"Dean, School of Arts & Sciences"

Dean, School of Arts & Sciences

Company: SUNY Old Westbury

Job Location:

Category: Liberal Arts Deans

Type: Full-Time

The State University of New York at Old Westbury is a dynamic and diverse public liberal arts institution whose mission emphasizes academic excellence through close interaction among students, faculty, and staff. SUNY Old Westbury is seeking a visionary and collaborative Dean for the School of Arts & Sciences. In the recently launched Strategic Plan for 2026-2031, the university has adopted four campus-wide goals: Academic Excellence & Research; Innovation & Creativity; Student & Enrollment Success; and Institutional Resilience & External Profile. The School of Arts & Sciences is the largest academic division at SUNY Old Westbury, housing twelve departments and multiple undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. This position is a full-time, twelve (12) month, Management Confidential position.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences will provide visionary and collaborative leadership for the School, aligning its programs and resources with the institution's mission and strategic plan. The Dean will:

• Articulate and execute a strategic vision for the School consistent with the university's 2026-2031 strategic goals
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing academic culture that promotes rigorous liberal education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, applied learning, and community engagement
• Lead faculty and staff in teaching, scholarship/creative activity, service, and building community partnerships
• Ensure program relevance, quality, and sustainability within the evolving higher-education landscape and changing student demographics

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership & Strategic Vision

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the School of Arts & Sciences that advances the School's contribution to the university's overall strategic goals.
• Provide leadership for curriculum innovation across the arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs; foster high-impact practices (undergraduate research, community engaged learning, global/international experiences).
• Ensure that the School remains responsive to student needs, labor-market changes, and societal challenges.

Faculty & Staff Development, Hiring & Evaluation

• Lead recruitment, hiring, mentoring, retention, and professional development of faculty and academic staff ensuring the School builds and sustains a diverse and excellent faculty.
• Oversee faculty evaluation, promotion and tenure processes (in conjunction with department chairs and faculty governance) consistent with university policies and standards of excellence.
• Work with department chairs and faculty to allocate teaching loads, support adjunct faculty as needed, and align resources (staffing, space, technology) with academic priorities.
• Promote faculty scholarship, creative work, external funding and partnerships that build the School's scholarly/creative profile and reputation.

Student Success, Curriculum & Program Assessment

• Champion student success efforts: retention, timely completion, experiential learning, undergraduate research, and career readiness.
• Ensure that the School's academic offerings provide both a strong liberal arts foundation and pathways for graduate/professional preparation and workforce readiness.
• Collaborate with student success, advising, enrollment management and other units to align academic scheduling, student support services, and enrollment strategies to help meet strategic goals in student and enrollment success.

Budget, Resource Management & External Engagement

• Develop, propose, manage and monitor the School's budget and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with academic priorities.
• Cultivate relationships with external stakeholders to support program development, internships, applied learning, community engagement, fundraising and external partnerships.
• Serve as an ambassador and advocate for the School internally and externally enhancing the visibility, reputation, and impact of the School and the University.

Governance, Shared Leadership & Institutional Service

• Serve on senior academic leadership teams (e.g., Deans Council and Provost's Council) and contribute to institution-wide planning, policy development and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet.
• Engage in accreditation, regulatory and institutional review processes as required, support assessment and continuous improvement across the School.

Requirements:

Qualifications & Competencies

Required Qualifications:

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or equivalent) in a discipline appropriate to one of the departments within the School of Arts & Sciences (arts/humanities, natural sciences, social sciences).
• A distinguished record of academic achievement (teaching, scholarship/creative work, service) sufficient for appointment at the rank of full professor.
• Substantial experience in academic administration at the level of department chair or higher, with demonstrated leadership in faculty development, curriculum processes, budget/resource management, and enrollment strategies.
• Demonstrated commitment to the unique mission of SUNY Old Westbury.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and collaborative skills. Ability to work across disciplines and constituencies.
• Strategic mindset: ability to lead change, manage complexity, build consensus, promote innovation, and handle multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a public liberal arts or comprehensive institution and familiarity with the challenges/opportunities facing arts & sciences disciplines and liberal education in the 21st century.
• Experience with external partnerships, fundraising, alumni engagement, and community outreach.
• Demonstrated success in promoting student success initiatives (e.g., retention, experiential learning, global engagement) and working with diverse student populations.
• Familiarity with data-driven decision making, enrollment management strategies, program development responsive to market/trend signals.

Additional Information:

Salary range: $140,000.00 - $155,000.00 commensurate with education and experience

Comprehensive benefits: https://www.suny.edu/media/suny/content-assets/documents/benefits/benefit-summaries/MC13-Unclassified-Benefits-at-Glance-Jan-2025.pdf

Position Type: Management Confidential

Official Budget Title: Dean

Campus Title: Dean - School of Arts & Sciences

Department: Dean's Office - School of Arts & Sciences

FTE: Full-time

Negotiating Unit: Management Confidential (MC13)

Salary Grade: MP-2

FLSA Status: Exempt

Application Instructions:

Please submit the following online:

1. letter of application,
2. curriculum vitae,
3. contact information (name, email address and telephone number) for three references and,
4. a fully completed Old Westbury employment application (available during the online application process).

Only applications submitted online will be considered.

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Open until filled. Priority will be given to those applications received by February 28, 2026.