Inaugural Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences at InsideHigherEd

Inaugural Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences
Dartmouth
Hanover, New Hampshire

Dartmouth seeks an exceptional scholar and experienced administrator to serve as the inaugural Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (“the School”). Dartmouth's profile is unique in higher education, combining the energy, activity, and resources of a major research university with an unparalleled dedication to undergraduate education across the arts and sciences. The inaugural Dean, as the chief academic, administrative, and budgetary officer for the newly formed School, will set the strategic priorities for a unified arts and sciences unit, which aligns administrative support for faculty success, excellence in undergraduate education, and a holistic residential student experience. The Dean will leverage Dartmouth’s distinctive institutional assets to galvanize the Arts and Sciences community around an ambitious collective vision for its next chapter.

Dartmouth has a long and distinguished record of leadership and innovation. President Sian Leah Beilock has redoubled Dartmouth’s commitment to leading higher education, utilizing the institution’s size, scope, and tight-knit community as advantages to forge a bold path in an important moment for higher education. In her 2025 Commencement remarks, President Beilock highlighted Dartmouth’s distinguishing values, which include an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, independence of thought, and vigorous and open debate within an intellectually rigorous environment that emphasizes civility and mutual respect. In 2024, Dartmouth adopted a policy of institutional restraint and is the only school in the Ivy League to receive a green light rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) for protecting freedom of expression on campus. A Dartmouth education empowers students to lead through the most challenging times, underpinned by deeply ingrained values, a commitment to continuous learning, and the courage to question and change opinions. As a member of the President’s Senior Leadership Team, the Dean will outline strategic priorities for the School and ensure that they align with and bolster Dartmouth’s institutional goals.

Dartmouth has a strong and enduring commitment to liberal arts education, and Arts and Sciences is at its core. Under the inaugural Dean, the new School will keep Dartmouth at the forefront of higher education, tapping into the energy, creativity, and innovative culture of the Arts and Sciences community to forge a bold and exciting future for the School.

To enable a new academic unit to flourish within a 255-year-old institution, the Dean must be strategic, administratively astute, and an accomplished manager. The Dean will unite a large and diverse academic community through consultation, transparency, and clear decision-making. The successful candidate will pair outstanding scholarly credentials with a record of implementing complex plans with measurable results. Given the velocity of change in higher education, the Dean will demonstrate intellectual flexibility and a readiness to design and implement modern operating practices.

Dartmouth has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the recruitment of the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. 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: Dartmouth, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

John Muckle, Partner
Stephen Kalogeras, Senior Associate
Isaacson, Miller

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other category protected by applicable law, in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, employment, or other school administered programs. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.

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