Dean of the National College of Education
Summit Search Solutions

Job Info

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National Louis University seeks a Dean of the National College of Education

Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NLU_Dean_NCE_Profile.pdf

Location: Chicago, IL

 

The Position:

The next Dean of the National College of Education will join a college that is poised to innovate to advance student learning and community impact. The Dean will need to be a bold visionary prepared to lead the College towards an innovative digital future, expanding on the development of centers of excellence including the emergent Institute for Early Childhood, organizing literacy and reading programs into a cohesive body of work and contributions, developing faculty capacity and talent to deliver learning outcomes through different instructional delivery models, and continuing to advance National Louis University's commitment to ensure that every child has an excellent teacher regardless of zip code. The Dean must be willing to challenge the status quo internally and externally on behalf of children and amplify the university voice on policy issues. The next Dean must possess a data informed orientation and have a track record of executing necessary change to advance the reputation and contributions of the College.

The Dean reports to the Provost and works directly with the President and Provost on strategic matters. The successful candidate will be a strategic, innovative, and results-oriented leader with a track record of success - setting clear expectations, inspiring people, collaborating across the institution, and managing effectively. This individual must show evidence of a deep appreciation for teaching, learning, and scholarship along with a passion for serving Pre-K-12 education in addition to a strong understanding of the internal economics of the academic enterprise and the current challenges facing higher education.

National Louis University (NLU) is a leader in teacher preparation and an influential resource for Illinois' educational practitioners. The Dean will celebrate the College's rich history and founding ideals while defining a bold new future and building on its strong brand as a national destination institution. The Dean will work collaboratively with marketing and enrollment to highlight the breadth and depth of programs. The Dean will foster the development of new ground-breaking programs with the potential for great impact in the field. The Dean will ensure that all programming offered within the College is relevant to students' needs, current with community expectations, and meets or exceeds the College's internal academic and external accreditation standards. The Dean will support the University's goal of playing a thought-leadership role in the field and support faculty efforts related to scholarship and advancement of professional practice. The Dean is also the face of the College and represents the College with alumni, donors, and partners, advancing policy at the state and federal level to shape educator policies and standards. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to advance excellence and innovation in curriculum development and educational quality in collaboration with the faculty and community stakeholders.

The successful candidate must establish a vision in alignment with the University Strategic Plan that advances NCE's role as a national leader in educator preparation. The Dean must build upon areas of excellence including early childhood, literacy and reading, and leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Provide vision and leadership for the College.
• Develop and manage the budget and allocate resources appropriately to achieve strategic goals.
• Partner with the Provost to develop and implement action plans for the College aligned with the University's strategic plan.
• Utilize external and institutional data in decision making.
• Be an active participant in national and state-level discussions about policy and legislative debates and serve as a tireless advocate for Pre-K-12 schools.
• Continue to forge partnerships nationally and locally between the University, the Chicago Public School system, school districts, community colleges, and other universities to better address the needs of the schools and prepare the next generation of educators.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of the Florida Campus to ensure alignment between Illinois and Florida programs while exploring opportunities for new programs.
• Work closely with the Vice President of Marketing and Enrollment to support marketing and enrollment initiatives, and to foster the recognition and growth of the College.
• Collaborate with community partners to identify existing and emerging market needs for new programs and/or the transformation of existing programs. Develop and implement appropriate strategies to bring such opportunities to fruition.
• Work with Student Affairs and Academic Support teams to ensure an effective and seamless student experience.
• Work closely with the University's Advancement team to increase external funding to the College through philanthropy, partnerships, grants, and research funding.
• Maintain a regular presence on campus and work with all stakeholders to advance the organizational culture of the College, which is based on student-centeredness, accountability, and collaboration.
• Mentor, supervise, and evaluate the work of Program Directors and Chairs.
• Attract, hire, develop, and retain faculty talent.
• Lead professional development efforts.
• Work with faculty to create an environment conducive to learning and service that will lead to intellectual vitality and student success.
• Support the various instructional modalities offered at the University and elevate the use of technology to increase flexibility of program offerings.
• Identify areas of engaged research in the College, build teams of faculty and partners to pursue external funding, and play a thought leadership role in the field of education.
• Manage personnel matters related to faculty and staff in the College.
• Work with Program Directors and Provost Office to complete annual program assessment and accreditation requirements.
• Supervise the Centers of Excellence associated with the College working with the directors to increase the collaboration between the Centers and the affiliated academic programs. Align the work of the Centers with the University's strategic initiatives.
• Utilize the professional networks of the Centers to advance the University's brand and strengthen the College's engagement with the schools and community.

Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in education with a track record of increasing leadership achievement in complex educational environments.
• Demonstrated capacity for strategic leadership; the ability to move an organization forward.
• A record of academic achievements including teaching and/or research supervision.
• Strong financial acumen and the ability to utilize data in decision making.
• Experience in business planning, project and change management, and financial and budget management.
• Experience implementing strategic plans, including performance management goals and objectives, proven human resource management, and supervisory experience.
• A collaborative management style that includes building strong teams within, between, and across organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Active engagement with national professional education associations.
• Experience with effective educational accountability systems and a commitment to improving outcomes for PreK - 12 students.
• Experience in developing community partnerships and strong relationships, especially with K-12 school districts.
• Familiarity with online education, technology, and its impact on pedagogy.
• An appetite for fundraising; willingness and ability to raise money.

About the National College of Education:

National College of Education (NCE) has a long-standing reputation of distinction for its education programs and has been an innovative leader in early childhood, elementary, and secondary education since it started in 1886. Since its inception, NCE has been a pioneer in education advancing the kindergarten movement in the US, establishing the National Congress of Mothers as the first Parent Teacher Association, fostering the Head Start movement, and providing the first elementary education degree program in Illinois. In April of 2020, NCE completed its reaccreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP) and was awarded 7 years of accreditation.

To Apply:

Confidential review of applications will begin immediately. The position is open until filled. For full consideration submit an application by January 24, 2022. Please submit a PDF version of your CV and a letter of interest explaining your interest in and suitability for this position. To apply online, go to https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su277

 

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:

Stephanie Rivas-Fowler

Senior Consultant

 Summit Search Solutions, Inc.

Direct: (530) 677-9945

srivasfowler@summitsearchsolutions.com

 

National Louis University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of diversity among its faculty, staff, and students.

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