Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences

Overview:

St. John Fisher University is an independent, liberal arts institution that provides a transformative education to approximately 3,800 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students each year. Across its five Schools, Fisher offers more than 40 majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, business, education, nursing, and pharmacy; 11 pre-professional programs; and master’s and doctoral programs in business, nursing, education, and pharmacy. The University’s residential campus boasts a robust living and learning community and a successful intercollegiate athletics program. Fisher is a community where all are welcome, regardless of religious or cultural background.

The University continues to honor its founders, the Congregation of St. Basil, by embracing their motto, “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” We are located in Pittsford, N.Y., seven miles outside of the city of Rochester. The campus is situated on 164 park-like acres—a beautiful setting for a warm, friendly campus community.

Job Responsibilities:

The next Dean will join a School built on a strong foundation and ready to move forward with renewed vision. Taken together, the priorities below describe a leader who advocates for faculty and the liberal arts, builds trust through transparent communication, stewards resources wisely, and articulates a compelling future for the School of Arts and Sciences. Expected leadership priorities include:

Advocate and Support Faculty Excellence:

• Serve as a visible, energetic advocate for the School’s committed faculty.

• Support productive programs while thoughtfully pursuing new opportunities for growth.

• Ensure faculty voices are represented in institutional decision-making and that shared governance is respected and valued.

• Recruit, develop, and retain a committed and talented faculty, and support division leaders with clear structures and sustainable workloads.

• Build trust across the School’s community through active listening, transparency, and consistent, two-way communication.

Champion the Value and Relevance of the Liberal Art’s Mission

• Understand and embrace Fisher’s Basilian heritage and its commitment to goodness, discipline, and knowledge, along with the University’s broader commitment to social justice.

• Support both challenging undergraduate programs and effective pedagogical strategies to advance student success.

• Strengthen retention and a sense of belonging for all students, especially first-generation and underrepresented students.

• Build on the strength of the sciences as a pipeline into Fisher’s graduate and professional health sciences programs.

• Partner with the Office of Admissions to develop and implement strategies for enrollment growth across the School’s programs.

Create a Shared Vision and Strategy for the Future

• Build and articulate a compelling, forward-looking vision for the School that unites its six divisions around a shared sense of purpose.

• Anticipate and respond to changes in higher education, including shifting demographics, enrollment pressures, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

• Identify and pursue new interdisciplinary programs, building on the School’s recent work in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and artificial intelligence literacy.

• Articulate the enduring, and increasingly distinctive, value of a liberal arts and sciences education in a changing economy.

• Strengthen connections between the School and Fisher’s professional schools, recognizing that the liberal arts and sciences provide a foundation for the entire University.

Acquire and Steward Resources for Faculty , Staff, and Student Success

• Manage the School’s budget and resources responsibly while identifying strategic opportunities for investment.

• Pursue external funding through grants, as well as philanthropic support in partnership with the University’s advancement office.

• Use data effectively to inform enrollment strategy and resource decisions.

• Partner with institutional efforts to invest in new programs, facilities, and faculty for the School.

Foster Inclusive Excellence

• Foster an inclusive academic environment that values all those in our vibrant community.

• Strengthen the School’s role as a center of intellectual life for the greater Rochester community.

• Encourage meaningful civic engagement and global awareness among faculty and students.

Academic Search (https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches-public/entry/26296/?search=26296) , an executive search firm, is assisting St. John Fisher University in this search. For more information about St. John Fisher University, this leadership opportunity, and how to apply, please review the full profile here (https://www.academicsearch.org/SJFisherDeanSAS) .

Link to apply: https://www.academicsearch.org/SJFisherDeanSASApply

Education / Experience:

Required

• An earned doctorate or other terminal degree in a discipline represented in the School of Arts and Sciences, with a record of teaching and scholarship meriting appointment as a tenured full professor.

• Progressively responsible academic leadership experience, such as service as a department chair, division leader, associate dean, or dean.

• A demonstrated commitment to the liberal arts and sciences and to the mission of a liberal arts institution committed to its Basilian heritage.

• Experience working effectively within a system of shared governance.

• Experience in budget management and strategic resource allocation.

• A record of building collaborative, transparent, and trust based relationships with faculty, staff, and students.

Preferred

• Experience leading a large, multidisciplinary school or college, including through periods of organizational change.

• A record of successful fundraising, grant seeking, or donor engagement in partnership with an advancement office.

• Experience supporting first-generation and underrepresented students and a demonstrated commitment to access and inclusion.

• Experience developing new and interdisciplinary academic programs, including in emerging fields.

• An understanding of, and appreciation for, the role of a school of arts and sciences in supporting a university’s professional and graduate programs, including the health professions

Competencies / Skills:

• Strategic thinker, forward-looking, and innovative

• Trustworthy and ethical

• Excellent communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to build effective teams

• Leads with integrity and fairness

• Approachable, responsive, and accessible

• Collaborative decision-maker

• Collegial and respectful

• Transparent and candid, an active listener

• Encourages open dialogue and constructive feedback

• Strong financial acumen, uses data effectively to inform decisions

• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion

• Values diverse backgrounds and perspectives

Supervision of Employees:

School of Arts and Sciences faculty and staff

Work Hours:

35 hours per week, 12 months

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of St. John Fisher University to provide Equal Employment Opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with the applicable federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in each locality in which the University has employees.

The University does not discriminate against applicants or employees in hiring, promotion, termination or the terms and conditions of employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, perceived sex, gender identity, gender expression, the status of being transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital status, military status, veteran status, predisposing genetic, characteristics or genetic information, arrest or conviction record, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Title IX Coordinator is the designated University official with primary responsibility for coordinating compliance with Title IX and related federal and state laws. The Title IX Coordinator, Meg Flaherty, Ph.D., can be reached by phone (585-385-8232), email ([email protected]), in-person in Campus Center 209, or outside of business hours by contacting the Office of Safety and Security (585-385-8111).