Vice President and Academic Dean at InsideHigherEd

Vice President and Academic Dean | University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
Bradford, PA
October 2025

The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford (Pitt–Bradford), a regional campus of the world-renowned University of Pittsburgh, seeks an inspiring, visible, student-centered, and strategic scholar-administrator to serve as its next Vice President and Academic Dean (VP/AD).

Founded in 1963 and located three hours north of Pittsburgh and three hours south of Toronto, Pitt–Bradford enrolls nearly 1,200 students in more than 40 majors and pre-professional programs and offers the intimacy and close-knit community of a small college while drawing strength from the University of Pittsburgh system—an internationally recognized AAU institution and an R1 research university. Students benefit from personalized instruction, strong mentoring, and access to Pitt’s vast resources, including global research opportunities, while enjoying a residential campus environment uniquely their own.

The next Vice President and Academic Dean will join Pitt–Bradford at a moment of momentum and promise. Following years of pandemic-related disruption, the campus has achieved enrollment growth, record student retention, and expansion in NCAA Division III athletics. New academic programs such as engineering technology—developed in response to regional and statewide workforce needs—demonstrate Pitt–Bradford’s agility and commitment to serving both students and the broader community. With a strong foundation, a devoted faculty, independent resources through its own foundation, and the enduring prestige of the University of Pittsburgh brand, Pitt–Bradford is poised for continued excellence.

The VP/AD will report directly to the President and serve as the institution’s chief academic officer, responsible for shaping and sustaining academic quality, supporting faculty, and ensuring student success. This is a highly visible and hands-on position of significant influence, offering the right leader not only the chance to provide long-term stability after recent turnover in the role, but also a unique pathway toward future leadership.

The VP/AD serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet—a collaborative, supportive, and highly engaged leadership team – and oversees five academic divisions led by division chairs (part-time administrators); the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; the Assistant Dean for Academic Success and Advising who oversees student academic support units including the Academic Advising Center, Coaching and Tutoring Center, and a TRIO SSS Program; and a dedicated team of two administrative staff.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing visible, engaged, accessible, and hands-on leadership to faculty, staff, and students.
• Guiding academic planning, program development, and curricular innovation.
• Supporting faculty recruitment, retention, mentoring, and professional development.
• Championing student learning, retention, and career preparation.
• Advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Stewarding resources, budgets, and foundation-supported investments in faculty and instructional equipment.
• Serving as an advocate for Pitt–Bradford within the University of Pittsburgh system and with external partners.
• Engaging in fundraising efforts, including an upcoming $30M campaign supporting undergraduate research, academic facilities, and student success.

The successful candidate will bring:

• A terminal degree and a distinguished record of academic achievement appropriate for appointment as a tenured full professor.
• Demonstrated success in academic administration (dean, associate dean, division chair, or comparable leadership role).
• Experience supporting both professional programs (health professions, engineering technology, business, social work, etc.) and the liberal arts.
• Evidence of innovation in academic program development, student success initiatives, and faculty mentoring.
• Familiarity with or openness to working in a unionized environment.
• Financial acumen and experience managing budgets in resource-conscious settings.
• Strong relationship-building skills with faculty, staff, students, donors, and the community.
• A visible, accessible, and collaborative leadership style marked by active listening and thoughtful action.
• Willingness to “roll up one’s sleeves,” wearing many hats and engaging directly with the day-to-day life of a small campus.
• An appreciation for the opportunities and challenges of a residential, rural campus within a major public university system.
• Enthusiasm around playing a highly visible role on campus and in the Bradford community.

DSG | Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Ruth Shoemaker Wood, PhD and Christine Falcone. Submit a compelling cover letter and CV by filling out our Talent Profile: https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22680 Nominations and questions may be submitted to the search team directly.

All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

Ruth Shoemaker Wood, PhD, Managing Director
Christine Falcone, Senior Associate
DSG | Storbeck
[email protected]