Dean, Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

Role summary

Why this role is interesting

<p>The University of Arkansas seeks a strategic, collaborative, and visionary leader for the position of Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design (the School). Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Dean will lead the state’s only school of design disciplines in an R1 University. </p><p> A statewide leader and resource for architecture and design education, research and creative activity, and collaboration within the University and beyond, the Fay Jones School is known for exceptional programs in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Architecture and Design, providing a vital schoolwide design culture and educational environment grounded in critical design thinking, multidisciplinary collaborations, and civic engagement. With a $17 million budget, steadily growing enrollment, and exceptional facilities designed by renowned architects, the School has built a reputation as a leading design school in the U.S. and globally.</p><p> The Dean will lead with a clear strategic vision and a culture of collaboration across the School, the campus, and the community. The Dean will work with faculty, staff, students, and the professional community to develop a vision for the future of the School, express a unified and visible identity; elevate the contributions to research and creative activity within the school and university; support and mentor a dedicated and exceptional faculty and staff; embrace the mission of student access and support; and manage and strengthen financial resources. They will demonstrate an appreciation of the disciplines, programs, and facilities that make up the School and an ability to work with colleagues in the College and across the University as an advocate and partner. The ideal candidate will have an energetic and collaborative leadership style that inspires and builds trust with faculty, students, and staff. Externally, they will maintain and strengthen relationships with alumni, donors, and industry. Candidates must have a record of scholarly achievement in research and/or practice commensurate with an appointment as a tenured full professor in the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. </p><p> The University of Arkansas has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries in confidence to Isaacson, Miller, as indicated at the end of this document.</p><p><b>FAY JONES SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN</b></p><p>The mission of the <a href="https://fayjones.uark.edu/" target="_blank">Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design</a> is to advance design excellence through a multi-disciplinary, place-responsive design education in service to Arkansas, the nation, and the world. The School was started in 1946, when the first architecture classes were offered as part of the College of Engineering in response to the post-World War II building boom. In 1975, the Landscape Architecture program was established as part of the Fay Jones School. The Interior Architecture and Design program was founded in 1978 in the Department of Home Economics and joined the school in 2010. </p><p> Today, the School enjoys a national reputation for producing outstanding designers who are well prepared for professional practice, as well as for further graduate study, teaching, and other allied disciplines such as construction, computational design, public policy, history, and historic preservation. Between 2017 and 2024, the student population doubled from 502 to 1,006, the largest proportional increase in student enrollment on campus. Full-time faculty in the school increased 17% over the same time frame. The faculty comprises approximately 60 members, including professors in practice who are renowned leaders in design practice and research. The School's staff of approximately 20 full-time employees plays a critical role in supporting student services, advancement, operations, technology, and administration. The School—like the University and the state—has a strong foundational commitment to access and student success. </p><p><b>QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS</b></p><p>While no one person may possess all the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will have many of the following professional and personal characteristics: </p><p>• Terminal degree in a relevant architecture or design discipline. An outstanding record of academic and/or professional achievement, and scholarly and creative impact commensurate with an appointment as a full professor with tenure. </p><p> • Commitment to and passion for the School’s mission and the ability to share an inspiring message about the value of a design education. </p><p>• Sophisticated interpersonal skills and diplomacy combined with a commitment to broad consultation and transparency – demonstrated ability to facilitate and convene, while also leading with clarity and decisiveness. </p><p> • Capacity for effectiveness at all levels of the School and University, as well as with partners and external stakeholders; desire and ability to engage in the broader U of A and Fayetteville community and amplify the School’s reputation within the region and amongst its peers. </p><p>• Strategic orientation and administrative capacity with a connection to practice and teaching; a balance of intellectual credibility and capacity to translate vision into reality. </p><p>• Enthusiasm and imagination for solving challenges and seizing opportunities within the context of contemporary higher education and architecture and design. </p><p> • A nuanced understanding of financial management and administration to facilitate both short and long-term strategic and financial decisions. </p><p>• Demonstrated fundraising capacity and ability to steward existing donors and partners and cultivate new ones. </p><p>• A strong sense of integrity and ethics. </p><p><b> APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS </b></p><p>The University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design has engaged the firm Isaacson, Miller to manage this search process. Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest and a current resume or curriculum vitae to be considered for the position. All applicant information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. </p><p> 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: <a href="https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-arkansas-fay-jones-school-architecture-and-design/dean" target="_blank">https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-arkansas-fay-jones-school-architecture-and-design/dean</a> </p><p style="text-align: center; "><b>Ben Tobin, Partner </b></p><p style="text-align: center; "><b>Nella Young, Senior Associate </b></p><p style="text-align: center; "><b>Alaine Small, Managing Search Coordinator </b></p><p style="text-align: center; "><b>Isaacson, Miller </b></p>

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