Leadership Profile Towson University Dean of the College of Education This search is being assisted by:
Towson University, the state s preeminent teacher preparation institution, invites applications from, and nominations for, a collaborative, experienced, and strategic leader to serve as Dean of the College of Education. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is the chief academic officer for the College which consists of the departments of Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Secondary and Middle School Education; Special Education; Educational Technology and Literacy; and Instructional Leadership and Professional Development. In addition, the dean oversees a number of specialized centers and institutes, including the Center for Educational Leadership, the Center for Professional Practice, the Institute for Professional Development School Studies and the Towson Reading Clinic. The new Dean is expected to take office on or about July 1, 2015. THE UNIVERSITY Founded in Baltimore in 1866 as the State Normal School, and relocated eight miles north to Towson in 1915, Towson University looks forward to celebrating its 150 th anniversary in 2016. The university s beautifully landscaped, 328-acre campus is a blend of traditional and modern architecture, open space, woods and streams that offers a pleasant environment and easy access to a wealth of university and community resources. Towson's educational experience extends to several off-campus locations throughout Maryland and includes a number of online options. Recognized today as one of the nation's best regional public universities, Towson offers more than 100 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. With more than 22,000 students, Towson University is the second largest public university in Maryland. Towson combines researchbased learning with practical application, and its many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs. Towson University is one of 12 institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). The university is organized into six administrative divisions, each headed by a vice president reporting to the President. The Division of Academic Affairs is led by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, who is responsible for academic programs and services offered through six academic colleges, the university library, the office of graduate studies, several institutes and programs, and the institutional research and enrollment
management administrative units. The Deans Council, which advises the Provost, is comprised of the deans of the following eight units: College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, College of Health Professions, College of Business and Economics, Office of Graduate Studies, and Albert S. Cook Library. The Deans Council works collaboratively and meets weekly with the Provost. Towson University s mission includes teaching, research and public service. The largest comprehensive university in Maryland, Towson University is nationally recognized for its excellent programs in the arts and sciences, communications, business, and health professions, as well as education, fine arts, and computer science. Towson is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The university s historic reputation in teacher education and its commitment to leading the nation as an example of best practices in teacher preparation and school leadership is reflected in the Towson University strategic plan, TU2020, which includes among the 10 priorities: Excellence and innovation in STEM, arts integration and special education will transform the future of the pre-k through 12 academic model for the youth of Maryland and the nation. More information about TU2020 is available at: http://www.towson.edu/main/abouttu/tu2020/index.asp. THE COMMUNITY The university is located in Towson, which has a population of approximately 52,000 residents and is the county seat for Baltimore County. Downtown Baltimore, home of the National Aquarium, Fort McHenry and Fells Point, offers shopping, nightlife, theater, music, and museums. Sports fans will enjoy Orioles baseball, Ravens football and Blast soccer. The many cultural and educational resources of Washington, D.C. and Annapolis are less than an hour away by car or train, and New York City is about three hours by train or four hours by car. From concerts and lectures to Division I college sports, Towson University offers many events that are open to the public. In addition, the University offers swim programs for children and adults at Burdick Pool, the Children s Dance Division, and the Institute for Well Being, which offers a wide spectrum of programs dedicated to promoting and enhancing health and
-The College of Education is nationally recognized for its network of more than 120 professional development schools (PDS). In their year-long PDS experience, interns are immersed in real-world classrooms and are guided by mentor teachers and university supervisors. -The Center for Leadership in Education offers practical workshops for school administrators, teachers and parent groups across the state. Its members serve as unpaid consultants and advisors to school leaders and system administrators. -Sean McComb, an English teacher at Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts in Dundalk and an adjunct instructor for the College of Education, was named 2014 National Teacher of the Year. Towson alumni Joshua Parker and Rhonda Holmes- Blakenship were the Maryland Teacher of the Year in 2012 and 2013, respectively. -Towson s President created the Towson UTeach program, an initiative aimed at recruiting majors in STEM fields to teach at the high school level. One of 40 replication sites nationwide, the Towson UTeach is based upon the original UTeach program at the University of Texas, Austin. Towson was the first UTeach replication site in Maryland. wellness in the community. http://www.towson.edu/iwb/index.asp. THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Towson University has been educating teachers continuously since its founding in 1866. Always a center of innovation for teacher and educational leadership programs, the University has prepared thousands of educators now at the head of the class. The College of Education is a large and complex college with graduate and undergraduate programs as well as professional development programs offered in numerous partner locations. It works in partnership with other colleges throughout the university to prepare teachers across the disciplines. The College is supported by two Education Librarians who collaborate on information literacy in the disciplines and in the PreK-12 curriculum. The Teacher Education Executive Board (TEEB), comprised of representatives from each discipline across the university that prepares certified teachers, functions as the Professional Education Unit for purposes of accreditation. The Dean of the College of Education chairs the TEEB and is the Unit Head. The programs of the College of Education require candidates to master and demonstrate knowledge, skills and professional dispositions that place the learner at the center of an active learning process, and embrace a learner-centered conception of teaching and learning aimed at higher order skills and understanding. In recent years all of the pedagogical and clinical elements of the programs have been revised to align directly with the 2011 InTASC (Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium) Standards, current SPA (Specialized Professional Asociation) standards, and Maryland College and Career Ready Standards to assure that Towson students are prepared for emerging changes in how PreK-12 student learning is assessed and how professional educators will be evaluated. Through innovative partnerships with public schools, certification programs provide students with progressively responsible field and/or clinical experiences in a variety of public school settings. These rich experiences enable students to merge theory with the wisdom of practice, to develop and refine their knowledge and skills of teaching and student learning, and to be well-prepared for entry into their professional roles. The College s programs and instructional methods are preparing teachers who can successfully participate in the emerging world of digital learning and teaching.
The Professional Education Unit at Towson University recently completed its joint NCATE/MSDE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Maryland State Department of Education) accreditation visit from November 2-4, 2014. Official results from the site visit team are forthcoming. The institutional report is available at: http://www.towson.edu/coe/ncate2014/index.asp] The Departments, centers, and institutes under the College of Education are: The Department of Early Childhood Education offers: the major in early childhood education leading to Maryland State Certification to teach children from birth through grade 3, the Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education, the Master of Education in Early Childhood Education, and the Early Childhood Education Certificate of Advanced Study. The Department of Elementary Education offers: the major in Elementary Education, the major in Elementary Education with eligibility for Early Childhood certification, the integrated major of Elementary Education and Special Education, the Elementary Education major with a minor in selected disciplines, the Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Master of Education in Elementary Education. The Department of Secondary and Middle School Education offers young professionals exciting opportunities to teach their subject in middle school or high school, work closely with adolescents and share in the joy of learning, for their students and themselves. It offers: the Secondary Education Program, the Middle School Education Program, the Post Baccalaureate Program, and the Master of Arts in Teaching. The Department of Special Education offers the major in single certification in special education leading to Maryland State Certification to teach children from birth through age 21, the integrated major of Early Childhood and Special Education (ECSE), the integrated major of Elementary Education and Special Education (EESE), the Master of Education in Special Education, and the Master of Arts in Teaching in
Special Education. In addition to programs on campus, the undergraduate programs are offered in NE Maryland and both the undergraduate and graduate programs are offered at the Universities at Shady Grove. The Department of Educational Technology and Literacy (EDTL) contributes to multiple teacher education programs. The education course listings include core courses that provide knowledge and skills for general application in teaching and training areas. The department offers: the Master of Education in Reading Education, the Certificate of Advanced Study in Reading,,the Master of Science, Concentration I: Instructional Design and Development, the Master of Science, Concentration II: School Library Media, the Master of Science, Concentration III: Educational Technology, the Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Ed.D. in Instructional Technology The Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development is committed to facilitating active learning through effective and responsive school leadership. Focused primarily on graduate education, degree programs in this department are approved by the Maryland State Department of Education for Administrator I Certification for supervisors, assistant principals, and principals and is the only MSDE-approved interdisciplinary program for Administrator I certification. Towson's Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) in organizational change is an interdisciplinary program combining educational leadership, human resource management and work-force development. Those seeking an Administrator I stamp only must successfully complete the requirements for MSDE certification, but holders of a master's degree in education, administration, human resource development or a related field also seek the C.A.S. to advance their careers or prepare for doctoral work in a related field. The Center for Leadership in Education, the Maryland Writing Project, and the Professional Development School Network are housed within this department. THE POSITION As chief academic officer of the College of Education, the Dean oversees all the operations of the College. This includes oversight and responsibility for 130 full time faculty plus staff and adjunct faculty, more than 1500 undergraduate majors and 1100 graduate students, and annual expenditures of $11.6 million.
The Dean is supported in this work by the group of chairs, assistant and associate deans and directors who comprise the leadership group. In addition to department chairs, those reporting to the Dean include the Associate Dean, the Assistant Dean, and the Program Directors. LEADERSHIP AGENDA FOR THE NEXT DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION The College of Education at Towson University has several innovative programs and initiatives and looks to build on the successes highlighted in the recent NCATE/MSDE review. The new Dean will build on the existing strengths of the College of Education and the collective understanding of teaching and teachers to provide leadership for a vision, and will guide the College in continuing to innovate, to challenge the status quo, and to think in new ways to respond nimbly to changes in students and families, in schools, and in society more broadly. The responsibilities of the Dean are to: Provide leadership and stability to a thriving, highly regarded program that has transcended multiple iterations of institutional administration. Building on Towson University s core values, the Dean will work with the many constituents of the College of Education to capitalize on the strong foundation celebrated in the NCATE/MSDE visit report to maximize the potential to provide programs of the highest quality. Convey and uphold a commitment to diversity, urban education, and equity in all aspects of the college s programming and recruitment. Build graduate enrollments within an increasingly complex landscape of programs and, in so doing, affirm Towson s place as a leader in teacher education in the state. Enhance the quality of programs, based on an understanding of the complex and fluid environment in prek-12 education and in teacher preparation, as well as on emerging priorities in early childhood education, online education, family education and other areas. The Dean will understand and communicate what makes a program successful and will seek to provide the resources needed to succeed.
Support and promote research to ensure that Towson s College of Education contributes to national conversations and to disseminate model initiatives. Create a collaborative atmosphere in the college; embrace a shared vision that welcomes new faculty and staff, and values the expertise and experience of adjuncts and clinical faculty. The Dean will also examine the organizational structure of the College to ensure it meets functional needs. Be familiar with, and willing to engage in, fundraising and grant writing, as well as cultivation of community and partner support to enhance resources and to advance student recruitment, internship opportunities and employment for graduates. Towards this end, the dean will be responsible for articulating priorities to multiple external audiences. Strengthen and develop relationships with partner schools and districts. Support and advance efforts to foster a global education experience for students in the College of Education, in synergy with Towson University s goal to increase study abroad by 2020. REQUIREMENTS The successful candidate will possess an earned doctorate, from a regionally accredited institution, in a field relevant to the disciplines in the college; a record of professional accomplishment commensurate with appointment as a tenured full professor; and a demonstrated record of leadership of a large, complex unit and academic administrative experience in positions of increasing responsibility. A Criminal Background Investigation is required for the hired candidate and the results may impact employment. In addition to a demonstrated ability to carry out the responsibilities of the Dean described in the previous section, evidence of the following desired experience and attributes will be expected of the new Dean. Ability to foster an environment of collegiality and accessibility. Advocacy for and appreciation of the expertise of faculty, staff and students. Effective communication with diverse constituencies, both internal and external. Skill as a mentor and supervisor as well as administrator. Demonstrated ability to manage resources wisely and to handle a range of complex issues in a fluid and uncertain environment.
Extensive experience with public education, preferably with leadership roles and classroom experience, and ability to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and benefits of the public education system. Knowledge of the history and impact of school reform and change. Appreciation for teacher education and understanding of the work teachers do. Experience with education in the types of communities where Towson graduates work: urban/metropolitan, suburban and rural communities. Flexibility to work with partner schools having a variety of unique demographic profiles. Appreciation of the importance of diversity and attention to issues of diversity in teacher preparation. Belief in equity as part of a vision for the College s programs: equity for students and commitment to recruiting diverse and exceptional faculty and students. Respect for academic leadership and a vision for shared governance. NOMINATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but only materials received by March 6, 2015 can be assured full consideration. All nominations, applications, and inquiries will be held in full confidence until finalists are identified for on-campus interviews. Towson University is being assisted in this search by Academic Search, Inc. Nominators or prospective candidates may direct inquiries or questions to Senior Consultant Dr. Andrea Warren Hamos at awh@academic-search.com or Consultant Lauren Johnson at ltj@academic-search.com. Application materials should consist of a curriculum vitae, a substantive cover letter addressing qualifications and desired attributes, and a list of five references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your working relationship with each; references will not be contacted without explicit permission from the candidate. All application materials must be submitted electronically to TowsonDeanofEd@academicsearch.com. The search committee will begin review of applications in February, with the expectation that the new Dean will assume office on July 1, 2015.
For more information about Towson University, visit www.towson.edu. Towson University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and has a strong institutional commitment to diversity. Women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Towson University is a smoke-free campus. For more than three decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services exclusively to institutions of higher education. Academic Search was founded on the principle of strengthening higher education leadership through professional search services. We are the only search firm in the nation with a formal relationship to a premier leadership development program. As the subsidiary of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), Academic Search provides substantial financial support to a number of leadership identification, development, and support programs across all sectors of public and private higher education. For more information, visit www.academic-search.com.