THE ROLE The next vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college will be a champion for the liberal arts and an advocate for the faculty. He or she will embrace the intrinsic strengths of the college and be innovative and resourceful in deepening programs and inspiring excellence. The dean will need to balance promoting teaching and scholarship with experiential and co-curricular learning. The dean must demonstrate an appreciation for all disciplines, while generating interest and enthusiasm for new interdisciplinary programs. The dean is a strategic partner with the president in leading the institution in thought, word and deed. As chief academic officer, the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college provides vision, leadership and passionate enthusiasm in all academic matters, oversees academic policy, budget and personnel and works closely with faculty to maintain the quality and vitality of the academic programs and its support services, including library and technology. The vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college reports to the president and is a member of the president’s senior leadership team, as are the vice presidents for business and finance, college advancement and student life. The associate dean of the college, the associate vice president for information technology and the directors of experiential learning, library services, international education, the Science Center for Women, the Center for Teaching & Learning, The Dalton Gallery and faculty grants & sponsored research report directly to the dean, along with the coordinator of internships, an office administrator and an administrative assistant. With 58 staff positions, the academic affairs division has an operating budget of $16M.

QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS The college seeks a proven leader with strong executive and management skills to direct the college’s academic programs. The dean must have the confidence and competence to speak on behalf of and represent the president to internal and external constituencies, evidence of an enthusiastic passion for the college’s academic agenda and accomplishments and a personal commitment to student-centered, liberal arts education for women. In addition, the dean should demonstrate:
A willingness to consider and pursue innovative and new programs;

An ability to think and act strategically, but listen broadly and engage in collegial dialogue;

A commitment to academic excellence, supported by a portfolio of achievements;

A deliberate, inclusive and transparent decision-making style that focuses on the
college’s long-term interests;

An ability to craft creative, pragmatic solutions that will advance the institution;

A commitment to shared governance and collegial problem solving;

A commitment to diversity and a sensitivity to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender issues;

A commitment to international and experiential learning;

An understanding of the college’s liberal arts mission with an eye toward growing interdisciplinary and graduate programs in affinity disciplines;

A commitment to co-curricular and experiential learning that reflects an understanding of the integration of student and academic life;

Experience in strategic planning and program implementation;

Evidence of leadership across disciplines;

The ability to develop and implement a vision in concert with a diverse constituency;

A proven record of appointing and mentoring faculty;

A scholarly record and teaching history sufficient to qualify for tenure with the rank of full professor;

Experience with resource allocation and fiscal management;

The ability to engage with and inspire faculty, staff and students;

Intellectual curiosity and evidence of support for new ideas and programmatic innovation;

Understanding of resource development and partnership with the college advancement office;

An open and engaging communication style that manifests an interest in and passion for all that is Agnes Scott;

Being a gifted listener who is accessible to and willing to engage in conversations, formally and informally, with faculty, staff, students, donors and members of the Agnes Scott community;

A sense of humor.

The next vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college will have the opportunity to make a transformative impact on the future of Agnes Scott College.