Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences

Dean of The College of Arts and Sciences College of Arts and Sciences Position Profile Adelphi University invites nominations and applications for the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The university seeks a strategic, collaborative, and intellectually engaged leader to guide the College at a pivotal moment for higher education. Reporting to the provost, the dean provides strategic vision and administrative leadership for the College, working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and university leadership through established structures of shared governance. The dean oversees more than 20 departments and chairs, curriculum development (including General Education), faculty recruitment, mentoring, annual review, course planning, and student retention. In collaboration with University Advancement and External Relations, the dean enhances the College’s external profile, advances fundraising initiatives, and fosters external relations. Working with academic leaders across Adelphi’s professional schools, the dean champions interdisciplinary initiatives, oversees assessment and accreditation, manages the budget, and supervises staff. Leadership Priorities The next dean of the College will have the charge to make a significant and lasting impact on the College’s future. Specific priorities for the next dean of the College include, but are not limited to: Champion a Liberal Arts Education and Disciplinary Pluralism – As the leader of the College, the dean will be expected to understand, advocate for, and champion the liberal arts and disciplinary pluralism across all departments. The dean will support the mission of the College to provide Adelphi students with an immersion in the liberal arts that will enrich their personal lives, help them build fulfilling careers, and enable them to meet the demands of citizenship in a dynamic world. Create a Collaborative Vision for the College – The dean will work with faculty, students, staff and other administrators to align the vision for the College with a new strategic plan under president Michael A.L. Balboni. The dean, through listening and meaningful engagement with the constituencies of the College, will help set a path forward that ensures academic quality through a strong stewardship of the College’s programs, resources and space, including streamlining administrative processes. The dean will also help position the College to respond creatively to changing enrollment patterns, emerging technologies, and evolving educational and workforce needs while preserving the intellectual breadth and rigor of a liberal arts education. Enhance Academic Research and Creative Activity – Guided by the teacher-scholar model, the dean will actively cultivate an environment and climate conducive to faculty academic research, scholarship, and artistic expression. Recognizing that faculty who integrate their scholarly research and creative work into their teaching inspire student curiosity and learning, the dean will support faculty in mentoring student research and creative projects. The dean will champion resources, opportunities, and streamlined administrative support that nurture artistic endeavors and creative production alongside rigorous scholarly inquiry. Strengthen and Sustain Interdisciplinary and Graduate Education – The dean will support existing graduate and interdisciplinary programs, ensuring they are sustainably resourced and supported with appropriate administrative infrastructure. Guided by responsible stewardship and alignment with available financial and faculty resources, the dean will foster collaboration across departments and schools and thoughtfully evaluate new program opportunities that enhance the College’s academic distinction. Increase the College’s External Profile and Philanthropic Support – The dean will serve as an articulate external advocate for the mission and work of the College to raise its profile regionally and nationally. Working closely with Advancement, the dean will seek external funding by cultivating relationships with foundations, corporations, alumni, and donors who support the vision and initiatives of the College. Celebrate the Student-Centered Ethos and Support Constituencies – Adelphi is distinguished for its focus on the individual student. The University provides a wealth of support and service to ensure student success. The dean will champion student success and innovation, supporting faculty in expanding undergraduate research and other high-impact educational practices. Recognizing the centrality of faculty and staff roles in student learning, the dean will allocate available resources to ensure their lasting engagement and achievement. Candidate Desired Qualities and Qualifications The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences will be an inspiring, forward-thinking leader who champions the enduring value of the liberal arts and sciences, positioning the College as a premier destination of choice for students, scholars, and creators. Candidates must possess a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and service that warrants appointment as a full professor with tenure in the College of Arts and Sciences at Adelphi University. While no single candidate will embody every attribute, the ideal candidate will demonstrate many of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics: Academic Leadership and Strategic Vision Visionary Leadership: The vision, energy, presence, and strategic acumen to lead the College into its next chapter of growth, championing academic freedom, intellectual inquiry, and the vital relevance of the liberal arts in contemporary society. Senior Administrative Track Record: A record of success in senior-level leadership roles in complex academic environments, with the capacity to steward a multifaceted college offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. Transformative Execution: A demonstrated record of translating innovative ideas into sustainable institutional change, setting ambitious and attainable priorities, and galvanizing faculty, staff, and students around shared goals. Diplomacy and Bridge-Building: An open, creative, and non-territorial approach to problem-solving, marked by diplomatic skill, intellectual generosity, and the ability to forge interdisciplinary synergies across campus and with external communities. Compelling Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the capacity to articulate the distinctiveness and excellence of the College to internal and external audiences, building broad trust through empathy, active listening, and respect for diverse viewpoints. Support for Educational Access and Institutional Mission: A track record of supporting equal opportunity and academic access, demonstrated through effective student mentorship, fair and objective committee participation, and collaborative initiatives that promote student retention and campus wellbeing. Scholarly Stature and Curricular Acumen Understanding of the Liberal Arts Landscape: A nuanced grasp of the evolving national trends and public perceptions surrounding liberal arts education, paired with the ability to advocate compellingly for its foundational role in career readiness, civic life, and critical thought. Scholarly and Pedagogical Excellence: A personal record of active scholarship, research, or creative accomplishment, alongside a deep, demonstrable commitment to high-quality classroom teaching and student mentorship. Interdisciplinary Appreciation: Intellectual curiosity and broad scholarly appreciation spanning the humanities, fine and performing arts, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences, coupled with an informed understanding of the specialized resources needed to support dynamic teaching and research across diverse disciplines. Curricular Quality and Accreditation: Substantial knowledge of academic program evaluation, learning outcome assessment, curriculum innovation, and regional or specialized accreditation processes. Student-Centered Focus: An unwavering commitment to holistic student success, retention, and graduation across both undergraduate and graduate populations, ensuring robust academic pathways, high-impact learning opportunities, and career-connected experiences. Fiscal Stewardship, Management, and Shared Governance Sophisticated Fiscal Stewardship: Demonstrated acumen in managing complex fiscal operations, building transparent budget models, and aligning financial resources directly with academic mission, programmatic priorities, and long-term institutional health. Faculty and Staff Development: Keen judgment in recruiting, developing, and retaining high-caliber faculty and staff; an empowering, accessible management style that sets high standards, delegates authority effectively, and celebrates collective achievement. Labor Relations and Shared Governance: A demonstrated commitment to transparency, meaningful faculty participation in shared governance, and constructive labor relations, including the ability to work effectively within a collective bargaining environment while exercising appropriate administrative responsibility. Managerial Courage and Integrity: The ethical resolve and emotional intelligence to confront difficult institutional decisions, navigate conflict constructively, and lead with integrity, fairness, and accountability. Partnership and Philanthropy: Demonstrated success or clear capacity to cultivate external relationships with alumni, donors, foundations, and industry partners, serving as an energetic, persuasive, and strategic fundraiser for the College. The successful candidate will lead with an authentic sense of humanity, accessibility, and humility, demonstrating a profound respect for every member of the Adelphi community and a willingness to engage differing perspectives to build a collaborative, forward-looking academic home. Information for Candidates This position is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2027. In compliance with New York’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $245,000 to $305,000. Adelphi University considers factors such as departmental budgets, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. An annual base salary higher than the range may be warranted in circumstances where a candidate has demonstrable equivalent prior higher education experience at another University. Adelphi University provides a comprehensive benefit package for faculty and staff employees. For a list of benefits provided to employees, please click here . For best consideration, please send all nominations, inquiries and applications in confidence electronically on or before January 8, 2027, to: AdelphiDeanCAS@adelphi.edu.