Dean, School of Public Affairs

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Academic Affairs

Time Type:

Full time

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Summary:

American University (AU) seeks an experienced, visionary, and strategic leader to serve as its next Dean of the School of Public Affairs (SPA). The new Dean of SPA will lead a nationally recognized school of public affairs within a newly designated R1 institution, with an opportunity to build on the university's and the school's long-standing reputations for excellence in teaching, research, and social impact. As part of the university's leadership team of AU President Jonathan Alger and Provost Vicky Wilkins, the Dean will play an important role in further elevating the profile and influence of AU and SPA nationally and internationally by supporting and developing the school's research profile and advancing its innovative approaches to public affairs education, community service, intellectual leadership, and public influence.

American University is a dynamic institution in Washington, DC, with a history of catalyzing impact-driven scholarship and teaching, fostering intellectual curiosity, supporting student success, and empowering lives of purpose, service, and leadership. In the last five years, AU has doubled research funding, engaged in innovative cross-disciplinary scholarship, and developed advanced and applied learning opportunities for students. Through the successful completion of the Change Can’t Wait campaign in 2024, the university established nine newly endowed faculty positions and launched or named four distinctive centers and institutes that will build on the strengths of the AU community to incubate innovative ideas. At the foundation of this remarkable upward trajectory is a community of passionate leaders who thrive on tackling the world’s most pressing challenges. 

SPA is well-positioned to capitalize on AU's strategic investments and the opportunities afforded by its geographic location in one of the world's most influential cities. A leading public affairs school and the top-ranked public affairs school in DC, SPA trains the next generation of civic and academic leaders through a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and professional training opportunities. With Washington, DC as its laboratory, SPA promotes a culture of innovation where faculty conduct cutting-edge public affairs research that builds bridges between the academic and policy worlds and shapes public understanding of the core challenges of our times. SPA’s faculty span multiple disciplines, including political science, public administration, public policy, criminology, criminal justice, terrorism, homeland security policy, economics, sociology, psychology, and law, and their work shapes debate and action at the local, national, and international levels. 

As SPA’s chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean provides intellectual leadership to SPA faculty, students, and staff, and leads planning, program development, fundraising, administrative, and personnel efforts to build and sustain excellence in the school’s operations. Reporting to the provost and serving as a member of the President’s Council and Deans’ Council, the Dean works collaboratively with AU leadership, other administrators and deans, faculty, and staff to advance the university and the school. Additionally, the Dean serves as SPA’s primary representative, engaging with external stakeholders to build visibility, reputation, philanthropic support, and revenue. 

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $325,000 to $375,000. The President and Board of Trustees reserve the final determination of the selected candidate’s actual pay, considering their experience and qualifications for the role.

To Apply:

To view the complete job description and submit your application, please visit the following link: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/american-university-school-public-affairs/dean.

Isaacson, Miller is managing this search, and all applications must be submitted through their website. Applications should include a resume or curriculum vitae and cover letter.

Benefits

AU offers a competitive benefits package including a 200% matching retirement plan, tuition benefits for full-time staff and their families, several leadership development certificates, and has been recognized by the American Heart Association as a fit-friendly worksite. Click here to learn about American University's unique benefit options.

Other Details

• Hiring offers for this position are contingent on successful completion of a background check.

• Employees in staff positions at American University must deliver their services to the university from either the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, or perform work on-site at the university.

• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• American University is an E-Verify employer.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu.

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.