Dean of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Posting Details

Posting Details

Job #
039521

Department Code
0000000000

Department
Falk College

Job Title
Dean of the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics

Location
Syracuse, NY

Pay Range
Commensurate with Experience

Staff Level
00

FLSA Status
Exempt

Hours

Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)

Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type
Full-time

Campus
Syracuse, NY

Unionized Position Code
Not Applicable

Job Description

Falk College offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in health and exercise science, food studies, human development and family science, marriage and family therapy, nutrition science, public health, social work, sport analytics, sport management, and sport venue and event management. These offerings include three doctoral programs. Falk’s mission is to provide instructional and research excellence and leadership in its fields of study through scholarship, practice, civic engagement, advocacy, and entrepreneurial endeavors to promote the health, performance, and well-being of individuals of all ages, their families, and their communities within the framework of social justice principles and the highest standards of professional competence. Falk College’s signature theory-to-practice academic model includes intensive hands-on and experiential learning. As the chief academic and executive leader of the college, the dean is expected to provide the collaborative leadership and vision that unify and define its direction, advance its excellence and impact in research and interdisciplinary endeavors, foster vibrant undergraduate and graduate educational programs and opportunities, prioritize strategic investments, and improve operational efficiencies. The dean is also expected to serve as a strong and valued partner to the deans of Syracuse University’s other schools and colleges, as well as to the vice chancellor, provost, and chief academic officer, to whom the dean reports.

The new dean should be a strategic, inspiring, dynamic, and visionary leader with strong constituent management skills and the administrative experience appropriate in scope to enhance Falk College’s research and public engagement contributions. Candidates should show evidence of an ability to create cohesiveness and synergies among diverse disciplines, foster academic and research excellence, mentor faculty and staff, unify and build the college’s capacity and core identity, support innovation and expansion, and focus the college’s efforts and initiatives. The successful candidate will possess a vitae with experience and accomplishments in education and scholarship; demonstrated success in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; a record of achievement in collaborative leadership and institutional change; and administrative experience within a complex environment. The scholarly credentials to be appointed at the level of full professor with tenure in one of the college’s disciplines or interdisciplinary fields is strongly preferred, though all candidates with significant professional achievements and involvement with higher education will be considered.

The dean is the academic and executive leader of the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics (Falk College), responsible for the quality, coordination, and conduct of all of the college’s research and educational programs. Deans play a vitally important role at Syracuse University and are expected to work with the faculty and university leadership to develop, articulate, and implement a vision for the future direction of the educational, research, and outreach programs of their school or college and – together with the deans of the other 12 schools and colleges – for the university. The dean’s primary role is to ensure that Falk College provides a rich environment that promotes excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, professional practice, and faculty scholarship. The dean has overall responsibility for defining the college’s strategic priorities, developed in concert with its faculty; recruiting and retaining a diverse, high-quality faculty; advancing educational, research, creative, and outreach programs of the highest quality; attracting a diverse and committed student body; facilitating links between theory, research, and professional application; forging curricular and research connections with other schools and departments across the university; recruiting, developing, and retaining a talented and diverse staff; securing and managing the resources needed to implement the college’s strategic vision; and maintaining productive relationships with alumni, trustees, donors, and community partners, as well as with local, national, and global academic and professional communities. The dean is responsible for aligning the college’s plans with university objectives in a cross-campus culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging; shared governance; and the centrality of the student experience. The college is supported by a strong leadership team that includes associate deans responsible for academic affairs, student services, and research and an assistant dean responsible for advancement.

Syracuse University has retained WittKieffer, a national and global executive search firm, to assist in this search. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, are invited. Application review has begun and will continue until the position has been filled. Candidates are urged to submit their materials as soon as possible, using https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Robin Mamlet, Sandra Chu, and Luis Bertot at
FalkCollegeDean@wittkieffer.com.

# HEJ

Qualifications

*

Job Specific Qualifications

• Strategic, dynamic vision and commitment to mission.
• Inspirational leader
• Demonstrated management and administrative skills
• Collaborative, transparent leadership style
• Strong relational skills:
• Exemplary communication skills
• Demonstrated fiscal acumen and experience
• Credentials that draw the respect of the Falk faculty, staff, and students

Responsibilities

The dean reports directly to Gretchen Ritter, vice chancellor, provost, and chief academic officer, and is an integral and vital part of her leadership team. The new dean will have the opportunity to continue to elevate the college’s research agenda and strengthen the synthesis of its departments and collective identity while building in-person and online programs and student enrollment, backed by best in class resources. Priorities for the new dean, listed here in no particular order, include:

Provide inspirational leadership:

• With new university academic leadership, a new academic strategic plan, and other significant changes including but not limited to the global COVID -19 pandemic and a period of increased racial reckoning and social justice, the new dean will join Falk at a significant moment. Effectively responding to these transformations and to the multiple opportunities of this moment will require visionary, inspirational, and dynamic leadership from the next dean. While these changes raise complex questions for all of higher education, they also create exciting opportunities for the next dean of Falk College to help shape and enact a college-wide vision that is aspirational, broad, and contemporary, and advances a compelling and timely mission that upholds and extends the values of the college.

Stimulate research:

• As the academic leader of the college, the dean will encourage a culture, implement policies, and prioritize resources and incentives that advance research. The dean will work to cement the college’s position as a leader in sport management and in promoting the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and organizations, enriching an entrepreneurial ecology within which the college’s research activities flourish, and strengthening doctoral training programs where appropriate, reflecting the goals and expectations of an R1 institution. To do so, the dean will catalyze enhanced research productivity, particularly scholarly publications in premier research outlets, government-funded research, and research supported by private, external funding. Specific areas of opportunity for extramural funding include exercise science, public health, nutrition and food studies, social work, and human development. As well, there is great potential to grow private funding to support both academic programming and research in sport management, as well as in the soon-to-be-launched Esports Communications and Management program. The dean will also examine possibilities for elevating the college’s Ph.D. programs and will bring forward opportunities for new sources of public, foundation, and industry research support and collaborations in the college, across the university broadly, and beyond.

Continue to elevate excellence in teaching:

• Falk College’s reputation for outstanding teaching and learning is justly earned. Falk College faculty maintain academic programs that meet and exceed professional accreditation standards. Faculty members routinely invest in their students, serving as both teachers and mentors. The new dean will ensure the college’s strong commitment to excellence in teaching continues to advance by increasing investments in professional development in teaching and in rewarding this existing area of strength.

Develop and articulate a unifying college narrative and identity:

• The Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics is home to a heterogeneous collection of disciplines that come together in a college that promotes the health, performance, and well-being of society inside the framework of social justice principles and professional expertise. The dean has the opportunity, through new perspectives and the consideration of the evolving needs and interests of students and faculty, to develop a unifying vision and compelling narrative that will help propel Falk to further excellence. The dean will collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to integrate the rich history of human ecology that formed the college, current and emerging areas of distinction, and outstanding faculty to articulate a vision for the college.

Identify and execute opportunities to develop new programs and increase enrollment:

• As global innovation and change, including increased prioritization of online graduate education, reveal new fields of study and societal needs, the dean will be responsible for identifying key opportunities to strengthen existing programs and develop new ones. The dean will also look at in-person, low-residency, and online modalities for enrollment growth as well as creative, collaborative, and interdisciplinary curricular development. The new dean will also work in partnership with the dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to launch a new interdisciplinary major in Esports Communications and Management in fall 2023.

Prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging as a through-line for the college:

• The new dean must have a strong commitment and proven track record in prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging in all Falk College offerings, systems, and structures. The dean must be able to motivate faculty and staff to advance innovation and progress in the diversity space. With the goal of improving the college’s culture of inclusivity and belonging, the dean will advance diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging, aligning with the university’s overall mission and collaborating across the campus to innovate and drive initiatives forward.

Enhance the student experience and student success:

• By many measures, the Falk student body enjoys an outstanding academic experience, with students taking advantage of the many opportunities offered through the college and the university. At the same time, the new dean will encounter several opportunity areas, including advancing a seamless suite of student supports across both the graduate and undergraduate experience and seeking innovative ways to reach students with new teaching modalities. The dean will prioritize an outstanding and well-integrated college experience that anticipates the needs of today’s student body and will be a visible and enthusiastic participant in college life. The dean will look for opportunities to support curricular innovation that leverages student passions to address the most pressing global issues and enhances student success and will honor and elevate student voices by engaging in authentic and transparent conversations and collaborations.

Finalize and implement an academic strategic plan that creates a forward-thinking culture and climate across the college and within departments:

• Falk College, as part of a university-wide academic strategic planning process (see pp 10-12 of this document), began convening in fall 2022 to envision its collective future and lay the groundwork for a college-level academic strategic plan. This college-level plan is in conversation with and responsive to the broader campus-wide academic strategic planning process, which began in September 2022. The new dean will arrive at an opportune moment to assess the first phase of this work at the college level and to collaborate with faculty to refine the comprehensive plan. The new dean will also lead the implementation of this plan, working with departments to refresh their missions and goals and to identify new opportunities for research, teaching, and academic and public impact across the college.

Assess resource allocation to strategically prioritize and support excellence across all disciplines:

• As part of the planning effort, the dean will work with faculty and others to determine the resource prioritizations that will enable a successful execution of that strategy. The dean will necessarily play a lead role in fundraising for the college, committing significant time to engaging students, parents, alumni, and others in support of strategic priorities. The dean, assisted in these efforts by the college’s advancement officer, must be a compelling and persuasive communicator and relationship builder who understands the exciting work happening across the college and university and who is able to present to potential donors numerous opportunities for philanthropic impact. The dean will also be energetic and creative in pursuing new funding opportunities, as well as programmatic opportunities that lead to enhanced revenues, while also maintaining a disciplined, strategic approach to budgeting and investment in areas of strength.

Work to elevate the existing Department of Sport Management to a School of Sport Management:

• Provost Ritter recently announced plans to convene a task force to explore the establishment of a School of Sport Management within Falk College, thus elevating the current department. Established in 2005, sport management has consistently attracted strong-caliber students and prepared them for careers in the industry while benefiting from interprofessional connections with other Falk programs, including nutrition and health and exercise science. The department is also home to the sport analytics degree, which was one of the first bachelor’s degrees of its kind when it launched in 2017. The creation of a School of Sport Management will allow Falk College to capitalize on the strengths of these programs, which are in high demand among prospective students and have produced a network of highly successful and loyal alumni.

Promote university-wide collaboration:

• The dean will be a champion and motivator of collaboration across the university, building strong relationships with their dean colleagues and other university leaders. The new dean will develop a strong understanding of related disciplines in other colleges in order to capitalize on possible academic and research partnerships and collaborations.

Lend administrative strength, inspiration, and effectiveness:

• The new dean will examine the structures, policies, and systems and evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, and ability to support the college’s emerging goals and aspirations. Where appropriate, the new dean will create, re-vision, reorganize, streamline, and update policies and procedures to support a healthy, transparent governance structure and to form a stronger, more efficient, and more effective administrative division.

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

WittKieffer is assisting Syracuse University in this search. Application review has begun and will continue until the position has been filled. Candidates are urged to submit their materials as soon as possible, using https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Robin Mamlet, Sandra Chu, and Luis Bertot at
FalkCollegeDean@wittkieffer.com.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and nearly 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors and 100 minors offered through 13 schools and colleges; nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit www.syracuse.edu.

About the Syracuse area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community

Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.

Quick Link
https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/98160

Job Posting Date
03/01/2023

Application Deadline

Full Consideration By

Job Category
Staff

Message to Applicants

WittKieffer is assisting Syracuse University in this search. Application review has begun and will continue until the position has been filled. Candidates are urged to submit their materials as soon as possible, using https://candidateportal.wittkieffer.com/login

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Robin Mamlet, Sandra Chu, and Luis Bertot at
FalkCollegeDean@wittkieffer.com.