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Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty

Employer
Graceland University
Location
Lamoni, Iowa (US) /Independence Missouri (US)
Salary
Competitive and commensurate with the experience level and personal characteristics.
Date posted
Dec 16, 2024
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Graceland University invites nominations and applications for adynamic and inspiring academic professional to fill the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. The university seeks an enthusiastic, experienced, and entrepreneurial leader who will be key to building and shaping an increasingly exceptional academic program – one that will include both new and revised programs and will appeal to both traditional and non-traditional students.

 

The new Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and Dean of Faculty will engage with Graceland President Dr. Joel Shrock, a deeply committed faculty, an experienced administrative team, and an active, engaged board of trustees. Together these groups will continue to develop and implement an innovative and strategic academic program that builds upon its rich history and leads to the development of graduates prepared for success and fulfillment. The VPAA/Dean of Faculty serves as the chief academic officer of the university and is responsible for advancing the university’s educational mission and the evolving academic program. In fulfilling this role, this leader functions as the leader of and advocate for the academic programs and the faculty, a member of the Executive Council and the chief liaison to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees. The VPAA/Dean of Faculty oversees the work of the academic units, as well as administrative offices including the registrar, library, instructional design, and academic support areas.

 

BLUE, GOLD & BOLD

 

In the midst of the global pandemic, Graceland launched a major strategic initiative to revolutionize the classroom experience on its campuses. The successful candidate for the VPAA/Dean of Faculty will work alongside Graceland’s deans and faculty members to refine an academic model that prepares students for a dynamic world. 

 

The revolutionizing of the classroom began with the creation of Graceland’s unique second major for all students –Transformational Leadership, a combination of the traditional liberal arts with strategic skills aimed at ensuring that students are prepared for their careers. The successful candidate will have experience in participating and leading initiatives that transform the academic experience from general education to disciplinary majors at a liberal arts institution. The new VPAA/Dean of Faculty must be an entrepreneur, an enabler, and an encouraging leader, allowing the university to accommodate changes efficiently and effectively.

 

The successful candidate for the VPAA/Dean of Faculty will be the one whose education, experience and accomplishments have prepared them to address these leadership opportunities and one who can be identified by the following attributes of leadership and personal abilities: a mission centered leader; a track record of increasing responsibility and accomplishment; a broadly prepared and experienced academic; an entrepreneurial thinker; a gifted communicator; a “student” of higher education; displays professional courage; an effective decision maker; a principled and trusted colleague; a person of intercultural competence; and a seasoned diplomat.

 

  • Courageous leadership and collaborative skills, ready to empower all levels of leadership among both staff and faculty
  • Sound fiscal management and data-based decision-making; prepared to oversee program development, budgets, and facilities of all support units
  • An entrepreneurial spirit, enthusiastically ready to visualize, operationalize, and lead change
  • Strong desire to establish and maintain effective relationships with the community, faculty, students, staff, and Board of Trustees
  • Will enthusiastically represent the University at public events as the senior academic leader and also in the absence of the President
  • Maintaining and enhancing the academic standards of Graceland University
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a personal communicator
  • Embracing of emerging technologies and their effective application to enhance student learning Understanding of contemporary issues in higher education; fostering the development of new teaching methods

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Doctoral degree in an academic area of specialization, or in business or education  
  • Ten years of higher education experience with a minimum of five years as an academic administrator
  • Experience involving professional, graduate, and undergraduate programs
  • Academic credentials consistent with the rank of professor
  • A distinguished record of teaching, scholarly publications, and accomplishments demonstrating commitment to academic excellence
  • Experience in strategic planning, program assessment, and development of policy to enhance academics within the university and with accrediting bodies
  • Demonstrated success in shaping and developing faculty and creating collaborative relationships across all academic disciplines.

COMPENSATION

Compensation will be competitive and commensurate with the experience level, credentials, and characteristics of the candidate. An outstanding benefits package will be included as part of a complete compensation package.

 

ACADEMICS

The rich liberal arts foundation of Graceland University informs its academic mission. Graceland University has an outstanding academic reputation with top recognition for innovative programming from the American Council on Education. The School of Nursing online master’s program has been rated among the top 10 nationally.

 

ONE UNIVERSITY, TWO CAMPUSES

 

The VPAA/Dean of Faculty will work closely with President Schrock, as a team-oriented member of the Executive Council, in leading and managing the university and, in this context, will serve as a representative and spokesperson for the various colleges. The university also expects a leader who will be active and visible on both campuses, engaging in conversations, visiting classes, and attending events. They will be expected to guide, encourage, motivate, and celebrate accomplishments in all areas of the university.

 

The VPAA/Dean of Faculty will play an especially important role in outreach, marketing, and student recruitment efforts; in representing and speaking on behalf of the university; and inbuilding relationships with schools, businesses, agencies, and communities to advance the educational impact of Graceland.

 

The Lamoni, Iowa, residential campus encompasses a beautiful living and learning environment of 170 acres and 28 buildings. It is a striking blend of attractive, architecturally interesting buildings, a picturesque lake, and expansive athletic and recreational fields. Resch Science and Technology Hall, Shaw Center for the Performing Arts and The Helene Center for the Visual Arts are among the finest facilities of their kind.

 

The Independence, Missouri, commuter campus, located in the hometown of Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, is just a few minutes west of the historic Independence Square. The campus sits on nine beautifully landscaped acres with a modern three-story building featuring a 275-seat auditorium, spacious atrium classrooms, skills labs and an award-winning health services library. The campus is conveniently accessible from almost any point in the Kansas City metro area.

 

UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP

 

Dr. Joel D. Shrock is the 19th President of Graceland University. He began at Graceland in 2022 as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Graceland University, serving for two years, then as Interim President for a short period until the Graceland Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint him to lead the University forward into a new era.

 

Shrock brings three decades of higher education experience to Graceland. He served as Provost and Dean of the School of Humanities and Behavioral Science at Anderson University, Indiana. In 2017, he was chosen for and completed the Council for Independent College’s Senior Leadership Academy. Shrock was a full-time faculty member for 17 years and holds the rank of Emeriti Professor of History from Anderson University.

 

Shrock chose Graceland because of its diversity and the values that match his own. “This university is a bulwark against ignorance, isolationism, jingoism, and parochialism,” Shrock said when announced as President. “Graceland promotes knowledge and understanding, the interconnectedness of humanity, and broad-mindedness. It asks us, ‘What do we owe our neighbors? How can we support each other?’ It is not about narrow self-interest.”

 

Shrock earned his PhD in 1996 from Miami University in United States History with fields in cultural, gender, and world history. In 2009, he earned a position in the Malone Fellows Program to study Middle Eastern culture, politics, and history in Oman and the United Arab Emirates. He has published various articles and the book The Gilded Age: American Popular Culture Through History on the evolution of American culture near the end of the 20th century, which marked the beginnings of modern America.

 

Beyond the Graceland University campuses, Shrock has worked on two Teaching American History Grant Projects, served as a past president of the Indiana Association of Historians, and is a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission. Shrock was born and grew up outside of Albion, Ind., near Skinner Lake. He spent many days helping out on his grandparents’ farm, and his connection to nature carries over to his hobbies: he enjoys canoeing, hiking and fishing, but also sitting down with a good book or movie. He and his wife, Kelly Kirby Shrock, have three sons – Owen, JD, and Brenton –and a canine companion named Pongo.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

 

CBIZ EFL Associates (https://eflassociates.cbiz.com), an executive search firm, is assisting Graceland University with its search for this important leadership position. All calls and inquiries should be made through the search firm. Nominations and applications will be held in strict confidence and candidates will remain confidential until the final stage of the search, at which time the express permission of finalists will be obtained before making their candidacy public.

 

KEY DATES

  • Application deadline is February 12, 2025
  • Semifinalist Interviews are scheduled for March 25 and 26, 2025
  • On-campus visit/interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of April 7, 2025
  • Desired start date is July 1, 2025, but it is negotiable

CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRIES: Steve Waldron, JD, Managing Director, Higher Education Practice 816-945-5423 (direct) | swaldron@eflassociates.com

 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS & NOMINATIONS: Edith Ketay, Practice Manager, Higher Education Practice 816-841-4001 (direct) | Edith.Ketay@eflassociates.com

 

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