Evidence of working effectively and collaboratively with faculty, university administration, and other constituent groups and partners both within and outside the university;
• Ability to play a key role in university leadership, advocating for the college and forging advantageous and strategic
• connections across colleges;
• A clear commitment to excellence in research, teaching and undergraduate and graduate education;
• A commitment to inclusivity in: educating students who enter the university through diverse pathways, fostering a welcoming and respectful community, and recruiting and supporting diverse faculty, staff and administration;
• Outstanding communication skills, including interpersonal, written, verbal, presentation and listening capabilities;
• A proven record of success in setting priorities, allocating resources and achieving specific goals;
• development efforts, including management of a volunteer Dean’s Board;
• Ability to function in a complex, high-demand environment, balancing and executing internal and external responsibilities;
• Distinguished record in research, teaching and outreach/engagement; and
• A terminal degree in their field and qualifications for an appointment as a full professor with tenure in at least one of the departments within the college.

How to Apply
Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited and may be directed to Justin Lang, Director, NC State Executive Search Services, at (919) 513-1963 or jdlang2@ncsu.edu.

Confidential review of applications will begin in December of 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates should provide a resume or curriculum vitae, cover letter, and the names and contact information of three references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials may be submitted online at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/ (position #00001613).

About NC State
At NC State, we create prosperity for North Carolina and the nation. We value diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. We began as a land-grant institution grounded in agriculture and engineering. Today, we’re a pre-eminent research enterprise that excels across disciplines.

NC State is a powerhouse in science, technology, engineering and math. We lead in agriculture, education, textiles, business and natural resources management. We’re at the forefront of teaching and research in design, the humanities and the social sciences. And we’re home to one of the world’s best colleges of veterinary medicine.

Our more than 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students learn by doing. They pursue original research and start new companies. They forge connections with top employers and serve communities local and global. Through it all, they enjoy an outstanding return on investment.

Whether it’s Princeton Review ranking NC State among the nation’s best values for universities, Money magazine naming it the No. 1 best college for your money in North Carolina, or U.S. News & World Report ranking NC State No. 6 among the best values in public higher education, the university has many reasons to be proud.

Each year, NC State adds $6.5 billion to the statewide economy, equivalent to creating more than 90,000 new jobs. That represents a significant return on investment for the citizens of North Carolina in the form of research advances, innovative technologies, successful companies, skilled graduates and new jobs waiting for them.

Our 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Together, they forge powerful partnerships with government, industry, nonprofits and academia to remake our world for the better. We expect everyone to give of their talents, skills, time and effort to make NC State an environment of inclusive excellence for all.

About Raleigh and North Carolina
North Carolina’s rapid growth makes the state a diversity leader and top spot for young professionals and families. Raleigh reflects statewide growth as a city on the rise:

• 2 among the best big cities to live in (Money, 2018)
• 2 among the best places for business and careers (Forbes, 2018)
• One of America’s top 10 recession-resistant cities (Smartasset, 2020)
• Among the top 10 “Best Cities to Move to Right Now” (Curbed, 2020)
• 2 among family friendly cities (Homes.com, 2019)

With Durham and Chapel Hill, the capital city anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The region’s top companies — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — rank among the country’s best employers. NC State also maintains strong agricultural partnerships with Bayer, BASF and Syngenta, companies that lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

Celebrating its 133rd year in 2020, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day our career- ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning, discovery and engagement available to people across the state, throughout the nation and around the world.

NC State provides equal opportunity and affirmative action efforts, and the university prohibits all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation that are based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, gender identity, genetic information, sexual orientation or veteran status.