Open Searches

Westfield State University seeks an innovative and collaborative leader who will bring scholarly and administrative skills to the role of Dean of the College of Professional Studies. The Dean will have the opportunity to lead a talented group of faculty in the College that houses a diverse array of disciplines ranging from Management to Nursing. The Dean will be a champion of both undergraduate and graduate education, leading the faculty in developing a compelling vision for what it means to provide a high-quality public education in applied disciplines ranging from Accounting to Social Work. The Dean will work with the campus community to sustain a learning environment that recognizes the value of a transformative education for Westfield’s diverse student body.

The successful candidate will lead and support the faculty and others in developing and expanding graduate programs. The Dean will serve as the lead accreditation officer for all the accredited programs in the College and also maintain a quality assurance system for continuous program improvements. The Dean must provide active leadership for the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and promote an environment that advances inclusive excellence and actively opposes discrimination and intolerance. The Dean will supervise an Administrative Assistant and the academic department chairs; manage a significant budget; and provide leadership to the College of 63 full-time, tenure/tenure-track faculty and a comparable number of part-time faculty.

Founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield State was the first co-educational college in America to offer an education without barrier to race, creed, or economic status. The University sits on an expansive 256-acre campus and has about 4,000 undergraduate students and 800 graduate students across several professional graduate programs.

Academic Search is assisting Westfield State in this search. Potential candidates may arrange a confidential conversation about this exciting opportunity with one of the two Senior Consultants leading the search: Dr. Cynthia Patterson (cynthia.patterson@academicsearch.org) or Dr. Maria Thompson (maria.thompson@academicsearch.org). Please include a copy of your CV to inform the conversation.

For more information about the position, institution, qualifications, and application process, please download the position profile from the Academic Search website: https://www.academicsearch.org/open-searches-public/

When submitting a nomination, please send the nominee’s full name, title, position, and email address to WestfieldDeanProfStudies@academicsearch.org. The deadline for initial consideration is Monday, February 17, 2025. Review of applications will continue until the search is completed.

The University will ensure that employment and academic decisions, programs and policies will be based solely on the individual eligibility, merit or fitness of applicants, employees and students without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, or veteran status.