Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Athabasca University (AU), Canada's only open and online university, is a public, board-governed university operating as a Comprehensive Academic and Research University (CARU). For over 50 years, AU has been dedicated to removing the educational, geographical, financial, social and cultural barriers that often limit access to post-secondary achievement. In doing so, AU provides access to university-level study to a broad range of learners, transforming lives and enriching families and communities by increasing the equality of educational opportunity for learners worldwide.

As a CARU, AU is home to several Canada Research Chairs and Campus Alberta Innovation Program Chairs. The university also hosts a UNESCO Chair in Open Educational Resources, one of only two in the world, as well as the Commonwealth of Learning Chairholder in Emerging Technologies in Open and Distance Learning. Further to its research expertise, AU has a long-standing practice of working collaboratively with other Canadian and international post-secondary institutions and learning industries and, in 2006, became the first Canadian public university to be accredited in the United States through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. To learn more about AU, please visit: www.athabascau.ca

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) offers a broad range of high-quality graduate and undergraduate programs and courses. The largest Faculty at AU, the FHSS is comprised of four centres as well as is the home of the University’s Writer in Residence, an innovative and unique virtual residency which provides mentorship to emerging writers and builds communities of writers across Canada and around the world. Research in the FHSS is wide-ranging, covering areas from community transformation and consumerism to digital communications and virtual worlds. Please visit www.fhss.athabascau.ca to learn more about this diverse and dynamic Faculty.

As the Faculty’s chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean is responsible to the Provost and Vice President Academic for providing strategic, academic and administrative leadership for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. A key member of the executive and academic leadership team, the Dean will have responsibility for developing the strategies, programs, services and supports to enhance AU’s diverse range of humanities and social sciences disciplines programming; to improve student learning outcomes; to support a vibrant culture of research in the Faculty; and to collaborate with leaders across the organization to advance strategic priorities for the University.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced, collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster excellence in teaching and research. The new Dean will possess considerable administrative experience, as well as a record of teaching and research accomplishment consistent to the rank of associate or full professor. A demonstrated ability to fairly balance the demands of a multi-disciplinary Faculty and to capitalize on opportunities for collaboration within the Faculty and across the University is critical for success in the role.

Athabasca University develops and maintains an environment that supports equitable working conditions for individuals traditionally unrepresented in universities. AU is committed to employment equity, encouraging applications from women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

This is an exciting opportunity to serve in a leadership role at Canada’s foremost open and online university. To learn more, please contact The Geldart Group at 587.534.2220. To apply, please share a letter of introduction, an up-to-date CV and the names of three referees, in confidence, to info@thegeldartgroup.com.