Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities

Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities

Maryville University seeks highly qualified candidates who can demonstrate significant leadership and administrative capabilities; a record of accomplishment in both professional and academic circles; a commitment to excellence in undergraduate liberal arts and professional and graduate education; and an earned doctoral degree and qualifications for tenure at the rank of professor is preferred. The Dean must demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to define a vision for the School within the context of the institutional strategic plan, while developing support for common goals and building relationships across the University.

The ideal candidate will possess the following professional qualifications and personal qualities:

Leadership ability

to lead change and work within a fluid and evolving institutional context; with an effective leadership style built on trust, tolerance of ambiguity, flexibility, and patience;
to build bridges among the faculty and staff, serving as a problem solver;
to develop partnerships with the other deans and to be an effective college citizen and senior leader, working in close partnership with the vice president for academic affairs;
to provide visionary, optimistic and creative leadership; with a strong and authentic commitment to investing the energy and tenure to support Maryville as it realizes its ambitious vision for the future.

Innovative and visionary outlook

to shape strategic focus, thinking, and planning within the broader context of the higher education landscape and the University’s mission; with a record of creative and strategic thinking in developing programs and teams—and of encouraging and facilitating innovation and collaboration across disciplines;
to take necessary risks and effectively lead Maryville’s continued growth with sensitivity to its potential and exceptional entrepreneurial instincts, insight, and ability;
to encourage and support new ideas and experimentation, including the roles of different modalities of teaching and learning;
to couple strategic thinking with the ability to follow through and execute with a record of accomplishment evidenced by outcomes.

Management skills

to achieve challenging performance goals in complex, evolving environments with business acumen and confidence;
to make well-reasoned, data informed decisions whose rationale is effectively communicated;
to work effectively with administrative colleagues and faculty to cultivate a climate of stability, intellectual excitement, creative vitality, accountability, general responsiveness and respect and openness to the suggestions of others;
to carry out the many responsibilities of the office, including planning, technology utilization and deployment, resource allocation, supervision and faculty personnel decisions with initiative, patience and fortitude.

Relationship building skills

to inspire through active engagement, visible presence and effective verbal and written communication skills;
to create an atmosphere with an empathetic, respectful approach that allows individuals to make the most of their professional ability in support of the University’s mission;
to galvanize faculty, staff, students and others to reach critical decisions with a readiness to listen with care and responsiveness and the ability to communicate effectively about difficult decisions;
to establish meaningful relationships with a broad range of people, including alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students with intellectual breadth and genuine curiosity;
to cultivate strategic thinking and create a collaborative working environment in which faculty and administration continue to enjoy a positive, productive and collegial relationship.

Passion for academic excellence and vitality

to build on the School’s offerings with quality and relevance;
to develop and promote a value proposition for education for both traditional and non-traditional students;
to support experiential and global education initiatives;
to actively engage with students, staff, and faculty to promote a positive educational environment within the active learning ecosystem.

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

to embrace a diverse faculty and staff and a track record of purposely and effectively recruiting, retaining and developing a diverse professoriate;
to exhibit sensitivity to the varied ways in which students encounter similar experiences, and the need for continuous evaluation of curricula, opportunities and resources to promote success for all students;
to bring individuals and groups with diverse perspectives to common understanding and action.

A collegial and inspiring presence

to build organizations and programs by developing and promoting the strengths of colleagues and acquiring the resources necessary to support that vision;
to create a supportive community that demonstrates consideration for others and does so with emotional intelligence and a sense of humor;
to tackle challenges to make a difference with a willingness to take calculated risks;
to engage the community with a high level of energy, maturity, and flexibility and a reputation for fairness and idealism.

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