Dean, Graduate Studies

Emerson College • Boston, MA

5d • $200,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Emerson College invites applications for the position of Dean of Graduate Studies. Reporting to Emerson’s Provost, Dr. Alexandra Socarides, and working closely with its President, Dr. Jay Bernhardt, the Dean will be responsible for providing vision, leadership, and operational oversight of this dynamic and evolving part of the academic enterprise. Building on Emerson’s established reputation for excellence and creativity, the Dean will create and implement a plan to grow, advance, and innovate the College’s graduate degree and certificate programs in the context of its five-year strategic plan, Extraordinary Emerson 2030. The Position Serving on the Provost’s core leadership team, the Dean is the academic leader of Emerson’s Graduate Studies. The ideal candidate will be accomplished in their field and able to move fluidly across various areas represented in the graduate programs, demonstrating the ability to understand and engage with a broad range of academic and creative disciplines. The Dean will hold a tenured faculty appointment in one of the College’s academic departments. The Dean of Graduate Studies’ responsibilities and expectations will include: Developing and bringing to life a vision and strategy for post-baccalaureate education aligned with Extraordinary Emerson 2030 Championing the division’s role in the education, research, and service missions of the College Collaborating with the school deans, graduate program directors, and faculty to build new, innovative, and scalable graduate programs as well as enhance existing graduate programs Ensuring that the division sustains the highest standards for student support, engagement services, and professional and career development opportunities Building programs and initiatives that support the lives and experiences of graduate students Overseeing the Graduate Council, which is responsible for reviewing existing programs and approving curricular changes Collaborating closely across the College leadership, including the Vice Presidents of Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications, and Institutional Advancement Developing external partnerships that align with the College’s goals Managing budget, planning, and administrative processes Additional opportunities include: Developing new interdisciplinary programs across Emerson’s programs and departments, Exploring the potential value of external partnerships to expand degree and non-degree offerings and to broaden enrollment Refining approaches and tools that can inform Emerson’s graduate offerings Further developing and scaling Emerson’s international graduate offerings by leveraging Emerson’s existing relationships and developing new ones Collaborating with the Associate Vice President for Executive Education to strengthen Emerson’s non-degree, professional development programs for established and emerging executives Collaborating with the Assistant Vice President for Career Development to further enhance career support for graduate students

Requirements

• Academic credentials, graduate teaching experience, graduate mentoring, and research and/or creative record commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor in a department of one of the College’s three schools
• Capacity to develop and articulate a vision for graduate education that draws on and differentiates Emerson College
• Demonstrated academic leadership and administrative experience
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive and academic excellence, as well as shared governance
• Demonstrated ability to grow programs in strategic, data-driven, and innovative directions
• A record of establishing successful degree and non-degree programs at the post-baccalaureate level
• Experience working effectively with faculty, students, staff, administrators, and alumni from a variety of backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives
• Excellent management and organizational skills
• An understanding of budgeting and financial planning, including experience in developing, managing, and advocating for resources
• An understanding of the range of instructional modalities (in-person, hybrid, online, low residency)
• Experience working with external partners (e.g., 2U) preferred
• Equity and inclusion are core values at Emerson College, along with creativity, innovation, curiosity, expression, and collaboration. The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to Emerson’s core values.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with external partners (e.g., 2U) preferred

Responsibilities

• Developing and bringing to life a vision and strategy for post-baccalaureate education aligned with Extraordinary Emerson 2030
• Championing the division’s role in the education, research, and service missions of the College
• Collaborating with the school deans, graduate program directors, and faculty to build new, innovative, and scalable graduate programs as well as enhance existing graduate programs
• Ensuring that the division sustains the highest standards for student support, engagement services, and professional and career development opportunities
• Building programs and initiatives that support the lives and experiences of graduate students
• Overseeing the Graduate Council, which is responsible for reviewing existing programs and approving curricular changes
• Collaborating closely across the College leadership, including the Vice Presidents of Enrollment Management, Marketing & Communications, and Institutional Advancement
• Developing external partnerships that align with the College’s goals
• Managing budget, planning, and administrative processes
• Developing new interdisciplinary programs across Emerson’s programs and departments
• Exploring the potential value of external partnerships to expand degree and non-degree offerings and to broaden enrollment
• Refining approaches and tools that can inform Emerson’s graduate offerings
• Further developing and scaling Emerson’s international graduate offerings by leveraging Emerson’s existing relationships and developing new ones
• Collaborating with the Associate Vice President for Executive Education to strengthen Emerson’s non-degree, professional development programs for established and emerging executives
• Collaborating with the Assistant Vice President for Career Development to further enhance career support for graduate students

Benefits

• In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members.
• We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.
• Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible.
• Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees