Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education

Leadership Opportunity

Duke University was created in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke as a memorial to his father, Washington Duke. It is considered one of the top research universities in the world and is regularly ranked among the top ten academic institutions in the United States. Duke University’s campus in Durham, North Carolina, encompasses nearly 9,000 acres and is home to 6,500 undergraduates, over 9,000 graduate students, and more than 1,600 tenured and tenure-track faculty. The Duke University Hospital is considered one of the best hospitals in the country.

The hallmark of graduate education at Duke is a rich blend of deep, specialized knowledge in a field of study, intersecting with the frontiers of other fields. Multidisciplinary approaches are considered key to discovery and the production of knowledge. Collaborative research and study groups of faculty and graduate students coalesce around problems and themes in many university settings that extend beyond the boundaries of individual departments and programs.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean of the Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education (“Dean”) is the chief academic and administrative officer of the faculty of the Graduate School and reports to the Provost. The faculty of the Graduate School include all faculty involved with non-professional programs leading to the Ph.D., the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, and any other degrees as may be authorized by the Board of Trustees. These Ph.D. and Masters programs involve faculty with primary appointments in the following schools: Arts and Sciences, Sanford School of Public Policy, Pratt School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, the Fuqua School of Business, Divinity School, and the Nicholas School of the Environment. These faculty carry out the instruction and supervision of students in these graduate programs under guidelines set by the Graduate School.

Individuals with various experiences and backgrounds will be considered, although ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience and success in the following areas:

• The Graduate School Dean will be a distinguished scholar tenurable at the rank of full Professor at Duke University, with demonstrated administrative experience and leadership talent. The ideal candidate will have a background working in a complex academic environment, will provide innovative, and intellectual leadership for graduate education. Dedication to excellence in graduate education, teaching, and research at both master’s and Ph.D. levels.
• Proven administrative skills in a complex institution, ideally with a medical school.
• Experience with interdisciplinary initiatives and programs.
• Demonstrated track record advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Success with building collaborative initiatives.
• Ability to attract resources through individual and foundation support.

The Search Process

Duke University has retained Spencer Stuart to support this national search. If you wish to submit your own application materials or nominate someone to serve as the next Dean of the Graduate School, please send an e-mail message with supporting materials to DukeTGSDean@SpencerStuart.com.

Duke University prohibits discrimination and harassment and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Duke is committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.

Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Duke prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any of its educational programs or activities. For more information, please visit https://hr.duke.edu/policies/diversity/