Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

The University at Buffalo (UB) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). A member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the flagship and the largest and most comprehensive public research university in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, UB is an internationally renowned center for academic excellence. The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most diverse academic unit on campus, delivering the majority of UB’s undergraduate credit hours and graduating approximately one-third of UB’s doctoral students per year. CAS boasts world-class faculty, outstanding students, and a rich history of excellence and innovation in the arts and humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, and social sciences.

Established in 1913, CAS has a mission to be a leader in research, scholarship, and creative activities in the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences; to provide excellent programs of undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and sciences; and to engage the larger community through scholarly activities.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest and most diverse academic unit at the University at Buffalo, with 30 departments, 16 academic programs, and 23 centers and institutes. CAS provides cultural exhibitions, performances, and educational programs for UB and the Western New York community through its numerous cultural institutions. In total, the college employs 931 faculty and 348 dedicated staff. CAS’s 450 tenured and tenure-track faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized for their outstanding teaching and research.

The academic heart of the university, the college delivers approximately 20,000 graduate credit hours and 330,000 undergraduate credit hours each year. College instruction represents nearly 60% of all undergraduate credit hours at UB and accounts for more than 8,500 undergraduate majors and graduate students. 85% of CAS classes have fewer than 50 students, and 73% have fewer than 30. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio in CAS is 8:1. CAS annually awards the highest number of doctoral degrees at the university.

The dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is a member of the university’s senior leadership team, working with the university’s president, provost, other deans and senior leaders to advance the university’s mission of excellence and impact in research, teaching, and engagement. As the chief academic and administrative officer of the college, the dean reports to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and is responsible for providing overall leadership of the college to promote academic excellence, foster an inclusive environment, and advance its national and international prominence in research, education, and engagement activities.

UB seeks an accomplished scholar, educator, visionary leader, and creative problem solver with a strong commitment to liberal arts education and research and the ability to advocate across the arts, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and social sciences. The ideal candidate will be an individual of integrity, an intellectual driver, a champion for student learning and achievement, an advocate for a diverse faculty and student body, a facilitator of interdisciplinary work within the college and across the university, an energetic and engaged partner in building and enhancing relationships with the college’s many constituents and the larger community, and a skilled administrator.

The dean should have substantial experience in a distinguished academic or comparable setting and the ability to formulate and articulate a shared vision across disciplines for the college, persuade a wide range of audiences of its value, and engage stakeholders in its implementation. The dean will have significant academic credentials, including a record of distinguished research, scholarly and/or creative accomplishment and excellence in teaching and service appropriate to an appointment at the rank of full professor in the arts, humanities, sciences, mathematics or social sciences at a research university.

Interested individuals should provide an electronic version of their curriculum vitae (Microsoft Word or PDF is strongly preferred). A letter describing interest in, and qualifications for, the position is recommended, but not required. All inquiries, nominations, and applications should be sent to:

Joi Hayes-Scott and Jett Pihakis

Consultants to the Search Committee

Russell Reynolds Associates

UB.CAS@russellreynolds.com

To ensure full consideration, materials should be received as soon as possible but preferably no later than November 4. Review of nominations and applications for the position will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. To assure sensitivity toward the positions presently held by nominees and applicants, the search will be conducted in strict confidence until finalists participate in campus visits. References will not be contacted without the prior knowledge and approval of the candidates.

Please see the full position profile here. Additional information about UB’s College of Arts and Sciences can be found at https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/ or at the search website: https://www.buffalo.edu/leadership-searches/current-searches/college-of-arts-and-sciences-dean-2024.html.