Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a leading private research university, renowned for technical innovation and creativity, seeks a visionary and ambitious leader to serve as the next Dean of the Saunders College of Business. Over the past decade, RIT has pursued a bold strategy that has resulted in advancement in every key institutional metric across applications, enrollment, faculty, and research. In 2019, RIT achieved R2 designation in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing it among the top 6 percent of colleges and universities in the nation. Today, it is on the verge of achieving R1 status and is ranked in the top 100 among “National Universities” in the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report (USNWR).
The dean will lead a college with a mission to prepare students to excel in organizations through experiential learning, teaching excellence, impactful research, and innovative partnerships at the intersection of business and technology. Saunders is committed to creating a positive societal impact that enriches the educational experience of its students through connectivity, community, and a technology-driven curriculum across four academic departments. The college has enrolled its largest freshman class for three years running, boasts a graduate portfolio of STEM-designated MBA and MS programs, and will be graduating its first PhD students in 2028. Having recently completed a $25 million industry-inspired state-of-the-art expansion and renovation that doubled the college’s physical space, Saunders has the facilities to prepare students to excel in a world being transformed by technology.
The dean will be a compelling storyteller and tireless advocate for Saunders, nurturing new partnerships inside and outside of RIT. They will work with faculty and leadership across RIT to accelerate curricular innovation and global opportunities for students, leveraging the strengths of the college and university to differentiate it in a competitive marketplace. They will foster a culture of belonging with an emphasis on developing and empowering faculty and staff and ensuring student success inside and outside of the classroom.
Rochester Institute of Technology has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document and will remain confidential.
COMPENSATION
The university offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. The expected salary for this role is approximately $400,000. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications, experience, market, and organizational considerations.
APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/rochester-institute-technology-e-philip-saunders-college-business/dean
Greg Esposito, Partner
David Grimes, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller | imsearch.com
In compliance with NYS’s Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources.
RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.
This document has been prepared based on the information provided by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The material presented in this leadership profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, the original source documents and information provided by RIT would supersede any conflicting information in this document.
