THE SEARCH
Vanderbilt University, a highly selective research university, seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as the next Ginny and Conner Searcy Dean of the College of Arts and Science (A+S). This is an opportunity to lead an ambitious academic community focused on excellence, innovation, and bold ideas, as evident in the University’s motto, Crescere aude: “Dare to grow.”
One of the four original schools at the University, A+S offers more than 100 departmental and interdepartmental majors and minors across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and science disciplines. Arts and Science is home to approximately 630 full-time faculty, 230 staff, 4,000 undergraduate students, and 670 graduate students. Among its faculty are members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences; winners of the Pulitzer Prize; and recipients of Carnegie, Guggenheim, and MacArthur fellowships.
In recent years the College has invested in and dramatically increased its research activity, embarked on planning and renovation of A+S buildings and facilities, examined undergraduate and graduate offerings, increased graduate student stipends, and implemented initiatives to strengthen equity, diversity, and inclusion. In Spring 2023, the University publicly launched its Dare to Grow campaign, with a fundraising goal of $3.2 billion; A+S has a goal of $420 million, of which $371 million has already been raised.
The next Dean will build on and extend this remarkable record while articulating and implementing a vision for the central role of the liberal arts in nurturing a university-wide culture of discovery, critical thinking, and scholarly inquiry. Working in partnership with colleagues in the College and throughout the University, the Dean will champion a vision that catapults the College to the forefront of higher education with global economic and social impact. The Dean will advance a strategy for A+S that is galvanizing and pathbreaking; work with others across campus to assert the centrality and primacy of the liberal arts and sciences in the University’s mission; and position the College—through active listening and communication, managerial sophistication, financial acumen, interpersonal and political skill, effective fundraising, and commitment to inclusion and shared governance—as the University’s foundation for scholarly inquiry, critical thinking, and societal engagement. A record of intellectual leadership, scholarly accomplishment, and meaningful collaboration will be among the qualities sought in the next dean.
A search committee has been formed and will be supported in this recruitment by Isaacson, Miller, the national search firm.
Confidential inquiries, applications, and nominations may be sent in confidence to:
Anita Tien and Katie Rockman, Partners
Andy Marshall, Managing Associate
Vanderbilt University A+S Dean Search
Vanderbilt University has a strong institutional commitment to recruiting and retaining an academically and culturally diverse community of faculty. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups, in particular, are encouraged to apply. Vanderbilt is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer
