Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

University of Wisconsin Madison • Madison, WI

5d

About The Position

The University of Wisconsin–Madison invites applications and nominations for the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). CALS is an international leader in discovery, innovation, and education across the biological, physical, and social sciences and the humanities. Its integrated research, teaching, extension, and outreach missions translate discovery into benefits for Wisconsin and the world. The college offers a broad range of academic programs, has nearly 4,000 undergraduate students and strong graduate programs, and brings together 14 departments across fields including molecular biosciences, environmental sciences, production agriculture, soil and plant sciences, food and nutritional sciences, communication, sociology, and economics.

The Dean is the college’s chief academic and executive officer, providing leadership to more than 250 faculty and more than 800 staff. The Dean reports to the chancellor and provost and is responsible for strategic direction, academic programs, research, fiscal stewardship and development, inclusivity, personnel, and relationships with community, industry, and government partners. The college has a budget of approximately $250 million and a diverse portfolio of research support from federal, state, private, and philanthropic sources.

As Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, the Dean oversees the college’s federal agricultural research designation, associated federal research capacity funds, and a statewide network of 12 agricultural research stations. In coordination with the UW–Madison Division of Extension, the Dean helps advance the university’s land-grant mission. The college’s facilities include occupants across 28 campus buildings and more than 8,000 acres of land and associated agricultural research facilities in Madison and throughout Wisconsin.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in a discipline relevant to the position.
• Record of scholarly achievement and academic accomplishments appropriate to the candidate’s discipline, with the ability to receive tenure and be appointed as a full professor in a CALS department at UW-Madison.

Nice To Haves

• At least five years in leadership roles with progressive levels of responsibility.
• Record of successful, visionary leadership demonstrating understanding and appreciation of the changing academic environment and the diverse missions and constituencies of a major public research university.
• Commitment to advancing learning, research, public service, and the land-grant mission.
• Commitment to extension, outreach, and public engagement that apply research, education, and practice-based knowledge to solve problems and foster lifelong learning.
• Commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for students, postdocs, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to relate effectively to faculty, staff, postdocs, students, and external constituencies.
• Successful leadership experience managing a complex academic unit.
• Communication and advancement experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an environment that prioritizes shared governance and collaborative decision-making.
• Collaborative leadership with a problem-solving approach responsive to the instructional and research needs of other UW-Madison schools, colleges, and divisions.
• Ability to represent the college and university effectively in educational, governmental, business, agricultural, natural resources, alumni, nonprofit, and public forums in rural and urban areas.
• Familiarity with national agricultural experiment stations and the cooperative extension system.

Responsibilities

• Provide personnel oversight for the College, including recruiting a diverse faculty and staff and supporting professional growth and development.
• Lead and oversee the College’s instructional, research, extension, and outreach missions.
• Serve as chief academic officer of the College.
• Serve as an active member of the Deans Council and foster cross-campus collaboration with other deans and campus leaders.
• Oversee the College’s budget and long-term planning.
• Lead the College’s advancement and alumni activities.
• Promote an inclusive campus climate.
• Oversee and provide leadership for the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree