Working/Functional Title
Dean - College of Natural Science
Position Summary
Michigan State University seeks a dynamic and forward-thinking leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Natural Science (NatSci). The Dean should embrace collaboration, inclusivity, and innovation, while fostering a nimble environment. As the chief executive officer of the College, the Dean will spearhead academic and operational planning, enhance the College’s national and international scholarly reputation, and advocate for all disciplines within the College community while working to secure the resources required to fulfill the College’s strategic goals.
The College of Natural Science (NatSci) is home to 27 departments and programs in the biological, physical and mathematical sciences. The college averages $83M in research expenditures annually while providing world-class educational opportunities to more than 6,000 undergraduate majors and 1,200 graduate and postdoctoral scholars. There are 800+ faculty and academic staff associated with NatSci and more than 63,000 living alums worldwide. NatSci is committed to creating a collaborative and supportive environment in which differences are valued and all members of the NatSci community are empowered to grow and succeed. The vast diversity of disciplines housed within NatSci fosters a rich array of interdisciplinary research, educational partnerships, and collaborative programs that span the University. The College aspires to improve inclusion, enhance the undergraduate experience, strengthen graduate student success, grow research excellence, and cultivate community relationships.
NatSci is committed to creating a collaborative and supportive environment in which differences are valued and all members of the NatSci community are empowered to grow and succeed. The vast diversity of disciplines housed within NatSci fosters a rich array of interdisciplinary research, educational partnerships, and collaborative programs that span the University. The College aspires to improve inclusion, enhance the undergraduate experience, strengthen graduate student success, grow research excellence, and cultivate community relationships.
The Dean of the College of Natural Science is responsible to the Provost and the President for the general administration of the College and will provide vision and direction, lead the College’s academic mission, and head its development activities to ensure sufficient resources for furthering its priorities and strategic plan. The dean serves at the pleasure of the provost for a renewable five-year term, during which they will be a visionary leader with high academic standards and steadfast dedication to inclusive diversity.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate
Minimum Requirements
- A doctorate relevant to a discipline or field with the college of natural science
- A record of scholarship and achievement worthy of designation as a Full Professor in a NatSci department at Michigan State University
- Significant administrative experience within a research-intensive or similarly complex higher education environment
- Experience with strategic visioning, planning and implementation
- Experience in fundraising and active involvement in relationship building
- Evidence of building an inclusive culture of collaboration with groups of varied disciplinary backgrounds and experience
Desired Qualifications
While no one person will possess them all, the successful candidate will demonstrate many of the following experiences and skills:
- Intellectual and academic leadership; evidence of distinguished teaching and scholarship; commitment to academic excellence; passion for students, research, and service; dedication to the mission and vision of MSU and the College of Natural Science
- Ability to build a shared vision for NatSci through bold, inclusive, and collaborative leadership that engages all stakeholders in a shared commitment to the lasting success of the College
- Champion the natural sciences and all NatSci constituent disciplines across campus and beyond via purposeful and proactive engagement with University administrators, local and state government officials, donors, alums, and mediaSup
- port the recruitment, professional development, and retention of faculty and staff who support the University’s research and educational missions
- Advance a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Sustain and enhance excellence and innovation in the College’s teaching and student support programming
- Engage transparently with NatSci students and student governance to increase awareness and understanding of College priorities and to align aspirations for curricula, pedagogy, the student experience, and the culture of the College
- Establish strong consultative and collaborative relationships with Department Chairs and Center/Institute Directors, as well as with leaders across campus
- Support and facilitate interdisciplinary initiatives with other colleges and schools within the University
- Listen to the valuable perspective of staff and provide exemplary support for the well-being and professional advancement of all College employees
- Enhance the financial resources of the College through development activities
- Build external partnerships with industry and philanthropic foundations
- Address the capital needs and advance facility renewal across the College
Required Application Materials
Interested candidates should submit in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred) a curriculum vitae and letter of interest addressed to the search committee. Materials should represent qualifications relative to the opportunities and challenges described in this document, inclusive of a statement detailing how your past and future work will contribute to advancing MSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence. Please also include a statement addressing how past and /or potential contributions to diversity and inclusion will advance MSU’s commitment to inclusive excellence.
Special Instructions
Opus Partners is assisting the University with this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited, especially from those with a demonstrated understanding of the challenges faced by members of underrepresented and/or marginalized groups in STEM and the visible and invisible institutional structures needed to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in educational settings.
Please send application materials to the Opus consultants leading the engagement – MSUNatSciDean@opuspartners.net Craig Smith, Partner, Kenna Boyd, Associate Partner, and Marisea Rivera, Senior Associate
Review of Applications Begins On
04/22/2024
Website
https://natsci.msu.edu/_assets/files/about/NatSci%20Dean%20Search%20Profile%20Document_Feb%202024_FINAL.pdf
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
