Job Description

Ithaca College has trained and educated some of the country's finest musicians, dancers, thespians, technicians, theatrical designers, directors, playwrights, scholars, arts administrators, and music educators. Its students benefit from close relationships with committed and nationally recognized professors. A low student-faculty ratio and a community-engaged faculty foster strong student engagement. Students gain expertise through private instruction, focused mentoring, active pedagogical practices, and a wide range of performance experiences, on and off campus.

To best meet the cross-disciplinary needs of music and theatre arts students, IC announced the merger of the highly ranked School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts in July 2022 to create the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. This nationally recognized professional training program attracts students from across the globe. The establishment of this school has been one of the many successes of the  Ithaca Forever strategic plan.

Throughout the year, undergraduate students present all aspects of music, theatre, and dance in a professional model, producing more than 450 performances. As a home for passionate creators, leaders, and performers, the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance empowers students to achieve their professional and personal goals. As a premiere hub for progressive practices in the performing arts, the school encourages students to reimagine and reinvent the future of the profession through personal support, academic rigor, expert instruction, and community engagement.

Reporting directly to the Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs  Melanie Stein, the dean will be an inspiring, collaborative, strategic, and creative leader with an unwavering commitment to Ithaca College and its legacy. The dean will be a champion for the strength, rigor, vibrancy, and scope of the performing arts experience at IC, which is deeply rooted in learning through theory, practice, and performance. Additionally, the dean will seed and cultivate an environment in which cross-divisional collaborations can thrive, allowing the school to contribute to the overall excellence and innovation of Ithaca College.

The dean will advocate for the holistic well-being of students both inside and outside of the classroom. They will support the school’s faculty in developing high-quality teaching, creative activity, scholarship, and bold curriculum, all critical components of excellence. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of the college, and it is expected that the dean will have a proven record of fostering equity and working with diverse groups.

The next dean will embrace a community rich in opportunity and committed to innovation and exploration. They will be a visible and compelling advocate for the arts, both internally and externally, with a strong capacity for cultivating existing and new alumni relations and fundraising. The dean will demonstrate significant intellectual curiosity and possess the ability to effectively represent the work of the students, faculty, and academic programs.

The dean will actively listen to the needs of faculty and staff to create and collaboratively execute a strategic vision. In addition to working well in a collaborative decision-making environment, they must be passionately interested in students and their development and demonstrate strong organizational and personnel management skills. Candidates will possess the requisite academic credentials and a distinguished record of scholarly accomplishments, or comparable achievements, sufficient to qualify for a tenured appointment at the rank of professor. Candidates with extensive performing arts administration experience will be considered.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile. Professional references are not requested at this time. WittKieffer is assisting Ithaca College in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 3 rd , 2024.

About Ithaca College

At Ithaca College, a comprehensive residential campus community of 6,500 students, we strive to be at the forefront of the higher education landscape. Our strategic plan, IC 20/20, positions us to offer a distinct integrative learning experience that makes students ready for the personal, professional, and global challenges of our age. We seek candidates who embrace integrative learning and want to be a part of this exciting time in Ithaca College history. We encourage creative collaboration and innovation in our faculty and staff, providing support and resources for them to grow in their fields and lead students to their own innovative ideas and achievements. We welcome different ways of thinking and look for candidates with unique points of view and life experiences. We are inclusive of individuals with a wide range of cultural, personal, and professional backgrounds, talents, and skills. Our campus is a vibrant and rewarding community where diverse minds can learn, succeed, and excel. Nestled in the heart of New York State's scenic Finger Lakes region, Ithaca College sits atop South Hill overlooking picturesque Cayuga Lake and is just minutes away from the city ce ... nter. Combining small town warmth and charm with the vibrancy of a college community, the thriving and culturally diverse city of Ithaca has been rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the United States. To learn more about Ithaca College, visit us at ithaca.edu.

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