Academic Dean (Internal Only)

Clarkson University•Potsdam, NY

About The Position

The Academic Dean provides strategic leadership, budgetary management, and oversight of all non-clinical academic divisions, including hiring, tenure and promotion, and faculty development. The role entails comprehensive management of full-time and part-time faculty and staff, driving top-tier teaching and research standards. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, this role requires interdisciplinary curiosity, with responsibility to foster outstanding faculty and staff performance that delivers high-quality, multi-modal (distance and in-person) undergraduate and graduate programming. The Academic Dean will be a good communicator, careful listener, and collaborative colleague, with experience working with campus leadership, division chairs, and diverse faculty and staff. The Academic Dean will foster student success, enrollment growth, curriculum development and review, and institutional assessment, while championing faculty teaching and research. The Academic Dean will serve as a thought partner to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and play an active role in collaborating with the Dean of the Lewis School of Health Sciences, Development and Alumni Relations, Sponsored Research Services, Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations, as well as Research Centers to engage industry partners and alumni to advance the reputation and impact of the University. General Purpose: The Academic Dean provides strategic leadership and operational oversight in budgeting, faculty personnel actions (hiring/tenure), and academic programming. Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, The Dean works collaboratively with faculty, students, university leadership, and external partners to strengthen the college’s reputation, support teaching, research and innovation, and prepare graduates to address complex technological and societal challenges. Responsibilities include managing academic operations and developing new educational initiatives across all Divisions, including the Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Reh School of Business in partnership with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. This is a 12-month / annual role.

Requirements

An earned Doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant academic discipline.
Record of teaching, research, and service appropriate for the appointment as a tenured full professor in a discipline relevant to Clarkson’s position as a technical university
Significant leadership experience in higher education with experience leading a group of diverse individuals (e.g., department chair, associate dean, dean, center or institute director, etc.).
Commitment to shared governance in academic settings.
Experience with promotion and tenure processes.
Academic and Leadership: Record of academic and administrative leadership.
Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated success in working with shared governance principles and working effectively with faculty, staff, and students to build consensus and drive institutional progress. Demonstrated record of working collaboratively across non-academic campus units.
Financial and Resource Stewardship: Strong financial acumen and understanding of budget allocation in an academic environment.
Operational and People Management: Outstanding management and organizational skills, with the ability to guide, mentor, and hold accountable a large number of direct reports while fostering professional growth.
Assessment and Accreditation: Knowledge of institutional assessment, accreditation, and continued improvement process.
Undergraduate / Graduate Leadership: Experience leading academic units and advancing excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Research Development: Strong knowledge of research development, and strategies to support emerging and established research faculty and graduate student success.
Professional Integrity: Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive institutional and personnel information with discretion, confidentiality, and sound judgement.
Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and represent the University with professionalism and integrity. Ability to listen and digest input from others.

Nice To Haves

Record of faculty development and using innovative instructional tools and methodologies.
Strong understanding of higher education teaching and research trends.
Demonstrated experience with industry partnerships and external partnerships
Experience with accreditation.
Student Success: Knowledgeable in success strategies, including proactive advising and academic pathways.
Inclusive and Equitable Excellence: Commitment to and experience in cultivating a culture of academic rigor, belonging, and equitable student achievement supported by intentional structures and policies.
High-Impact Learning Practice: Experience advancing experimental and high-impact learning opportunities-such as undergraduate research, internships, service learning, and experiential education-with broad student access and measurable outcomes.
External Engagement and Representation: Proven ability to represent the University’s academic mission to external stakeholders, including accreditors, funding agencies, employers, philanthropic partners, and community organizations.

Responsibilities

Faculty Leadership & Personnel Management: Direct the recruitment, mentoring, and evaluation of faculty (full-time, part-time), including managing tenure, promotion, and sabbaticals in conjunction with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Human Resources.
Develop and support programs that enhance faculty success in teaching, research/scholarship, and service.
Support leadership development, including preparation of Division Chairs and other academic leaders.
Monitor faculty workload and course offerings and assist in developing comprehensive and consistent policies.
Academic Leadership & Operations: Develop and establish consistent Divisional policies and procedures in collaboration with the Division Chairs.
Work with the administration and faculty to develop relevant degree and certification programs.
Ensure scope and coverage of the curriculum, working towards full utilization of faculty expertise in its delivery in collaboration with Division Chairs.
Ensure the relevance and quality of the curriculum in alignment with institutional standards.
Oversee and establish consistent processes are developed for monitoring, evaluating, reporting on, and improving the effectiveness of academic programs.
Work cooperatively with the Academic Affairs administrative team, Division Chairs, and others in ensuring adequate and appropriate space, equipment, and facilities usage.
Work with senior leadership to align faculty priorities to institutional strengths and goals.
Oversee the assessment of academic programming and student learning.
Support faculty in the development of innovative pedagogies including those that make use of technology in collaboration with division chairs.
Support the Admissions Office in the recruitment and enrollment of students.
Collaborate with faculty and the Office of Sponsored Research to advance grant application and support, and increase externally funded research.
Support shared governance structure and function.