Dean for the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Application deadline: January 19, 2024
Senior Consultant: Carlos Medina
carlos.medina@academicsearch.org
Senior Consultant: Dorothy Campbell
dorothy.campbell@academicsearch.org
Associate Consultant: Melissa Anderson Parker
Melissa.Parker@academicsearch.org
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU, Central) seeks a founding Dean for the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CHRS) who is academically accomplished, student-focused, innovative, and energetic. The successful Dean has a proven track record of building students’ capacity to live, work, and contribute to the health landscape of their community, state, and increasingly diverse world. The Dean will shape and lead the college and a student-run Community Health Education Clinic with exemplary management skills; foster collaborative and data-informed fiscal and facilities planning, execution, and accountability; advance CCSU’s mission driven purpose; and enhance the University’s campus culture.
Founded in 1849 as New Britain Normal School, Central was the first public institution of higher education in Connecticut and the sixth normal school in the nation. It was first located in what was to be New Britain’s new Town Hall, which was still under construction, and which was modified and expanded to meet the needs of the school. Over the decades, the school’s needs surpassed its physical space, so in 1883 it moved to a new facility, jointly funded by the town and the State of Connecticut, overlooking Walnut Hill Park. In 1922, the school moved to its current location. In 1933, it was renamed the Teachers College of Connecticut and authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees. In 1959, it became Central Connecticut State College, and in 1983, the college became Central Connecticut State University, a comprehensive regional university authorized to grant baccalaureate and graduate degrees. Since then, Central’s campus has grown dramatically, and its curriculum includes baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. However, it is still an integral part of New Britain and the greater Hartford area and is a crown jewel of Connecticut public higher education.
The College seeks an experienced Dean and leader who will report to the Provost. The Dean will lead inclusive and transparent strategic processes for strengthening and growing the College and Community Health Education Clinic; promote innovative, engaging, and student- centered approaches to teaching, research, development and service. The Dean will direct the Associate Dean and lead academic program Chairs as they facilitate the work of the faculty and staff.
CCSU is a unionized campus. The seasoned professional is expected to uphold the highest ethical standards and embrace the benefits of inclusive, shared governance, and in doing so, will enhance trust and transparency while building community. The successful Dean will ensure the academic needs of the students are met and the dual purpose of the student-run Community Health Education Clinic provides experiential learning opportunities for students while helping to meet the healthcare needs of the surrounding community. The Dean will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, partnering with other Deans, Vice Presidents, and Directors as appropriate.
The seasoned professional will advocate internally and externally for all programs and units within the College, ensuring academic quality in undergraduate and graduate programs as well as meeting the standards of external accrediting agencies for academic programs and licensing requirements for the Community Health Education Clinic. Collaborating with the Division of Enrollment Management, the Dean will oversee and help achieve recruitment and retention goals for the college. The Dean will also work collaboratively with the Medical Director of the Community Health Education Clinic and the Associate Vice President for Community Engagement and Experiential Learning to advance the Clinic. The academic leader will provide opportunities for faculty and staff development.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have the necessary credentials, experiences, competencies, and disposition to provide leadership and guidance in implementing existing, new, and interdisciplinary academic and professional programs and a student-run community- focused health education clinic in the College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Additionally, the successful candidate should have demonstrated experience in academic leadership (i.e., overseeing an academic unit college/school), promotion and tenure process, health-related programs, clinical practice, and budget management within a unionized environment. The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, students, staff, and other administrators; a commitment to academic excellence and accountability; an ability to work with faculty to continue to develop, articulate, and implement a constructive and workable vision for the College; and a record of demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
More information, including an institutional profile with a full list of responsibilities and preferred qualifications, is available at the link above.
How to Apply
The University is being assisted by Academic Search. Applications should consist of a substantive letter of interest specifically addressing the applicant’s background in relationship to the qualifications described, a curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to: CCSUDHRS@academicsearch.org.
Applications will be accepted through January 19, 2024. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Carlos Medina or Dorothy Campbell.
As an affirmative action employer, Central Connecticut State University actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.