"Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs"

Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs

Position Type
Faculty

Faculty Track
Tenured

Employment Status
Full Time

Months
12

Campus
Biddeford, ME

The University of New England's (UNE) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) seeks an innovative, principled, and collaborative leader to serve as the next Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs beginning in Summer 2026. This role advances academic excellence across the College by stewarding program quality, promoting innovation, and ensuring a culture of continuous improvement grounded in meaningful assessment. The successful candidate will work closely with the Dean, the College's School Directors, faculty governance, and others and will lead the College's efforts in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and programmatic revision. The next Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs will be instrumental in recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining faculty and staff within the College. The next Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs will be a trusted partner within the College and across the University, offering strategic support to the Dean.

Associate Dean of Academic and Faculty Affairs Search Profile Review of applications will occur on a rolling basis and will begin on March 9 and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please submit the following materials:

• Current CV
• Cover letter
• Statement articulating their leadership philosophy
• Names and contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted prior to an on-campus final interview.

About the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

CAS is the largest and most comprehensive academic unit in the University, exemplifying UNE's commitment to providing a transformative education. Located in Biddeford, the College consists of eight schools and two centers: the School of Arts and Humanities, the School of Biological Sciences, the School of Criminology, Society, and Politics, the School of Mathematics and Data Science, the School of Education, the School of Marine and Environmental Programs, the School of Molecular and Physical Sciences, the School of Psychology and Brain Sciences as well as the Girard Marine Science Center and the Center for Global Humanities. With over 33 majors, 35 minors, and two master's programs spanning the humanities, arts, education, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary studies, the College is a first-choice destination for students, faculty, and professional staff. With a remarkably diverse and balanced curriculum that includes robust applied and experiential options, UNE students graduate prepared for professional and personal success.

CAS offers a vibrant and supportive environment for faculty who are passionate about research, teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty in CAS engage in scholarship across many disciplines including physical and life sciences, social sciences, humanities, education, and the arts. CAS faculty benefit from a collegial atmosphere, peer mentoring, and a commitment to teaching excellence, as well as support from the Office of Research and Innovation, which assists with funding, training, and infrastructure needs. Facilities include specialized labs in the Alfond Center for Arts and Sciences, Morgane Hall, the Girard Marine Science Center, and the Pickus Center for Biomedical Research, offering state-of-the-art resources for both faculty and student research. Additionally, major renovations to the Harold Alfond Center for Arts and Sciences are ongoing and will bring new spaces designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation.

Experiential learning is a hallmark of UNE's educational model, with undergraduates encouraged to enhance their classroom knowledge through research projects, internships, creative pursuits, and global study opportunities. No matter their discipline, students collaborate one-on-one with faculty mentors to create new knowledge and present original work. Interdisciplinary collaboration across programs is embraced. This immersive approach prepares CAS graduates for success in dynamic careers and top graduate programs upon earning their UNE degrees.

Mirroring the rest of the University, CAS is a welcoming community with a deep and abiding commitment to learning, personal development, and socio-economic mobility. We recognize that education is holistic, that students, professional staff, and faculty must develop a sense of belonging and purpose to make the most of their UNE experience. CAS professional staff and faculty are mission-driven and work in support of one another and our students. Our innovative teaching methods balance traditional and modern pedagogies, incorporating field work, labs, independent research, and global learning experiences. Our graduates are intellectually curious, globally aware leaders, and collaborators with the creativity, ethical grounding, and passion to drive positive change.

Responsibilities

The next Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs will have primary responsibility for ensuring that the College's academic portfolio is contemporary, aligned with the interests of current and prospective students, and rigorous and thoughtfully designed to develop professional and personal skills for the 21st century. While much of this work is strategic in nature, the Associate Dean will work with others and oversee the production of the academic schedule and academic catalog.

In addition, the next Associate Dean will develop processes and support the full life cycle of employees in the College with a particular emphasis on fostering a culture of mentorship. This work encompasses providing the Dean with strong recommendations regarding strategic hiring, faculty and professional staff workload, and annual evaluations, including School, College, and University-level rank, tenure, and promotion processes.

This successful candidate will work closely with the Dean's Office, eight School Directors and their Assistant School Directors, the Nor'Easter Core Director, the Registrar's Office, and offices that support assessment and global education. Therefore, the next Associate Dean must be a trusted colleague who cultivates professional relationships based on mutual goodwill. UNE and CAS are poised for further growth, and the next Associate Dean will play a crucial role in helping the College meet its goals. The successful candidate will be a key advisor to the Dean and must deliver strategic advice and recommendations on a wide range of topics.

Qualifications

Ph.D. in a discipline represented in the College and a record qualifying for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The ideal candidate has considerable experience with:

• Curriculum, including general education
• Assessment and data-informed decision-making
• Scheduling
• Catalog
• Faculty governance
• Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining faculty and professional staff
• Faculty rank, tenure, and promotion processes
• Administrative experience at the level of Assistant Department Chair (or equivalent) or higher is preferred

The successful candidate will join a collegial office consisting of the Dean, another Associate Dean, the Director of Finance and Administration, and four professional staff members who assist with administrative functions. An ideal candidate is organized, exercises sound judgment independently, and demonstrates excellent communication skills. Importantly, the successful candidate must be dedicated to student and employee success.

To apply, visit https://une.peopleadmin.com/postings/24715