Dean of College of Education and Human Services NKU

Northern Kentucky University seeks a dynamic, visionary leader to be its next dean of the College of Education and Human Services. The new dean will be joining a college that is committed to student success, highly valued by the entire university, and critically important to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region and the entire Commonwealth.

The college is home to three academic departments, which collectively enroll about 2,700 undergraduate students and close to 700 graduate students. It has 75 full-time faculty positions and 46 part-time positions. The college offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and has a budget of $8.5M. Programs in the college are accredited by NCATE, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

The largest department in the college is the Department of Teacher Education. It offers undergraduate degrees in early childhood education, elementary education, and middle grades education, and supports secondary education programs covering a dozen different subject-matter areas. The department offers a variety of graduate programs including: Master of Arts in Education – Teacher as Leader, Master of Arts in Teaching, and various state certifications and endorsements. 

The Department of Counseling, Social Work, and Leadership offers undergraduate majors in counseling/human services and social work and undergraduate minors in counseling/human services and social justice studies. The department also offers a variety of graduate programs: Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in School Counseling, Education Specialist in Educational Leadership P-12 Principal Preparation, and Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. In addition it offers several leadership certification programs in various areas of P-12 education.

The college’s Department of Kinesiology and Health offers undergraduate degrees in athletic training, exercise science, and physical education and minors in health education, physical education, and sports medicine.

In addition to the academic departments, the college includes four centers: the Center for Educator Excellence which works with local school districts, the Center for Environmental Education which strengthens the preparation of environmental educators, the Institute for Talent Development and Gifted Studies which addresses the need for gifted and talented education in the region, and the Training and Development Center which provides low-cost mental health services to underserved residents of the region.

Responsibilities

The dean reports to the vice president for academic affairs and provost, sits on the Deans’ Council, and is a member of the President’s Cabinet. The dean is expected to:

·         Provide leadership for the college.

·         Ensure integrity and quality in all academic programs.

·         Promote and support faculty excellence across the full breadth of the institution’s mission: teaching, research, and public engagement.

·         Allocate faculty and staff positions within the college.

·         Evaluate and make recommendations regarding hiring, reappointment, promotion, and tenure.

·         Serve as a vigorous advocate for the college.

·         Maintain strong collegial relationships across the university.

·         Cultivate donors and expand the financial support for the college

·         Promote effective partnerships and work collaboratively with school- and community-based practitioners.

·         Serve on statewide education-related boards as appointed by the governor.

·         Manage the budget and day-to-day operations for the college.

Qualifications:

·         Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution is required.

·         Eligibility for appointment as a tenured professor within one of the three departments in the college is required.

·         A distinguished record of accomplishments in teaching, research/creative work, and public engagement/outreach.

·         Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

·         A proven record of administrative accomplishments.

·         Effective leadership skills.           

·         A proven record of successful fund raising.

·         A history of working successfully across disciplinary lines.

·         A consensus builder with a record of strong collegiality.

·         Commitment to increasing the diversity of students, faculty, and staff.

·         The capacity to recognize, develop, and nurture good ideas.

·         A deep understanding of the issues facing higher education nationally.

About The University

NKU is a major metropolitan university located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati and is recognized as a leader in the Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky region. It is the youngest and one of the fastest growing of Kentucky’s eight state universities. The university emphasizes talent development, undergraduate research and other forms of active learning, and public engagement particularly in the P-12 arena. The university is committed to providing quality, affordable education in a nurturing environment and preparing its graduates for success in their professional careers and personal lives. The university has experienced tremendous growth and transformation over the last decade, and today enrolls close to 16,000 students served by over 2,000 faculty and staff with an annual budget of $223M. Since its founding in 1968, NKU has grown to include six colleges: College of Education and Human Services, College of Arts and Sciences, Haile/US Bank College of Business, College of Informatics, College of Health Professions, and Salmon P. Chase College of Law. This is an exciting time to be part of NKU. The new president took office on August 1, 2012 and has publicly indicated his strong commitment to student success.

Application Process

Applications should include a cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest and qualifications for the position, along with a current vita and the names and contact information for five professional references, who will only be contacted after securing the applicant’s permission. The materials should be submitted electronically to EdDeanSearch@nku.edu.  Review of applications will begin in early January and continue until the position is filled. It is tentatively planned for semi-finalist interviews to be conducted via Skype the week-end of January 26 and 27.

It is Northern Kentucky University's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all persons and to take the necessary actions needed to recruit, employ, train, promote, and retain qualified faculty and staff, including members of protected groups. Discrimination against any individual based upon protected status, which is defined as age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic, or veteran status, is prohibited.

Any candidate offered this position will be required to complete a thorough pre-employment criminal background check as mandated by state law.