Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences

Lesley University – Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences

Lesley University, renowned as a leading educator of teachers and counselors in New England, invites applications and nominations for a creative, innovative, and accomplished administrative leader to serve as its next dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences (GSASS). 

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the most dynamic learning environments in the country — Lesley uniquely focuses on the human arts, with programs that live at the intersection of education, counseling, and the visual arts. Lesley’s 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students study across four schools and colleges — a professionally-focused liberal arts college, an independent college of art and design, a graduate school of education, and a graduate school of social sciences — as well as in the Threshold Program, a residential program for students with a variety of learning differences. Its offerings include more than 20 undergraduate majors and over 90 Adult Bachelor’s, Master’s, Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study, and Ph.D. programs at its Cambridge campus, as well as off-campus and online. The Lesley Center for the Adult Learner offers an adult bachelor’s degree program, including on and off-campus courses as well as online and hybrid courses targeted toward adult learners. The Graduate School of Education has earned a reputation as New England’s most respected provider of teacher preparation programs.

Lesley educates the people — the teachers, counselors, therapists, social workers, artists, policy makers, writers, and business leaders — who practice these arts, and act as catalysts for a more connected and just world.

The Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences’ programs prepare students to bring bold new thinking to their fields. At GSASS, students join activists, writers, and practitioners who are taking risks and preparing for the future. An innovator in the study of mental health counseling, expressive therapies, including art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, expressive arts therapy, and mindfulness, GSASS is driven by faculty and students whose interests and career goals cross academic boundaries. More information about the school and university may be found at www.lesley.edu.

The successful candidate will be a distinguished academic, by preference at the level of full professor, though non-traditional candidates with outstanding records of professional experience may also be considered; an earned terminal degree in one of the disciplines within the school or an affiliated field is preferred. The dean will be a seasoned and strategic leader with a significant record of academic, professional, and administrative accomplishments, including demonstrated experience in leadership and evaluation of faculty, academic program development and evaluation, budget planning, and operational proficiency. Knowledge of pertinent state and national professional licensure/certification requirements and processes will be an asset. 

Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 21, 2022, submitted through WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Lucy Leske, Sarah T. Miller, or Natalie Song at LesleyDeanGSASS@wittkieffer.com.

At Lesley University we strive for a supportive and equitable environment where people — regardless of race, physical ability, age, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected personal identities — can participate equally and fully as their true selves in all aspects of university life. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of our institution.