Leadership Profile Dean, VCU School of the Arts and Special Assistant to the Provost for the VCU School of the Arts in Qatar 1 Photo by Steven Casanova (BFA ’15) 1 The Opportunity The Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts) seeks a deeply experienced and visionary leader. The next dean of the VCU School of the Arts will also serve as the special assistant to the provost for the School of the Arts in Qatar and will have the opportunity to join a highly energetic, engaged and talented faculty, staff and student population. The school, with a graduate arts program that has the highest U.S. News & World Report ranking ever achieved by a public university arts and design school, has established itself as a creative force, locally, nationally and internationally. The school encompasses a wide spectrum of disciplines whose distinctiveness fosters opportunities for premier collaborations and synergies within the school, across the university and around the globe. The next dean must embrace the opportunity to provide leadership for the caliber of creative work within the school. The faculty, students, staff and community set high aspirations for themselves, individually and as a school, and will expect the same from their next dean. The School of the Arts educates approximately 3,000 undergraduates and more than 140 graduate students through programs both in Richmond and in Doha, Qatar. In Richmond, students are taught by over 175 full- time teaching and research faculty members and more than 200 others who bring direct artistic experience into the classroom on a part-time basis, as well as 39 staff members that assist in in daily processes. The school is organized into 16 departments and programs, offering 2 Photo by Steven Casanova (BFA ’15) 18 bachelor’s degrees, six master’s degrees and one doctoral degree. The School of the Arts has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. The School of the Arts is a catalyst for innovative collaborations across campus and the community. VCU is one of only 54 universities and only 19 public universities nationwide to achieve both “Community Engaged” and “Highest Research Activity” designations by the Carnegie Foundation. It is the recipient of the prestigious Peter McGrath Award for University- Community Partnerships from the Association of Public & Land-grant Universities. Within this dynamic university, the School of the Arts adds significantly to, and is supported by, the vitality of Richmond — a thriving capital city marked by innovative expression in art, theatre, design, dance, film, architecture and more. Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business. 2 Key Responsibilities The dean will be responsible for the overall implementation of the mission and day-to-day operations of the School of Arts. Reporting to and working with the provost, and in coordination with the deans from other colleges, the dean will have responsibility for the strategic, programmatic, financial, fundraising and management operations that support the mission and vision of the School of Arts and its role within VCU. Additionally, the dean will have oversight for the School of the Arts in Qatar. In collaboration with the school’s leadership team, the dean will lead in shaping the future of the school, articulating a vision that defines its standard of excellence, the directions of its growth and the new and multidisciplinary connections that are possible not only across the university but throughout the world. Internally, the dean will be expected to create space for excellence and collaborations, while reducing obstacles that inhibit such goals, and actively foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. The next Dean will be visible and accessible to the broad community of the School of Arts. The dean will: • Provide intellectual and artistic leadership by inspiring faculty, students, staff, donor partners and professional colleagues • Identify and leverage opportunities that will capture the imaginations of a strategic and broad range of leaders on campus and in the community • Extend partnerships with the public sector, expanding connections in support of the development and national presence of the school • Communicate persuasively the mission and vision of the School of Arts to a broad stakeholder audience • Develop and execute clear and realistic fundraising strategies along with sound fiscal and operational policies • Advocate judiciously for the school 3 Photo by Steven Casanova (BFA ’15) internally within the context of the mission of this public university; • Recognize, reward, facilitate and actively participate in high-level research activities • Recruit and retain diverse and talented faculty colleagues in maintaining a commitment to excellence in collaboration with the school’s faculty • Assure continued focus on students, both undergraduate and graduate, attending to their diversity and providing the services and the support to ensure their success • Lead and manage effectively the overall operations of the School of the Arts and associated venues 3 • Lead the development of a strong and diverse faculty, overseeing recruitment, development and promotion and tenure activities, In collaboration with school leadership • Ensure and enhance the sense of community within the school and the university • Engage in active listening with all members of the community • Lead and enhance ongoing initiatives such as facility enhancement in support of academic excellence and chart new initiatives in collaboration with faculty and chairs • Ensure transparency and openness in communications • Support faculty efforts to promote equity for students seeking multiple pathways toward academic excellence • Promote a collaborative culture among chairs and encourage cross-departmental learning and strategic program development • Provide mentorship and support for chairs' leadership growth and professional development • Lead the school on its research initiatives within an arts context and as they relate to VCU’s wider research goals (Dean's responsibility to Quest 2025 research theme.) • Work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of diverse urban populations and support the university’s and school’s commitment to having a positive impact at the local community level, as well as nationally and internationally • Promote engagement and communication across departments, disciplines, positionalities (students, teachers, faculty, staff, chairs, administrators) both within and beyond the school. Professional Experience/Qualifications The preferred candidate has a terminal or equivalent degree in an arts-related discipline or substantive experience, sufficient to warrant a tenured position at the level of full professor in the School of the Arts. In addition, they should have a demonstrated record of administrative accomplishment in fiscal, facilities and personnel management in the arts, academia or an arts-related field, as well as experience or suitable preparation for success in fundraising and development. The candidate must be able to 4 Photo by Allen Jones, VCU University cultivate an environment that will stimulate the development of Relations initiatives that support student development, faculty goals and sustainability within the school and across the university. The successful candidate should also possess an entrepreneurial spirit, a passion for embracing diversity, a record of building relationships internally and externally and a talent for fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration. 4 They should possess a forward-looking vision for the role of the arts and the ability to inspire a community toward its fulfillment. The next dean should also possess: • A commitment to developing and promoting quality research, scholarship and creative expression • A strong record of leadership and success in elevating excellence • A commitment to continuous improvement of student learning and faculty teaching • A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion • A commitment to faculty and programmatic development • An entrepreneurial, innovative and global orientation • An interest in fostering community/university/national collaborations and partnerships • A demonstrated commitment to cross-disciplinary programs 5 Photo by Steven Casanova (BFA ’15) • The ability to articulate the school’s vision, goals, accomplishments and needs to constituents • A record of success and ability in recruiting and retaining talented and diverse faculty • A history of inspiring faculty to excel in teaching, research, scholarship and creative activities and rewarding excellence in these areas • Demonstrated leadership in infrastructure development and organizational maintenance, including attention to standards articulated by the national accrediting bodies of the various disciplines in the school • Experience as a seasoned, decisive leader and diplomat with strong organizational and consensus-building skills, integrity and the ability to inspire and lead faculty with diverse interests and scholarly approaches • A strong belief in shared governance • Strong communication, management and organizational skills • A record of exemplary personal and professional integrity Experience in international education and, especially, with campuses in foreign nations is highly desirable. 5 Institutional Background/Culture School of the Arts The school is known