Dean of the School of Communications

Company: Quinnipiac University
Location: Hamden
Posted on: November 16, 2023

Job Description:

Overview:

Quinnipiac University seeks nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Dean of the School of Communications (SoC). Reporting directly to the Provost, the Dean of the SoC serves as the leader of the school and collaborates closely with department chairs, graduate program directors, faculty, and staff to develop and propel the school's mission. The dean also serves alongside eight other deans and the provost on the Deans Council and with senior administrators on the university's Leadership Council. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic and visionary individual to join a vibrant and well-respected school of communications within a nationally ranked and comprehensive university. The role also offers a chance to contribute significantly to the overarching transformation of the institution, as it embarks on an exciting trajectory and reaches its centennial anniversary. The new dean will be an inspirational leader, fostering a sense of community while adeptly balancing the diverse needs of students, faculty, staff, and administration. As a key representative of the school, both within the university and to the broader external community, we are seeking a dean with a collaborative spirit, someone who excels as a visionary bridge builder and who is poised to transform opportunities into actionable initiatives, fostering connections among departments, schools, and other academic units. Ideal candidates should possess a terminal degree relevant to a discipline or field within the SoC and a record of teaching and scholarship to warrant appointment as a tenured professor.

Opportunity for Leadership:

Administer the current strategic plan and work collaboratively with the faculty and staff on the next plan and a collaborative vision for an aspirational future.

Be well-informed about the tremendous changes affecting the communications and media industries and express a vision for how the SoC and its graduates will secure and maintain leadership roles in this new environment.

Be knowledgeable about the disciplines represented in the school and able to articulate the intersections that link them together into a unified school.

Build on the school's solid foundation of excellence and robust portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and dual-degree programs and signature experiences; continuously evaluate and improve the curriculum to ensure it remains relevant and prepares students for the evolving communication landscape.

Represent and communicate the strengths of the faculty, staff, and students and the breadth of programs housed in the school to various constituencies.

Capitalize on the diversity of programs represented in the school to further develop interdisciplinary curricula, credentials, and experiences across departments within the school, across the university and with other universities in the region.

Identify opportunities for the SoC to participate in a new campus-wide enterprise devoted to corporate and lifelong learning.

Differentiate the SoC from similar programs at colleges and universities in the region and promote distinctive QU programs and opportunities, such as QU in LA and The Agency.

Foster a culture that values, supports, and promotes faculty members who are dedicated to student success, possess industry expertise, and contribute to a rich classroom experience while actively encouraging and recognizing scholarly and creative endeavors.

Further develop experiential learning and industry partnerships, particularly in the Northeast media corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., and on the West Coast.

Work on strategies to increase enrollment and retention in partnership with the faculty, staff, Admissions, and Marketing and Communications.

Oversee the school's media and production facilities and highly skilled technical staff and attract resources to enhance and maintain these assets.

Collaborate closely with the Alumni Advisory Board to harness the full potential of alumni connections, elevating the school's external presence, enhancing its reputation, and bolstering fundraising efforts for the benefit of current students and graduates.

Please do not apply via this website. Applications and nominations should be sent electronically (PDF or MS Word) to: QUCommDean@agbsearch.com

About the School of Communications:

Quinnipiac's SoC offers an education finely attuned to the ever-evolving demands of the market. We place a strong emphasis on experiential learning, providing students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge immediately. Our strong partnerships with industry leaders make internships and long-term career prospects readily accessible to our students.

Our accomplished faculty boasts extensive connections across a broad spectrum of media disciplines and industries, strategically positioning our students for nationwide and high-profile career opportunities.

12 minutes from New Haven, CT, nestled in the heart of the media corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., and enriched by a signature QU in LA study away program, the SoC provides an ideal environment for professional growth. Our graduates excel in diverse roles, including:

News reporters and anchors

Writers and producers

Media analysts

Directors and screenwriters in the film industry

Web and graphic designers

Professionals in public relations and advertising

Take a virtual tour of the School of Communications here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11AUL0dJ5Yo) .

About Quinnipiac:

Quinnipiac, located in Hamden, Connecticut, is a private, coeducational university where students engage in an educational experience that's both personal and challenging with faculty who care deeply about student outcomes. We offer a diverse range of programs and courses, including our industry-leading dual-degree programs, to approximately 6,200 undergraduates and 2,700 graduate, law, and medical students. The student body comes from approximately 60 countries. Our student-faculty ratio is 11:1. The university has three campuses in and around Hamden. Additional information about Quinnipiac can be found at qu.edu (http://www.quinnipiac.edu/) and a virtual campus tour can be found here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTYwZD-46k)

A series of informational videos about Quinnipiac can be found on our YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/quinnipiacuniversity) channel and the College Tour website (https://www.thecollegetour.com/tour-colleges/quinnipiac-university/)

Responsibilities:

The dean holds a multifaceted leadership role within the school, serving as the chief academic, advancement, and administrative officer. This pivotal position carries overarching responsibility for several critical areas, including academic program oversight, financial stewardship, faculty and staff management and evaluations, strategic planning, and fundraising.

Core responsibilities include:

Interdisciplinary focus: Inspiring collaboration among the academic units within the SoC, across the university, and with other universities.

Recruitment and enrollment: Overseeing recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of students, faculty, and staff to further enhance the cohesive community that exists within the school. Engaging in outreach to prospective students and meaningful engagement with current students. Generating creative ideas for how to diversify the student body and faculty.

Partnership building: Continuing the growth in partnership building with businesses and other relevant industries and organizations locally, regionally and nationally to the advantage of student experiential learning.

Internal/external communications: Responsible for internal and external communications within the school community. Internally, the dean promotes collaboration among faculty, staff, and students, facilitating effective communication. Externally, the dean collaborates closely with the university's Marketing and Communications team and Alumni and Development operations to bolster the school's reputation and broaden its outreach. The dean actively cultivates relationships with alumni, playing a pivotal role in strengthening these connections and supporting fundraising initiatives.

Fundraising: Working with the director of development, marketing and communications, and other university units to identify and execute strategies for resource development, including philanthropic and foundation support, as well as identifying innovative approaches to revenue generation and fundraising.

Education Requirements:

A terminal degree in a relevant field within the SoC (PhD, MFA, or the equivalent) to support a tenured appointment as professor. Candidates with a non-terminal degree may be considered based on work experience both in industry and in a higher education institution.

Qualifications:

A record of successful leadership at the level of department chair, program director or equivalent or higher levels of administrative responsibility

An appreciation for the rapidly changing landscape of the field of communications and its subfields and a keen sense of how the school should prepare students for the lives and careers they will pursue

The ability to lead the school to recognize and develop opportunities to enhance fundraising and cultivating relationships with donors. Experience in fundraising and cultivating and stewarding donors

Experience working with and across more than one of the SoC's disciplines and departments and a record of spearheading innovative, interdisciplinary programs, partnerships, and research initiatives.

Keen awareness of the opportunities for incorporating emerging technology in the classroom and SoC operations

Administrative experience within a similarly complex environment, including overseeing and managing program facilities and technical staff

Experience leading, mentoring, and retaining talented students, faculty, and staff, including experience with the tenure and promotion process

A commitment to shared governance and excellence in teaching, research, and student success

A record of forging productive relationships with marketing and admissions and leading or participating in student recruitment efforts

A highly collaborative and transparent leadership style

A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the ability to lead in and with diverse communities

Outstanding interpersonal skills, leadership characteristics, emotional intelligence, personal ethics, and professional integrity

Expert communication skills and the ability to deliver effective presentations to donors and prospective students

Special Instructions to Applicants:

TO APPLY:

The Search Committee will begin a review of applications in November 2023 and continue work until an appointment is made. To assure full consideration, application materials should be received by November 10, 2023, and must include:

A letter of interest stating how the candidate's experiences and qualifications align with the required/preferred characteristics and priorities expressed in the position profile;

A curriculum vitae/resume;

Five professional references with emails, telephone numbers, and a description of the candidate's professional relationship with each reference listed. References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant.

Applications and nominations should be sent electronically (PDF or MS Word) to: QUCommDean@agbsearch.com

Please direct nominations and inquiries to:

Monica Burton, Principal, AGB Search

monica.burton@agbsearch.com; (917) 825-2961

Concetta Stewart, Ph.D., Principal, AGB Search

concetta.stewart@agbsearch.com; (908) 341-2178

Lynn DellaPietra, Ph.D., Executive Search Associate, AGB Search

lynn.dellapietra@agbsearch.com; (202) 640-6723

We offer a comprehensive benefits package for full-time faculty and staff which includes tuition remission and a culture that is inclusive and driven by excellence.

Quinnipiac University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Keywords: Quinnipiac University, Hamden , Dean of the School of Communications, Other , Hamden, Connecticut