Dean of the School of the Arts and the School of Humanities

Susquehanna University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of dean of the School of the Arts and the School of Humanities. The new dean will be expected to take office July 1, 2022.

Susquehanna University is a selective, residential, national liberal arts college committed to excellence in educating students for productive, creative, and reflective lives of achievement, leadership, and service in a diverse, dynamic, and interdependent world. Susquehanna’s nearly 2,300 undergraduates come from 30 states and 25 countries, and all students study away through Susquehanna’s unique Global Opportunities program. The 325-acre campus, noted for its beauty, is located in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, 50 miles north of Harrisburg in the scenic Susquehanna River Valley, about a three-hour drive from Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Reporting to the provost and dean of faculty, the dean is responsible for leading the schools comprised of 78 full-time faculty within ten departments: Art and Design, Communications, Education, English and Creative Writing, History, Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Music, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Theatre. In addition, the dean works collaboratively with academic staff and the other deans on university wide matters such as strategic vision, leadership, direction, and planning, for the academic departments and programs. The dean promotes excellence in curricula, teaching and learning, academic advising, scholarship and creative activities, faculty development, and innovation that reflect the realities of contemporary higher education. The dean will hold an administrative appointment with faculty rank and will teach one class per year and advise some students. The dean is a member of the President’s Executive Staff and the University Council.

The candidate must hold an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution in one of the disciplines represented in the Schools and be eligible for tenure and the rank of full professor. The successful candidate will have a record of exemplary undergraduate teaching, significant scholarly and professional accomplishments so as to be considered a senior scholar, and increasing administrative responsibility. The next dean should have a commitment to collaborative models of learning, scholarship, and governance, demonstrated administrative success in higher education, an ability to prioritize institutional goals and approach them with innovation and collaboration with all key constituencies, and an entrepreneurial spirit to problem-solving and fundraising. Experience with change management; superior communication and relationship-building skills; strong team development, strategic planning, and fiscal competencies; and demonstrated respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency will be essential considerations in the selection of the next dean of the school of the arts and the school of humanities.

Susquehanna University has retained Spelman Johnson to assist with this search. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled, but complete applications received by January 25, 2022 will be assured full consideration. A curriculum vitae with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Anne-Marie Kenney at amk@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

Visit the Susquehanna University website at https://www.susqu.edu/

As a living, learning and working community, Susquehanna University affirms its commitment to being an engaged, culturally inclusive campus. As we seek to embody the rich diversity of the human community, we commit ourselves to the full participation of persons who represent the breadth of human difference. The university encourages candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply. Susquehanna University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.