Position Title Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Description THE OPPORTUNITYThe University of New England (UNE ) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS ).
The dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England provides visionary leadership and strategic direction to a critical, foundational component of the University. The dean leads all academic and administrative programs, services, and functions within the College, fostering a dynamic learning environment that promotes academic excellence and innovation. This role requires close collaboration with university leaders, faculty, professional staff, students, and external stakeholders.
About the College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is located on UNE’s scenic Biddeford Campus, where the waters of the Saco River flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years, this confluence of natural resources has inspired people from around the world.
The liberal arts and sciences require an exploration of both the natural world and the social world, thus the College believes in a broad-based mode of inquiry that fosters empathy and understanding. This pursuit of knowledge and caring for the world is at the center of the mission of the College of Arts and Sciences and is reflected in our Core Curriculum. Faculty and staff are committed to preparing students for meaningful and rewarding careers as well as life-long learning through an education incorporating scholarship, engagement, and service.
CAS students discover an array of collaborative and interdisciplinary academic experiences built upon a solid foundation in the humanities, arts, and natural and social sciences. Each CAS major provides a vital balance between the breadth of a foundational education and the depth necessary for advanced knowledge in a chosen field.
Research and scholarship are core components to the UNE mission and CAS faculty scholars not only create new knowledge but are committed to engaging students in scholarly activities across the disciplines in the College. CAS believes deeply in faculty-directed undergraduate research, creative expression, internships, and study abroad as these experiences embody the ideal of a college education. All CAS students have access to such opportunities at UNE .
The College of Arts and Sciences comprises fields of study from a variety of academic schools. More information on each of the seven schools can be found online through the following links:
NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONSThe University of New England has retained the services of the executive search firm Korn Ferry. Applicants should submit the following two documents (in two separate PDFs):
1. An up-to-date and detailed
curriculum vitae. 2. A
letter of interest (not to exceed 4 pages) describing why you are interested in the role of Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England, why your professional experience would lead to your success, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity.
For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by
Friday, October 11, 2024. The two PDF documents should be sent directly to Dr. Josh Ward at Josh.Ward@KornFerry.com.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONAbout the University of New EnglandWith roots dating to 1831, the University of New England (UNE ) has evolved to become the largest private university in Maine. UNE has established itself as a leading comprehensive university with particular strengths in the health sciences and marine sciences and a wide range of academic programs offered both onsite and online to nearly 6,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. UNE is guided by the core values of student-centeredness, diversity, inclusion, relentless inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, learning everywhere, progressive change, and stewardship of our planet.
UNE’s more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs are offered through six colleges – the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Dental Medicine, the Westbrook College of Health Professions, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of
University of New England | Dean, School of Arts and Sciences Professional Studies, and a recently-established College of Business. UNE is home to Maine’s only medical school and only physician assistant program and northern New England’s only dental school. UNE’s robust research agenda garners more NIH funding in biomedical research than any other college or university in Maine. UNE is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine – the coastal Biddeford Campus and Portland Campus for the Health Sciences – and also has a unique study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco. UNE is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
During a tumultuous time for higher education, UNE has bucked the trends, emerging from a global pandemic with robust enrollment numbers, a bold plan to move its medical college from Biddeford to Portland in order to create a unique, interprofessional health sciences campus there, and a host of new academic programs and student support initiatives designed to meet the workplace needs of an ever-changing economy. The move of the medical college has also set the stage for the University’s Biddeford campus to become a vibrant undergraduate campus. With this move comes additional expansion and renovation on the Biddeford campus, with which the new CAS Dean will play an important leadership role, including the establishment of the new Alfond Center for Arts and Sciences.
While many other institutions were content to merely keep their doors open during the pandemic, UNE’s dedicated faculty and professional staff were determined to seize every opportunity during a time of much change and realignment for the industry. Guided by the recently refreshed Our World, Our Future strategic plan, UNE has done just that. As a result, the University’s credit rating has recently been upgraded to A2 from Moody’s Investor Services and A+ (with positive outlook) from Fitch Ratings.
UNE emphasizes inclusion, diversity, and meeting the needs of first-generation students while consciously immersing students in an environment that prioritizes viewpoint diversity. Indeed, one of UNE’s distinguishing characteristics is its commitment to fostering a robust marketplace of ideas so that students may develop the respect for opposing viewpoints and intellectual curiosity needed to be productive participants in our increasingly polarized society. The University invites guest speakers to campus whose ideas span various ideological spectra and, through an array of interrelated programs, exposes students to multiple views on important topics, both inside and outside the classroom.
Perennially included on “best colleges” lists by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes, and others, UNE prides itself on its excellent student outcomes. It has recently been ranked first in Maine for value added by Brookings and first in Maine for job placement by Zippia. Meanwhile, UNE students enjoy an exceptionally low student-loan default rate of just 0.6% compared to 2.3% nationally. UNE’s clinical programs also boast exceptional board pass rates, while the aspiring doctors in UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine earn a residency choice match rate that is among the ten best in the country. For more information about these and other accolades, visit www.une.edu/about/glance.
Life in Maine
The University of New England is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine – an oceanfront coastal campus of Biddeford and a vibrant health sciences campus in Portland, a city of great appeal and historic significance. With breathtaking scenery, a rich cultural environment, world-class dining, low crime rates, and cl
