Search Postings

Title: College of Education Dean
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Dean of Education
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

Illinois State University (ISU) invites nominations, inquiries, and applications for College of Education Dean. Reporting directly to the vice president for academic affairs and provost, the dean is the chief academic and executive officer of the college, providing vision and leadership in teaching, research, and service in the context of shared governance. The dean leads the development and implementation of the college’s strategic future. ISU seeks a strategic and innovative academic leader committed to the mission, vision, and values outlined in the University’s strategic plan to serve as dean of the College of Education.

The dean has overall responsibilities for developing an effective collegial environment that supports excellence in teaching, research, and service advancing the field of education. The dean provides leadership and supports efforts to advance equity, diversity, access, and belonging in Illinois State's culture, environment, programs, policies, and personnel. Commitment to these efforts is a priority for both the college and the university.
The Dean must be committed to continued excellence in undergraduate and graduate education. The dean supervises and oversees the annual appointment, salary, promotion, and tenure process in a unionized faculty environment to promote excellence in instruction; and provides leadership to expand scholarship, scholarly outcomes, and grant activity. The Dean facilitates collaboration between faculty members and among programs within the college and university, and coordinates the college's efforts with schools, corporations, other universities and communities, and state, federal, and international agencies. The Dean engages with donors, alumni, and external constituents to seek support and resources for the college and with college faculty, staff, and students to develop a shared plan for the future of the college and its role in the broader mission of the University. The Dean supervises the college unit leaders and dean’s office staff and assumes fiscal responsibility for the college.

ISU’s College of Education prepares early childhood through middle-level teachers, special educators, and administrators in addition to partnering with departments across the University to offer teacher education programs in a wide variety of academic programs and areas of study. With 44 accredited teacher education programs and offerings at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, Illinois State remains true to its founding as Illinois State Normal University, specializing in teacher education. The College of Education is also home to Metcalf and University High School Laboratory Schools.

The successful candidate will be an innovative, open, and persuasive leader, and a gifted collaborator with a deep appreciation for excellent education and the networking skills required to work successfully with a wide range of individuals and constituencies. The new dean will advocate for faculty development and the strengthening of students’ educational experience within the College of Education.

Additional Information

The College of Education complements its enduring commitment to inclusive teacher preparation and the development of educational leaders with the pursuit of valued scholarly contributions. A distinguished faculty, and the students they mentor, engage in work that discovers, integrates, and applies disciplinary knowledge while also advancing the University’s commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Illinois State was awarded $195 million in grant funds over the last four years, with $50 million being awarded to the College of Education. Centers and institutes (described below) help coordinate these efforts and enhance the College of Education’s and the University’s prominence in and impact on the field.

The University is one of the largest teacher preparation institutions in the nation. The College of Education is organized into the Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, the Department of Special Education, School of Teaching and Learning, Metcalf School, University High School, and the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center. The college enrolls nearly 3,000 students who choose from a wide array of teacher and administrator preparation programs, including elementary education; early childhood education; middle level education; reading, bilingual and bicultural education; learning and behavior; deaf and hard of hearing; low vision and blindness; leadership, equity, and inquiry; and areas of educational administrator/leadership. Graduate programs are offered in teaching and learning, special education, K-12 administration, and higher education administration.

The College of Education is among fewer than 100 in the nation that includes public Laboratory Schools. Metcalf and University High schools provide a unique educational option from pre-kindergarten through the senior year for approximately 1,095 students in the community. The schools also serve as sites for clinical experiences that are critically important to the college’s future teachers.

The full position profile can be accessed at https://greenwoodsearch.com/current-opportunities/.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Required Qualifications

1. An earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution in a discipline represented in the college.
2. Recognition nationally for outstanding scholarship and teaching, meriting appointment at the rank of professor with tenure within one of the college’s departments/schools.
3. Record of successful administrative leadership in large dynamic academic organizations as dean, associate dean, department chair/school director, or comparable leadership role.
4. Experience in developing and managing complex budgets with a record of accomplishment as a manager of people and resources in support of high-quality graduate and undergraduate instruction, scholarly productivity, public engagement, and outreach activities.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Fundamental understanding of the scholarly, teaching, and service responsibilities of a college of education faculty member at an R2 university; and a working knowledge of the pedagogical, androgogical, economic, and political relationships among academic units within the college.
2. Demonstrated commitment to the University’s core values which are: Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, Equity, Diversity, Access and Belonging, Respect, collaboration, Individualized Attention, Community and Civic Engagement, and Integrity.
3. Demonstrated ability to work collegially with other deans, administrators, and diverse stake holders in developing goals and programs and a commitment to shared governance.
4. Experience in the development and implementation of a strategic plan.
5. Knowledge of or experience in fundraising and donor stewardship.
6. Demonstrated commitment to equity and support of the critical needs of a diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
7. Demonstrated understanding of the collaborative role of public P-12 Laboratory Schools on a university campus and its connection to the teacher education programs.
8. Experience in developing or supporting study abroad and international partnerships.
9. Demonstrated understanding of the relationship between a College of Education and an embedded Teacher Education Center that supports all licensure areas including those housed in other colleges at ISU.
10. Experience providing leadership in legislative or other state or federal policy actions pertaining to university and college missions.
11. Experience working with national and state accrediting bodies in higher education.
12. Experience with leadership and/or oversight of facilities resources.
13. Demonstrated energy, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to communicate effectively.
14. Success securing and managing extramural funding.
15. Ongoing participation in national/international education professional organizations.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

Effectively communicate on a daily basis.

Proposed Starting Date

July 1, 2025

Required Applicant Documents

Applications should include the following materials:
• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s qualifications for the position.
• A current resume/curriculum vitae.

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

Greenwood Asher & Associates® is assisting Illinois State University with this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. The search will be conducted with a commitment to confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made. For best consideration, please submit application materials by December 2, 2024.

Contact Information for Applicants

Please submit all application materials (as separate PDF files) to ISUDeanEducation@greenwoodsearch.com

Inquiries, questions, and nominations regarding this opportunity should be directed to Jeremy Duff and Julie Schrodt with Greenwood Asher & Associates®.

Jeremy Duff, Vice President of Executive Search & Search Manager
Email: jeremyduff@greenwoodsearch.com

Julie Schrodt, Senior Executive Search Consultant
Email: julieschrodt@greenwoodsearch.com

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.