| Job Description: |
APPLY HERE:
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-florida-college-arts/dean
The University of Florida (UF) seeks a passionate, transformative, and strategic leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of the Arts (COTA). The University of Florida is a leading public, land-grant, R1 research university spanning agriculture to the arts. COTA is a dynamic college that comprises the School of Art and Art History, School of Music, School of Theatre and Dance, Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship, and Digital Worlds Institute. COTA is comprised of 148 faculty members, 63 staff members, and 1,600 students (roughly 75% undergraduate and 25% graduate). UF is ranked 7th among the nation’s top public universities in the 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings and is one of only two public universities in Florida belonging to the Association of American Universities (comprising 71 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. and Canada). The UF community is comprised of over 60,000 students, 32,000 employees, a $10 billion annual budget, and more than 140 mission-focused units across Florida, including statewide healthcare and agricultural enterprises. UF has more than 6,600 faculty members with distinguished records in teaching, research, and service, including 22 Eminent Scholar Chairs, 38 elected members of the National Academies, 20 elected members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and 91 elected members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2024, UF research expenditures topped $1.26 billion.
COTA is a thriving college that achieves its mission by training professionals and educating students as artists, designers, and scholars while developing their capacities for critical study and creative practice. Degrees are offered on campus and online and feature a wide range of disciplines as well as opportunities for students to integrate arts and design study with other programs across the university. The College hosts more than 400 performances, exhibitions, and events each year, most of which are free to the public. Faculty and students also present, exhibit, and perform at other local, national, and international venues. COTA is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), University/ Resident Theatre Association (U/RTA), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).
As the College's chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean will play a key leadership role in demonstrating interdisciplinary progress at the confluence of the arts, and the ability to navigate the complexities of a leading American research university. COTA plays an essential role in concert with the educational mission of the broader University, and the Dean will further elevate the College as an engine of the intellectual life on campus in new and creative ways, deeply integrating COTA into the fabric of UF across disciplines. Working with the leadership team, the Dean will set a bold and innovative vision, establish new opportunities for the College within the University's strategic plan, and direct the growth and development of the College through shared governance. The Dean will participate in campus-wide planning and will be responsible for the College's teaching quality, accreditation, budget management, allocation of resources, administration of academic and research programs, alumni relations, and extension of its local, state, national, and international outreach. The Dean will also lead fundraising efforts and ensure that the College meets its goals as it looks towards the next capital campaign.
As the College's chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean reports directly to the University Provost. The Dean will demonstrate interdisciplinary progress at the confluence of the arts, and the ability to navigate the complexities of a leading American research university. COTA plays an essential role in concert with the educational mission of the broader University, and the Dean should further elevate the College as an engine of the intellectual life on campus in new and creative ways, deeply integrating COTA into the fabric of UF across disciplines.
The position requires an innovative and imaginative leader strongly committed to the teaching/learning process, the highest standards of scholarly and artistic achievement, and the welfare of students, faculty, and staff. The person who holds the position must show evidence of skill in designing and facilitating academic work that advances curiosity, respect, open intellectual discourse, and the welcome incorporation and well-being of all in an environment of complex differences.
In collaboration with the leadership team, the Dean sets the vision, establishes new opportunities for the College within the University's strategic plan, and directs the growth and development of the College through shared governance. The Dean participates in campus-wide planning and is responsible for the College's teaching quality, accreditation, budget management, allocation of resources, administration of academic and research programs, alumni relations, and extension of its local, state, national, and international outreach. The Dean leads fundraising efforts and ensures that the College meets its goals as it looks toward the next capital campaign. Direct reports of the Dean include the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, the Associate Dean for Research and Strategic Initiatives, the Director of Advancement, the IT Director, the Director of Human Resources, the Director of Finance, the Directors of the Schools of Art + Art History, Music, and Theater + Dance, the Director of the Digital Worlds Institute, the Directors of the Centers for Arts in Medicine, and Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship, an Executive Assistant, a Marketing Manager, and a Lead Web Developer & Manager.
The University has retained the services of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in conducting this important search. All inquiries, applications, and nominations should be directed in confidence to the search firm, as indicated at the end of this document.
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The College seeks a leader who will further foster an environment that empowers students to engage authentically and creatively with an ever-changing world. The Dean will support and position emerging and established faculty artists and researchers to grow their artistic careers. The Dean will be a capable manager able to draw on a strong and empowered staff to continue to drive COTA forward.
The performance and personal competencies required for the position include the following:
- Leadership: An established record of effective and collaborative leadership that also provides evidence of skill in designing and facilitating academic work that advances curiosity, respect, open intellectual discourse, and the welcome incorporation and well-being of all in an environment of complex differences.
- The capacity to successfully engage and partner with the diverse stakeholders at a public, land-grant, R1 research university, ranging from upper administration to faculty, staff, and alumni to the local and national communities. A proven ability to strategically formulate and articulate a shared vision for the College of the Arts with a collaborative management style, and to actively engage others in the implementation of said vision. The ability to recruit outstanding new faculty and staff as well as retain, support, and promote the College’s employees. A deep understanding and appreciation of shared governance. The ability to recognize, foster, and support the full spectrum of research and teaching in arts and design. A strong record of growing interdisciplinary collaborations and experience with strategic planning and program development.
- Academic Credentials: Demonstrated experience in teaching, research, and service appropriate to appointment to the rank of a tenured full professor in one of the units of the College. A terminal degree related to one of the College's disciplines. Candidates from a wide range of backgrounds are encouraged.
- Demonstrated Commitment to the Arts: A deep and clearly demonstrated commitment to arts or design in any area of the research spectrum of the college, and/or to interdisciplinary engagement. A commitment to the importance of arts and design broadly, beyond the candidate’s own area of expertise.
- Financial Management and Administrative Experience: Experience and demonstrated success in academic administration, including budget and personnel management. Evidence that the applicant will provide effective representation of the college on the UF campus, and to the state of Florida. Proven success in managing a leadership team within a complex organization. Proven ability to manage resources strategically.
- Capacity for Fundraising: The ability to lead strategic, large-scale fundraising initiatives, including capital campaigns, that align with the short and long-term goals of the College and University. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience building and nurturing relationships with alumni, friends, foundations, corporate partners, and key stakeholders to secure principal and leadership gifts to advance arts education and research.
- Focus on Students: Demonstrated understanding of the teaching mission and of a commitment to student success.
- Personal Qualities: A commitment to the mission of a global public research university. Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills. Innovative and creative problem-solving, along with a willingness to take risks. Ability to foster a collegial, collaborative, inclusive, and respectful work and educational environment.
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