Department: Office of the Provost

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Description:

POSTION SUMMARY

The next Dean of the GCSW will be a visionary leader and strategic thinker who will bring innovative thought, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a reputation for working collaboratively with both internal and external constituencies to the position. The Dean will build upon the GCSW’s long-standing commitment to achieving social, racial, economic and political justice by developing and executing a compelling new vision for the College.

As Dean, the successful candidate will lead and leverage the critical and unique role of the College in contributing to and promoting UH’s vision for excellence. The Dean will further the GCSW’s mission by engaging with students in advancing scholarly inquiry, cultivating critical and creative thought, and generating knowledge.

The successful candidate will have the extraordinary opportunity to join one of the most ambitious institutions in higher education and lead a College that enjoys a national and international reputation. In their role as Dean, the candidate must embrace intelligent risk-taking while inspiring faculty and staff to proceed along a trajectory that is bold and transformational.

The new Dean will serve as the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the College and will work in collaboration with approximately 80 full and part time faculty and manage a budget of $4.9 million. The Dean will also assume a leadership role in completing a new and dynamic strategic plan for the College and garner the resources to make the plan a reality. The Dean will have the opportunity to help strengthen the college through several open faculty positions, including endowed professorships.

The new Dean will enter an environment ready for change and will play an important role in not only the GCSW, but UH and the city of Houston. There are opportunities to build and foster relationships with the community, governmental entities, and nonprofits. The new Dean will lead the further development and expansion of the GCSW’s commitment to service locally, nationally, and internationally. In addition, the Dean will strengthen existing relations and develop new partnerships that will result in a robust network of productive relationships.

The Dean will promote and strengthen the GCSW’s identity by fostering a shared sense of mission and culture among all College constituents and partner with a motivated faculty to cultivate an environment that is collegial - both interpersonally and intellectually. They will continue to enhance a culture committed to distinguishing itself locally, nationally, and globally—further strengthening the University’s Tier One status.

QUALIFICATIONS

Excellent interpersonal skills will be exceedingly important as the next Dean of the GCSW will be tasked with refining and advocating a compelling strategy for increasing scholarly productivity and grantsmanship alongside meaningful real-world impact with the goal of further enhancing UH’s position as a Tier One research university. Demonstrated leadership skills, a history of working collaboratively with diverse groups, and an understanding of the GCSW’s mission and culture are essential.

The ideal candidate will have a distinguished professional background that evidences the candidate’s potential for leadership in achieving and maintaining excellence and innovation in teaching, research, scholarship, and service with a proven background in garnering resources. They will have superior communication and relational skills and a record of cultivating internal relationships and fostering collaborative coalitions with non-profits, community, and government agencies. The Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work serves as the leader of the college and is expected to interface with the wider social work community around relevant issues as well as lead innovative solutions to expand the reach and reputation of the college. The
Dean is responsible for the college’s successful strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of policies, budgets, and programs. The Dean will provide a supportive academic environment that enhances the student experience, supports faculty scholarship, empowers staff, and fosters a collegial and collaborative environment.

The successful candidate will:
• possess a terminal degree and demonstrate strong scholarship and experiences commensurate with appointment at the rank of full professor in the college; a Ph.D. or M.S.W. from a CSWE accredited program is preferred;
• possess a keen political acumen and the ability to work within a university system;
• possess a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurialism. The Dean must be passionate about the GCSW’s mission and its commitment to its students and social, racial, economic and political justice;
• have a record of embodying social work values and the related vision of the GCSW through their scholarship and leadership, internally and externally;
• display openness to supporting diverse epistemologies, methodologies, funding sources, and impacts to advance research knowledge;
• serve as an advocate on behalf of the GCSW and its faculty and demonstrate the ability to present and support a dynamic vision to external constituencies;
• understand the importance of promoting and fostering a culture that embraces academic excellence and service;
• demonstrate commitment to leadership development, mentoring emerging scholars, and collaborative research projects;
• possess substantive social work practice and research experience;
• demonstrate experience developing new revenue streams including private fundraising, solicitation of grants and contracts, etc.;
• have a track record of working in institutions committed to serving urban and diverse populations;
• have a commitment to a participatory management style that encourages and empowers faculty and staff; the ability to delegate, to mentor, to oversee without interfering, and to provide critical feedback;
• have an understanding of, appreciation for, and experience in the enhancement of an academic unit’s research capacity; the Dean will work closely with faculty to develop research activity to secure increased levels of external support from federal, state, and private sources;
• have a track record as a creative problem solver and demonstrated experience with change management;
• demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity in all its forms; nurturing an environment that supports and enhances the diversity of the students, faculty and staff.

APPLICATION | NOMINATION

The Search Committee invites letters of nomination (self-nomination encouraged), applications (with a letter of interest, a complete CV, and a list of at least five references that includes contact information), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting UH. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. For full consideration, please submit applications by January 14, 2025. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority. Nominations can be submitted to Search Committee Co-Chairs Dean Catherine Horn and Dr. Juan Barthelemy or through the electronic nomination portal via the link below.

Julia Butler-Mayes, Ph.D., Executive Recruiting Coordinator
Parker Executive Search Five
Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875
Atlanta, GA 30328

jbutler-mayes@parkersearch.com

https://www.parkersearch.com/opportunities/dean-graduate-college-of-social-work