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CSUN’s Commitment to You

CSUN is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning, and inclusion. Our values include a respect for all people, building partnerships with the community, and encouraging innovation, experimentation, and creativity. CSUN strives to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. CSUN actively seeks candidates who make contributions to equity and inclusion in the pursuit of excellence for all members of the university community.

The University

One of the largest universities in the country, California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is an urban, comprehensive university that delivers award-winning undergraduate and graduate programs to over 36,000 students annually and counts over 425,000 alumni who fuel the region’s economy. Since its founding in 1958, CSUN has made a significant and long-term impact on California, generating nearly $1.9 billion in economic impact and more than 12,000 jobs each year.  California State University, Northridge is a designated Minority Serving and Hispanic Serving Institution (MSI/HSI) and a California Black Serving Institution (BSI), nationally and statewide recognized for advancing opportunity and promoting the success of Hispanic, Black, African American, and other historically underserved students. In 2025, Washington Monthly named the university the No. 1 master’s university in the nation for contributions to the public good and ranked CSUN No. 2 Best Bang for the Buck in the West and No. 3 Best Colleges for Your Tuition and Tax Dollars. Also in 2025, the university earned a 4.5-star rating in Money’s Best Colleges, ranked No. 3 for diversity among public universities and No. 8 in the nation for social mobility in The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse. In addition, CSUN placed No. 9 on the California Mobility Index for advancing economic and social mobility from the College Futures Foundation.

The College of Humanities

With ten academic departments and five interdisciplinary programs, the College of Humanities is the most diverse college at California State University, Northridge. The College comprises disciplines that traditionally make up the study of Humanities—including Philosophy, English, and Modern & Classical Languages—while also housing the oldest and largest Chicana/o Studies Department in the United States and the only Central American and Transborder Studies Department in the country. In addition, core to the College is the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies & Liberal Studies, which puts CSUN among the top three institutions in California in preparing K-6 educators for the classroom. Among the College’s newest programs are minors in Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies, Queer Studies, and Civic & Community Engagement. In all, the College offers students over 40 major, minor and graduate degree paths, with many potential options for specialization.

About the Position of Dean of the College of Humanities

As a member of the university’s senior academic team, the Dean is the chief administrator of the college. The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and oversees departments and programs in the college. The Dean has primary responsibility for administering college instructional programs; creating and sustaining an environment supportive of academic excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship; developing and promoting long-range goals for the college; supporting interdisciplinary activities among departments of the college; planning, administering, and communicating about the college annual budget; implementing and interpreting university and state policies; making independent recommendations on all college personnel matters; managing, supporting, and evaluating college managers and staff; and recommending appointments of chairs and supervising their administrative functions. The Dean plays a major role in developing external relations with organizations, individuals, the community, and government, and in seeking supplemental external support for the college. The Dean has responsibility for providing effective leadership to support the increasing ethnic and gender diversity and international character of the college. The Dean represents the college in the university and community, and performs other duties assigned by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

As a leader, the Dean will have the opportunity to thrive in a community in which our leaders share common traits as identified in our Leadership Principles https://www.csun.edu/leadership-principles.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution with eligibility for appointment at the rank of Professor within one of the disciplines of the college
• At least three years of successful administrative experience in higher education, involving oversight of academic programs, personnel, and/or budget management at or above the level of department chair (or equivalent)
• Demonstrated record of excellence in university-level teaching, scholarship, and/or creative activity
• Demonstrated experience mentoring faculty, promoting faculty research and scholarship, and advocating for resources to support their professional growth
• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and work effectively with diverse groups, including students, faculty, staff, university administrators, alumni, and community leaders
• Demonstrated ability to provide visionary leadership, set strategic goals, and promote academic excellence in a complex and diverse academic environment
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion for students, faculty, and staff in all aspects of academic and administrative leadership

Preferred qualifications:

• Five or more years of administrative or leadership experience in higher education, especially overseeing complex operations or large organizational units
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, advancement, or development activities, including securing major gifts or building relationships with donors and alumni
• Demonstrated ability to lead innovation, manage change, and implement new initiatives or technologies in academic settings
• Evidence of successful strategic planning and implementation, including experience with long-term visioning and adapting to higher education trends
• Familiarity and experience working within shared governance structures and fostering collaborative decision-making with faculty and staff in a collective bargaining environment
• Experience using data analytics for institutional assessment, program evaluation, and continuous improvement

More information can be found in the institutional profile at the link above.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

• Salary is commensurate with knowledge, skills, and The University offers excellent fringe benefits.
• The anticipated HIRING RANGE: $210,000 to $242,000 per year, dependent upon qualifications and

Application Period

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Friday, August 28, 2026, can be assured full consideration. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

In order to be considered in the initial review, applications must be submitted prior to the date listed above. Application submissions received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

Effective Date of Appointment: As soon as possible.

How to Apply:

The university is being assisted by Academic Search. Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter, a CV, and a list of five professional references with full contact information. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications can be confidentially submitted at: CSUNDeanHumanities@academicsearch.org

Nominations and expressions of interest can be directed to the search team, electronically and confidentially, at: CSUNDeanHumanities@academicsearch.org

Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting senior consultant Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org.

Background check

This position is a sensitive position as designated by the CSU.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the status of candidates who apply for the position.

CANRA

The person holding this position will be considered a ‘limited reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Conflict of Interest

This position is a “designated position” in the California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code. The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Disability (physical or mental), Gender, Gender Identity (including Nonbinary or Transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Pregnancy or related conditions, Race or Ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), Religion or Religious Creed, Sex (including Sex Stereotyping or Sex Characteristics), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status. Our nondiscrimination policy is set forth in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Recruitment Services at 818-677-2101.