"Dean, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR)"

JOB SUMMARY

The University of Connecticut (UConn), one of the nation’s leading public research universities, seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as the Dean of its College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR or the College), and Director of the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System and the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station. UConn seeks candidates who have a comprehensive resume of success in academic leadership roles and who can demonstrate exceptional skills and experience that will enable them to lead a research and educational enterprise across multiple campuses. For the past decade, the University has been on a remarkable journey of expansion and growth. By every measure, from student success to research grants, UConn has enhanced its standing. Today, UConn is ranked among the top public research universities nationwide. As the chief executive officer for CAHNR, the Dean will set the standard of intellectual engagement and accomplishment for the College.

The Dean will provide strategic vision and operational leadership to all aspects of the academic and scholarly program, setting priorities for the College and guiding it toward strategic goals of enhancing scholarship, promoting research and outreach, and providing exceptional undergraduate and graduate education in an academic setting with a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. In consultation with university officials, the Dean will appoint endowed faculty chairs and professorships and increase faculty awards and fellowships. The Dean is the College’s chief advocate, promoting its goals and achievements, leading its development and fundraising activities, and speaking for its mission of excellence in scholarship, teaching, and Extension outreach. Supporting the University’s research mission, the Dean will advance the scholarly activities of the faculty, including interdisciplinary opportunities. The Dean will also be the College’s public voice, promoting collegiate initiatives within UConn and across the state, articulating the College’s contributions at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. In pursuing these responsibilities, the Dean, who reports to the Provost, will work collaboratively with the President and Provost, and with Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, other Deans, and Department Heads.

The successful candidate will be a nationally recognized, self-assured, entrepreneurial leader prepared to extend and expand the sense of pride, of purpose, and of excellence already characteristic of UConn and CAHNR. With experience in a research university, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated success as an educator, a researcher committed to the search for new knowledge, a skilled administrator, and someone able to imagine new possibilities for the College.

The Position

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for all matters, the Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of CAHNR, responsible for providing strategic vision and operational leadership to all aspects of the academic and scholarly program. The Dean also serves as the Director of both the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System and the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Dean oversees faculty appointments, along with the promotion, tenure, and review process in CAHNR. The Dean has administrative responsibility for undergraduate education and, in partnership with the Dean of the Graduate School, for graduate education within the College. The Dean is also responsible for implementation of academic rules and regulations, academic advising, promotion of academic integrity, faculty staffing and development, research activities, management of academic resources, oversight of academic departments, interdisciplinary centers and institutes, and other academic activities within the College.

Reporting to the Dean are the Associate Dean of Academic Programs and Director of the Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, the Associate Dean for Extension, and the College’s nine department heads (eight academic departments and Extension). In addition, the Dean’s office is staffed by the CAHNR Communications Office, CAHNR Business Office, IT Specialist, Director of Alumni Relations and Development, and the Dean’s Executive Assistant.

The Dean will lead the College in promoting an innovative research environment and educational programs. The Dean assists the President and Provost in representing the University on matters related to its core missions of research, education, and outreach. The Dean is also responsible for careful stewardship of the College’s financial and physical resources, ensuring that budgets are managed effectively, resources are aligned with strategic priorities, and opportunities are pursued to strengthen the College’s long-term sustainability in a challenging fiscal environment. The Dean partners with the UConn Foundation to ensure robust fundraising and alumni relations. The successful candidate will be a nationally recognized, strong, self-assured, entrepreneurial leader able to infuse UConn CAHNR with a sense of pride, of purpose, and of excellence.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide visionary leadership for CAHNR’s academic departments, research centers, and extension programs, advancing excellence in teaching, research, and outreach across agriculture, health, and natural resources.
• Steward CAHNR’s financial, human, and physical resources effectively, ensuring alignment with university priorities and supporting long-term growth and impact.
• Recruit, retain, and support an outstanding and diverse faculty, staff, and student body, fostering a climate of respect, collaboration, and inclusivity.
• Strengthen student recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes by building pathways from K-12 and community colleges and ensuring high-quality, innovative undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Elevate CAHNR’s national and global reputation by highlighting its distinct strengths in food systems, health, environmental sustainability, and community engagement.
• Advance interdisciplinary initiatives with other UConn schools, colleges, and partners that address complex challenges in agriculture, health, and natural resources.
• Cultivate relationships with alumni, donors, industry, community organizations, and government agencies to support CAHNR’s mission and expand fundraising and partnership opportunities.
• Serve as a visible advocate for CAHNR within UConn and beyond, communicating the College’s contributions to the University’s land-grant mission of education, research, and service to the state, nation, and world.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Credentials that merit appointment at the rank of tenured Professor or a current appointment at UConn at the rank of Professor in one of CAHNR’s academic departments, including a doctoral degree or other terminal degree in a field relevant to leadership in academic affairs and the College. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
2. Progressively responsible leadership experience at a higher education institution, demonstrating knowledge of core management functions, straightforward experience with managing strategic priorities, and understanding and embracing University policies, guidance, best practices, and procedures.
3. Success in building and executing a strategic and fiscally-sound academic budget.
4. Solid track record in meeting a university mission with respect to enrollment, graduation, research, innovation, and fundraising.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Background and experience pertinent to the wide-ranging programs of CAHNR, including a clear understanding of the academic vision of the University, the land-grant and sea-grant missions, and the College’s opportunities to deliver quality undergraduate, graduate, and extension education.
2. Demonstrated capability to support research and extension at the student and faculty levels, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and secure extramural funding from state, federal, or foundation sources.
3. Track record of nationally and globally recognized leadership in research and innovation, including membership in national academies.
4. Proven ability to recruit, retain, and support highly desirable research and instructional faculty and staff in a competitive environment, and to motivate and manage professional and support staff effectively.
5. A demonstrable track record of administrative leadership that includes managing complex budgets, allocating resources strategically, and aligning finances with mission and goals, while navigating the organizational and political realities of a major public research university.
6. Experience as an agent of innovation and change, with the ability to imagine new possibilities for CAHNR, develop and articulate a vision, translate strategy into operational goals, and lead implementation across a complex organization.
7. Strong business and political acumen, sound judgment, and skills in conflict resolution, consensus building, and effective advocacy for resources and priorities.
8. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, including assessing needs, developing initiatives, and applying best practices to foster a supportive climate for all.
9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to develop, engage, and maintain constructive relationships with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
10. Demonstrated success in fundraising and advancement activities, including the ability to form and maintain partnerships with alumni, donors, industry, government, and community organizations to enhance visibility, impact, and revenue.
11. Experience with outreach and engagement, and the capacity to represent CAHNR articulately and compellingly to external constituencies, enhancing its visibility and impact locally, nationally, and globally.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, permanent, 12-month, management-exempt position with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. The successful candidate may be considered for a 9-month, tenure-track academic appointment in one of the University’s schools/colleges.

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Connecticut. Salary commensurate with experience. The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/health-benefits/

TO APPLY

Parker Executive Search is assisting the University of Connecticut in the search for the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources. The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume/CV, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted before January 13, 2026. Please submit applications directly to Parker Executive Search. For additional information, please contact:

• Porsha Williams, Vice President
• Jacob Anderson, Senior Principal
• Julia Butler-Mayes, Ph.D., Associate
• Parker Executive Search
• Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875
• Atlanta, GA 30328
• (770) 804-1996 ext.: 111

pwilliams@parkersearch.com || janderson@parkersearch.com || jbutler-mayes@parkersearch.com