Open Searches

Oakland University, a public doctoral research institution in southeastern Michigan, invites nominations and applications for the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Reporting to Amy Thompson, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean will assume leadership at a pivotal moment for the University and the College. The successful candidate will bring vision, collaborative leadership, and a deep commitment to the modern liberal arts tradition, which emphasizes broad knowledge, critical thinking, communication, research, and the ability to apply learning to real-world challenges.

Expected to begin in summer 2026, the Dean will guide a large and intellectually diverse college through a period of transformation focused on student success, research growth, and academic innovation. The role includes recruiting and retaining outstanding faculty, supporting scholarly productivity and creative activity, overseeing the College’s budget and resource allocation, and advancing new academic initiatives that benefit students and the wider community. The Dean will also represent the CAS in key university governance bodies and external forums while serving as a compelling advocate and storyteller for the College’s achievements and impact.

Several priorities will shape the next Dean’s leadership agenda. These include reaffirming the value of liberal arts education; advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and responsible engagement with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence; strengthening research infrastructure as the University pursues its aspiration to move from R2 to R1 status; and enhancing enrollment, retention, and student success. The Dean will also work to cultivate a trust-based culture across the College, navigate financial and structural challenges while protecting academic quality, and expand community engagement and external partnerships aligned with the University’s Strategic Vision 2030.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate principled leadership, financial acumen, and exceptional communication skills, alongside a commitment to shared governance, inclusive excellence, and student success. Ultimately, the next Dean will serve as a visionary advocate for the liberal arts and sciences, and a strategic leader dedicated to strengthening the College’s academic mission and regional impact.

To be effective in this senior leadership role, the successful candidate for Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences must demonstrate all of the following required qualifications:

• Earned terminal degree from an accredited institution; and
• Distinguished record of teaching and scholarship commensurate with full professor appointment at Oakland University; and
• At least five years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience that includes successful budget management, supervision of personnel, academic program development and maintenance, and learning excellence, and advocating for students; and
• Experience in encouraging and supporting research, scholarship, and creative activities across a range of disciplines.

For more information about the institution, position, qualifications, and the complete application process, please review the full position profile linked at the top of this page.

Academic Search is partnering with Oakland University in this search. Potential applicants are welcome to schedule a confidential meeting with Dr. Ginny Horvath to discuss qualifications and position details. Nominations and expressions of interest may be submitted to OaklandCASDean@academicsearch.org. All information is held in strict confidence.

Although the search remains open until the position is filled, for full consideration by the Search Committee, candidates should submit all application materials by Monday, April 6, 2026. Applications may be submitted by clicking APPLY at the top of the page.

Oakland University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work-life balance.

Oakland University sits on traditional and ancestral lands and waters of the Anishinaabe people, also known as the Three Fires Confederacy comprised of the Ojibwe, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi.