University of Massachusetts Boston

Dean, School of the Environment

The University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) is nationally recognized as a model of excellence for urban public universities. It is designated as an institution of “higher research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Located on Boston Harbor in one of the most dynamic and culturally rich cities in the US, it is the metropolitan area’s only public research university. UMass Boston has seven colleges and schools with programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, the physical and life sciences, management, education, nursing and health sciences, and public policy. UMass Boston’s School for the Environment (SFE) is home to more than 400 environmental science, marine science, urban planning, sustainability, and community development faculty, post-docs, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students. SFE is also home to seven research centers and institutes, along with the pioneering work conducted in SFE’s Stone Living Lab and Nantucket Field Station. Using transdisciplinary and equity-informed approaches to research, teaching, and action, the School for the Environment expands environmental knowledge and understanding and creates cutting-edge solutions to environmental and social problems in Boston and beyond. Research concentrations include climate change management, environmental studies and sustainability, coastal and marine science, ecology, coastal resilience, contaminants and conservation, urban planning and community development, and environmental policy and management.            

The Position

The next dean will build on the strengths, accomplishments, and assets of U Mass Boston’s School for the Environment (SFE) to ensure its status as a national and global leader in engaged education and research in planning, environmental studies, and environmental science. Taking advantage of U Mass Boston’s urban location on the harbor, the dean will engage academic and community leaders to build meaningful partnerships and support that foster experiential learning and research, prepare graduates for opportunities in the blue and green economies, and create equitable, meaningful, and positive community impacts. Working closely with the campus administrative team, the dean provides intellectual and administrative leadership for academic programs and student success, research and scholarship, community engagement, and fundraising.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements include progressive experience leading innovative curriculum and program development, strategic planning, supporting a teacher-scholar model of interdisciplinary research and teaching, strong fiscal management skills including experience with activity-based budgeting and transparent resource allocation, and community relations. Successful candidates will have an earned doctorate and academic accomplishments appropriate for the rank of Full Professor in a discipline relevant to the SFE. Candidates must have a proven record of engaging with faculty and academic and community leaders to build meaningful partnerships and support and the ability to work effectively with the various stakeholders associated with SFE. Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and mentor in an environment in which more than 60% of our undergraduate student body are from minoritized communities, and more than half of our students are the first in their families to attend college, is also essential.

Application and Nomination

Review of applications will begin March 27, 2024, and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Sharon M. Meagher, PhD at smm@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

The annualized hiring salary, which will be commensurate with experience and qualifications, is expected to be in the  $220,000-240,000 range.

Visit the University of Boston Massachusetts website at https://www.umb.edu/

This is a non-union exempt position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.