The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the College of Education. Reporting to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Dean has broad authority and responsibility for oversight of all aspects of the academic endeavors of the College of Education.
The Dean, as the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the College of Education, is a campus leader who helps guide innovation, learning, community engagement, and the University’s strategic mission. Academically, the Dean is responsible for leading the College’s faculty hiring and promotion decisions across all ranks, amplifying its collective research and scholarly productivity, and cultivating a culture of curricular innovation that leads to world-class student outcomes. Administratively, the Dean oversees strategic planning, budget management, fundraising, and promotes community engaged scholarship, outreach, and partnerships to ensure that the College’s operations are inclusive, effective, efficient and impactful. The Dean provides the overall vision and leadership to guide and expand the College’s service to the St. Louis region and beyond and enhance its national and international reputation driving UMSL to be the premier College of Education for St. Louis and beyond.
The Dean is also responsible for ensuring equity and excellence in research, discovery and creative activity; educational programs; and service that emanates from the College while fostering a culture within the College to achieve the University’s mission of Transforming Lives. The Dean exemplifies, supports, acknowledges, and commemorates the individual traits and behaviors that foster a sense of variety, fairness, togetherness, and acceptance among every member of the College
The successful candidate will promote student achievement, enriching the lives of students including non-traditional, international, and first-generation college students. The Dean will drive enrollment, retention, and academic programs and research/scholarship, while amplifying the College's engagement with the broader community.
By capitalizing on the University's urban essence, the Dean will chart a course for growth within the ever-evolving higher education landscape and will be pivotal in advancing the College's alignment with UMSL's mission and objectives.
The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Education and is responsible for the planning, management, and quality of the College’s academic and research programs. Reporting to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Steven Berberich, the Dean is expected to provide visionary and strategic leadership for the College as well as to exercise influence and leadership across campus, working closely with other UMSL senior leaders and administrators to establish and implement priorities for the entire University. The Dean is also the face of the College externally, fostering and developing relationships with local schools, state government, donors, funders, alumni, and other stakeholder groups.
The Dean holds financial and operational responsibility for the College of Education, managing an annual operating budget of $10M and $16M in active grants.
The Dean’s Office staff currently includes a talented team of two Associate Deans, two Academic Department Chairs, Director of Quality Assurance, Director of Faculty Success & Engagement, Business Services, Director of Academic Advising, Director of Clinical Experiences, Director of Program Operations in the Department of Professional Learning and Innovation, and Director of Charter School Sponsorship. Overall, the College has 59 full-time staff members, 11 of which are grant-funded; 33 tenure-tracked faculty, 21 tenured, which included 11 Endowed professorates, 9 non-tenure-tracked faculty, and 9 Scholars in Residence. As of Fall 2023, there were around 415 undergraduate students, 1000+ graduate students, and 30 non-credit inclusive postsecondary students.
The College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) embodies a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusivity, and creativity. This vibrant environment empowers students, staff, and faculty to collaborate effectively, leveraging their collective expertise to educate and positively influence both the local community and the broader world.
Central to our philosophy is the principle of meeting students where they are, ensuring that every individual's unique needs and circumstances are acknowledged and addressed. Under the leadership of the Dean, the college fosters an atmosphere of intellectual freedom, encouraging innovative thinking and nurturing the talents of future leaders within the educational landscape. Together, we strive to create impactful initiatives and programs that shape the future of education and positively impact communities near and far.
At a pivotal time in its history, the next Dean will play a leading role in propelling the College of Education forward and continue the work into the future with focus on the following:
In collaboration with the College community, develop a strategic and entrepreneurial vision for the College of Education that builds on its strengths in research and academic excellence.
The Dean will develop College plans based on the diversity of disciplines in the College, with a goal of strengthening the College’s prominent reputation in research and scholarship.
reinvigorate the land grant mission and community impact and remain at the forefront of an ever-evolving education sector. They will work closely with Department Chairs, Associate Deans, and the Faculty and Staff to assess the needs and opportunities for departments and units and to support continued excellence in each area.
Build a shared identity across the College of Education that recognizes the strength of its interdisciplinary breadth and unifies faculty, staff, and students with a common purpose, strengthening partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The College of Education encompasses a wide range of disciplines, programs, and research activities, all with their own culture and tradition. The diversity of the College of Education’s programs and disciplines is both a strength to be leveraged and a challenge to lead across.
The Dean will also work across UMSL to ensure the College looks outward and builds interdisciplinary research and educational partnerships that enhance the overall excellence of the University. The new Dean of the College of Education will join a cadre of dynamic and collegial peer Deans with a strong commitment to cross-institutional efforts.
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is firmly committed to its role as a responsible neighbor and collaborative partner within the community. This commitment is underscored by our deliberate utilization of the university's operational and educational resources in tandem with local stakeholders to foster the growth and resilience of North County and the broader St. Louis region.
In alignment with this ethos, the Dean of the College of Education will actively collaborate with various entities across the university, in coordination with the UMSL Anchor Institution Initiative. This initiative, grounded in the principles of Excellence in Community Engagement and Economic Development, is guided by four foundational pillars. These pillars encompass initiatives aimed at promoting local hiring, fostering local procurement practices, establishing robust partnerships with neighboring school districts, and supporting various community-driven projects.
Furthermore, the COE Dean is poised to play a pivotal role in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, cross-campus mental health initiative. This interdisciplinary endeavor seeks to address the pressing mental health crisis prevalent across the nation, with a particular focus on the unique challenges faced within our region. By leveraging the collective expertise and resources spanning multiple disciplines, this initiative aims to enact meaningful change and provide vital support to individuals and communities grappling with mental health issues.
In essence, the COE Dean, in conjunction with university-wide initiatives, stands as a catalyst for positive community engagement and impactful change, embodying UMSL's commitment to social responsibility and collective well-being.
Foster a culture of inclusive excellence that promotes faculty, staff, and student morale and ensures a sense of belonging and advance the College of Education’s commitment to cultural competency.
The Dean will be looked to as a leader, in both word and example, who nurtures and continually reinforces a climate of acceptance and inclusive excellence where all members of the community can reach their individual and collective potential. Through transparent and accessible leadership, the Dean will provide adequate support for faculty and staff at all stages of their careers and strengthen mechanisms for shared governance and data-informed decision-making.
The Dean will maintain an environment that operates based on openness, civility, and respect; and enhance the College’s work in preparing culturally competent, empathetic educators, administrators, counselors, and service providers. This includes identifying pipelines for access and effective means of marketing programs to diverse prospective students, as well as enhancing student success and retention efforts. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining eminent faculty who reflect the students and communities the College of Education serves are also critical priorities. The Dean will bring a nuanced understanding of the critical role equity and social justice play in the education sector and national discourse with a track record of meaningful impact and engagement on these issues.
Working collaboratively with senior leaders on campus, the Dean will champion and advocate for the College of Education and serve as the external face of the College in the community.
As the face of the College of Education, the Dean must be an effective advocate, emissary, and public speaker who will further enhance the College’s profile and resourcing. The Dean is expected to both personally engage in and encourage faculty to engage in public scholarship and contribute to the national dialogue around the greatest challenges facing the future of the education field, broadly defined. The Dean, as a thought leader, will elevate the College of Education’s reputation, voice, and opportunities for impact both on campus and externally with the State of Missouri, policy makers, school districts, and other educational leaders. The Dean serves as a prominent representative of the college in local, regional, and national contexts, fostering partnerships, securing funding opportunities, and promoting the college's impact and contributions to education and society at large. In essence, the Dean's leadership and advocacy are essential in positioning the College of Education as a vibrant hub of innovation, scholarship, and transformative education within the university and beyond.
The Dean of the College of Education must embody strong leadership qualities, serving as a passionate advocate for the college within the university community. This individual should be dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence, while actively promoting the college’s mission, values, and achievements to university leadership and across the institution.
As the highest-ranking academic official within the College of Education, the Dean plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and overall trajectory of the college. It is imperative that the Dean possesses the ability to effectively communicate the college's vision, goals, and needs to university leadership, advocating for resources, support, and recognition to further advance the college's mission. By forging strong relationships with university administrators, department heads, and faculty from other colleges, the Dean can facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations, leverage shared resources, and champion initiatives that benefit both the College of Education and the broader university community.
Strategically steward and grow the College of Education’s enrollment and resource base.
In a constrained fiscal climate at the state and federal level, the Dean will be expected to develop and foster relationships with critical stakeholders such as alumni, funding agencies, policymakers, local educational partners, and donors to articulate unique opportunities for collaboration and areas for investment. They will work closely with Advancement and fundraise and secure resources to support endowed chairs, graduate student support, faculty research and teaching support, and scholarships. In addition to philanthropy, the Dean will bring an entrepreneurial vision to develop new and innovative revenue streams, including investing in the continued growth of online and non-degree programs, to drive enrollment and impact and support the College’s aspirations and priorities.
Minimum Qualifications:
The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications:
Qualifications and Characteristics:
While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:
Leadership: Leadership skills that promote collaboration on achieving common goals that balance empathy and accountability, and that emphasize integrity, confidentiality, and tact.
Metropolitan Education and Teacher Preparation: Experienced and enthusiastic about working in metropolitan and urban education, particularly in teacher preparation for state and regional districts/settings.
Collaboration and Commitment: Demonstrates commitment to excellence in advancing educational programs, research opportunities, and innovative program development. Willingness to collaborate with partner districts and professional communities.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: The ability to communicate effectively, compassionately, and empathetically with staff, faculty, and students, and create an environment that is positive, collegial, and transparent with a commitment to shared governance.
Student-Centered Mission and Decision-Making: Evidence of collaborative and strategic decision-making aligned with a student-centered mission, supporting research and academic programming.
Innovative Program Development: Experience in developing and implementing innovative programs or initiatives to enhance student access, enrollment, retention, and success for a largely diverse set of college students including but not limited to first-generation, adult learners, returning students, transfer students, veterans, parents, working professionals, international, students with disabilities, students with diverse academic backgrounds, and more.
Values Commitment: Experience in valuing the uniqueness of every individual and striving to ensure inclusive learning and working environments.
Community Partnerships: Leadership in building productive community, schools, community college, and other local and regional partnerships developing long-term plans and strategies for maintaining and strengthening those relationships as well as inspiring trust and confidence.
External Resource Generation: An enthusiasm for and proven record of accomplishment of raising funds from a variety of sources, including private donors, foundations, and government agencies, and through outreach to alumni.
Academic Excellence and Financial Acumen: A scholar with impeccable judgment, committed to academic excellence in recruiting, developing, and retaining faculty and practitioners. Possesses an astute understanding of university finances and the relationships among academic priorities and budgeting.
The College of Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis stands as a leading institution in the preparation of educators within the state of Missouri. Offering a comprehensive array of academic programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as over 50 state certifications and national licensures for educators, the college is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of educational leaders. With a commitment to accessibility and flexibility, the college provides both online and in-person classes, ensuring that students can pursue their educational goals in a manner that suits their needs. The College of Education comprises three departments—Educator Preparation and Leadership, Education Sciences and Professional Programs, and Inclusive Postsecondary Education—as well as two full Research and Community Centers. Our nationally accredited programs are meticulously designed and administered by award-winning research and teaching faculty, supported by a team of highly qualified staff. This dedication to excellence ensures that our students, including adult learners, post-traditional students, returning students, transfer students, students with disabilities, students with diverse academic backgrounds, students from lower-socio-economic backgrounds, international students, professional students, parents, and more, receive the highest quality education and are equipped to make meaningful contributions to the field of education.
Established in 1963, the University of Missouri–St. Louis is the region’s premier public university in eastern Missouri and comes with a storied history. UMSL is a metropolitan, public research and teaching institution consistently recognized for its strong academic programs across disciplines and is considered a primary driver of the St. Louis economy. Supported by nearly 700 faculty across nine schools and colleges, UMSL offers an array of degree options including doctoral and graduate degree programs, numerous bachelor and certificate programs, and is home to the only professional optometry school in Missouri.
As a long-time recipient of the Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, UMSL is focused on advancing inclusive prosperity for all of its students. UMSL is also proud to be ranked for the first time by U.S. News among the nation’s Best Colleges for Veterans.
UMSL serves nearly 14,000 students annually and is committed to meeting the diverse needs of students in the state’s largest metropolitan community, and as such, is focused on educating both traditional and nontraditional students. Because of our focus on student retention and academic supports open to all students, UMSL graduates the most diverse college-educated workforce of any university in the state.
UMSL provides excellent learning experiences and outcomes to thousands of students annually whose influence on the region upon graduation is immense. While UMSL's more than 115,000 graduates can be found in all 50 states and throughout world, their greatest impact is felt in the St. Louis region where more than 75% remain to live, work, lead and contribute to the state's most diverse and economically important region. Moreover, UMSL boasts the largest alumni network in the St. Louis region and our alumni contribute $13.4 billion annually in overall economic impact to the state of Missouri.
UMSL enjoys collaborative partnerships with civic, business and other regional and national organizations to provide tremendous opportunities for collaboration, research, knowledge creation and to build a thriving workforce pipeline. Many UMSL alumni find tremendous opportunity for their careers in St. Louis, close to their alma mater, as members of the regional workforce. Chief among those that employ UMSL graduates are the region’s 14 Fortune 1000 companies and large private organizations. For example, the UMSL campus houses the headquarters of Express Scripts, a subsidiary of CIGNA, one of the nation’s leading corporations, and we maintain strong ties to significant manufacturers and industry leaders in the St. Louis region such as Ameren, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Boeing, Edward Jones Investments, Enterprise, Emerson, Nidec and Wells Fargo Advisors, just to name a few.
The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive community of faculty, staff, and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal of collaboration and inclusion and value the many unique qualities and experiences a diverse environment offers.
Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.
