Search for Dean of the Division of Liberal Arts

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), a nationally recognized arts conservatory, seeks a forward-looking champion and connector to serve as the next dean of the Division of Liberal Arts (DLA or “the Division”). Reporting to the Provost, the next dean will have the opportunity to lead a division integral to the mission of the University. UNCSA seeks a dean who will serve as an unwavering advocate for a culturally relevant, transdisciplinary, and interdisciplinary liberal arts education within an institution dedicated to professional artistic training programs. This next dean will craft a shared vision for DLA and will leverage the support from university leadership and the talented, dedicated, and diverse DLA faculty and staff, at an institutional moment with significant forward momentum.

The DLA provides students with a centralized place on campus to link their art to their understanding of the world. Consequently, this dean must promote and champion the value, place, and contributions of the Division to ensure that it can successfully impact the learning outcomes and artistic endeavors of all undergraduate students at UNCSA, as artists, performers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. With equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) efforts as a cornerstone of UNCSA’s 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, it is also a principle throughout the Division’s educational pedagogy, curriculum, and programming, making DLA one of the campus’ most ardent EDIB advocates. Other strategic priorities include health and wellness, interdisciplinary work in the arts, maintaining and expanding industry relevance, and institutional sustainability.

The DLA seeks an accomplished interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary academic leader with their own artistic practice and/or with a significant passion and appreciation for art and a conservatory arts education. This next dean will bring creativity, innovation, and change management to DLA as it defines its next institutional chapter. This leader will bring curricular and pedagogical expertise and will also serve as a community builder, serving as an engaged, synergistic, and visible leader, who will garner institutional buy-in for the division’s vision, both within the division and across the five schools. The dean will be inspirational, approachable, transparent, and have a facilitative leadership style. They must also have a track record of establishing mutually beneficial partnerships, working across divisions and/or programs, building consensus, supporting successful change management, and moving decisions forward. The ideal candidate will also have demonstrated success implementing EDIB principles into all facets of the work.

UNCSA has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. All inquiries, nominations, and applications with letters of interest should be submitted in confidence to:

Rebecca Swartz, Partner
Kristen Andersen, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller

Apply or Nominate

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts strives to cultivate an environment that is diverse, inclusive and free from discrimination. UNCSA is committed to prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, National Guard or Veteran status, genetic information, or a disability.

UNCSA also is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, and publishes an annual security and fire safety report (PDF).

Thank you for your interest in UNCSA and our job opportunities.

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