Leadership Profile Georgia College & State University Dean of the College of Education This search is being assisted by:
THE SEARCH FOR A DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT GEORGIA COLLEGE Georgia College & State University (GC) seeks applications and nominations for a dynamic and visionary leader for the position of dean of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education. The dean of the College of Education is one of four college deans on campus and reports to the provost and vice president of academic affairs. The new dean will be expected to assume office by January 2015 or as soon thereafter as feasible. GEORGIA COLLEGE AND STATE UNIVERSITY: AN OVERVIEW Georgia College is Georgia's designated Public Liberal Arts University, located in historic Milledgeville, Georgia, less than a dozen miles from the geographic center of the State. Milledgeville was the antebellum capital of Georgia and is a center of history and culture featuring beautiful homes and historic buildings. The University enhances the town's beauty with its architectural blending of majestic buildings of red brick and white Corinthian columns. The university was founded in 1889 as Georgia Normal & Industrial College. The school has also been named Georgia State College for Women, the Women's College of Georgia, since 1996, Georgia College & State University, and more recently Georgia College. More than 36 undergraduate degrees and more than 25 graduate programs are available in four schools- the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business, the John H. Lounsbury College of Education and the College of Health Sciences. Georgia College is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. The university also has programmatic accreditation through many organizations. Georgia College is committed to combining the educational experiences typical of esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education. To this end, Georgia College possesses dedicated faculty committed to immersing students in academically engaging, studentcentered programs designed to develop the intellectual, professional, and civic skills and dispositions that enable graduates to thrive in an information-intensive and diverse global society. Through its teaching, research, and service, Georgia College enriches the lives of students and their local and global communities. MILLEDGEVILLE AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY Just a few steps off the Georgia College campus lies historic downtown Milledgeville. Located just 90 miles southeast of Atlanta, Milledgeville offers the charm of a small college town within a short driving distance of the amenities and cultural attractions of a major urban hub. Milledgeville was the antebellum capital of Georgia and was designed as a capital city and chartered in 1803. It was selected to be the state capital because of its central location and the abundance of natural springs. The Old Governor s Mansion is located on the Georgia College campus and the Old Capitol Building sits just a few blocks away. The town boasts a fine array of antebellum homes and buildings with a vibrant downtown full of specialty shops and restaurants. A few miles north of Milledgeville, the 15,000 acre Lake Sinclair provides residents and visitors with ample opportunities for recreation including boating, fishing, hiking, bird watching and lakeside relaxation. THE JOHN H. LOUNSBURY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION The John H. Lounsbury College of Education enrolls approximately 200 undergraduate students and 300 graduate students in programs at the initial and advanced certification levels in special education, early
childhood education, middle grades, educational leadership, secondary education, library media and literacy. In addition, endorsement programs are offered in ESOL, Reading and Library Media. There are 47 fulltime faculty and six staff members. The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), www.ncate.org as well as the Georgia Professional Standards Commission www.gapsc.com. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs at the Milledgeville and Macon, Georgia, campuses as well as online degree programs. The college has maintained accreditation with NCATE since 1955, the year after NCATE was founded, and was most recently reaccredited in 2012. LEADERSHIP AGENDA FOR THE NEW DEAN The dean serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the College of Education supervising all operations and serving as the advocate for college programs and needs. The college has developed the following agenda that will capitalize on forward thinking, collaborative, energetic and decisive leadership: Looking to the Future The dean will lead the development of a vision for the College of Education ensuring that programs are relevant and sustainable as well as continuing the rich tradition of providing a quality educational experience for students. The college has a renowned history and tradition as one of the leading colleges of education in Georgia and the southeast. With great respect for its history, the dean will have the opportunity to lead the conversation around building the vision for a premier college of education in the 21 st century. Practicing Sound Management In addition to bringing visionary leadership to the college, it will be important for the dean to provide sound management practices. The college is in the midst of an infrastructure reorganization and working collaboratively with faculty and staff, the new dean will be able to fashion an efficient and effective organizational structure. The successful dean will know how to delegate effectively, make efficient use of everyone s time, consider the appropriate application of new technologies, and maximize the potential of their work by developing a smoothly functioning academic team. Making thoughtful yet timely decisions will enhance each programs effectiveness and
provide opportunities to further strengthen the impact of the dean s office and the college. Building a Cohesive Community With a deeply committed faculty and staff, all of whom strongly embrace the college and its principles, effective leadership will require promotion of unit cohesion and vision as well as individual excellence. The next dean will be adept at open and effective communication in shaping a discourse that leads to principled agreement and consensus around competing issues to build a strong and revitalized community. Through careful listening and an inclusive dialog, the dean can encourage the sense of shared mission and vision among and between all constituencies that is so important to the college s fulfilling its potential. Serving the Larger Institutional Goals As one of four deans reporting directly to the provost, Dr. Kelli Brown, the new dean will form a key part of the senior academic leadership team which will help establish the academic priorities that will define the future direction in which Georgia College wants to move. The pivotal nature of his/her voice in translating the strength of the College of Education programs to the long term institutional goals will be significant. As Georgia College prepares to undertake a new capital campaign, a successful dean will articulate the strengths and needs of the College of Education to potential donors. DESIRED ATTRIBUTES FOR THE NEXT DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION The successful dean will be: A person of proven leadership who will inspire trust and instill confidence in the college community; An individual who can provide visionary strategic thinking and planning; A leader that can promote innovative partnerships and collaboration with schools systems and agencies; A leader who strongly values faculty scholarship and seeks new and creative ways to continue to attract, support and retain high quality faculty; A person who has an enthusiastic campus presence, actively engaged in a living learning community of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and the local Milledgeville community; A transparent decision maker who builds consensus, has the fortitude to make difficult choices when necessary, and communicates decisions with clarity and care; A faculty leader with a deep understanding of and respect for Georgia College s commitment to shared governance and appreciation for the role of the faculty and staff in decision making; A superb advocate for all the college s programs who brings innovative ideas for growing graduate programs in particular; A person with budgetary acumen who will aid the college in responsible stewardship of its funds;
A strong manager who promotes collaboration and will seek the best from his/her leadership team; A person with a global perspective who is committed to fostering diversity in its many forms; An individual engaged in higher education, knowledgeable about key issues affecting colleges of education nationwide; A person who has familiarity with NCATE/CAEP and other professional accreditation processes; A person who values technology and understands the importance of leveraging technology, including online learning, in the service of the academy; A superb listener and communicator, comfortable in a multitude of settings. QUALIFICATIONS In addition to the aforementioned desired attributes the successful candidate will possess an earned doctoral degree in a field related to education and a record of teaching and research sufficient to hold tenure and the rank of full professor in one of the academic departments of the college. In addition, the ideal candidate will have a record of progressive and significant leadership in academic administration. It is strongly preferred that the next dean will have had direct experience in PK-12 teaching or administration. NOMINATION AND APPLICATION PROCESS Nominations and applications will be received until the position is filled but, in order to receive full consideration, candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by August 15, 2015. All nominations, applications, and inquiries will be held in full confidence until finalists are identified for on campus interviews. The University is being assisted in this search by Academic Search, Inc. Nominators or prospective candidates may direct inquiries or questions to Senior Consultant Dr. Tom Fitch at rtf@academicsearch.com. Application materials should consist of a curriculum vitae, a substantive cover letter addressing required and preferred qualifications, and a list of five references, none of whom will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. All application materials must be submitted electronically to GCDeanofEd@academic-search.com. Georgia College & State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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