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California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) seeks an inspirational leader who possesses the academic, financial, and strategic acumen to execute collaborative, equitable, and transparent leadership for the present and future of the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). The new Dean will join a dedicated leadership team that is committed to advancing the University’s broad and forward-looking mission. The appointee is expected to begin in the summer of 2026.

CSULB is a diverse, learning-centered, globally engaged public university that is a minority serving institution (HSI and ANAPISI designations). The University enriches the lives of its students and its surrounding community through globally informed, high-impact educational experiences with superior teaching, research, creative activity, and public action.

The College of Liberal Arts is the largest college on campus, with 31 excellent departments and programs, several innovative centers and projects, and more than 685 outstanding faculty members and 74 individual staff members. The CLA Dean is expected to exercise vision, ethical leadership, and advocacy for the academic affairs of the College, including curricular matters, research, and other scholarly activities. As such, the successful candidate will hold a proven record of scholarship; experience in fostering diversity and inclusive excellence; commitment to transparency in decision making; a track record of promoting effective approaches to teaching and learning; and an unwavering commitment to fair, transparent, and collegial leadership.

Academic Search is assisting California State University Long Beach in this search. For more information about the institution, leadership agenda, qualifications, and application process, please download the full position profile from the Academic Search website: https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches-public/.

Although nominations are not required to be considered for this position, leaders who know of outstanding candidates are welcome to submit confidential nominations by sending an email to CSULB-CLADean@academicsearch.org. Please include the nominee’s full name, position, institution/organization, and email address.

Dr. Cynthia Patterson and Dr. Maria Thompson, Managing Directors and Senior Consultants, are assisting in this search. To learn more about this opportunity or to schedule a phone call, potential applicants are welcome to submit their CV’s to CSULB-CLADean@academicsearch.org. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in strict confidence.

Priority consideration will be given to materials received by Sunday, February 22, 2026. The anticipated salary range for this position is $230,000 – $241,000.

If you have any questions or if you have a disability and need accommodation with pre-employment processes (applications, interviews, etc.), please email FAHR@csulb.edu. Additional information about the institution may be found at www.csulb.edu.

CSULB is an Equal Opportunity Employer.