Dean

Southern Methodist University (SMU) seeks an innovative, collaborative, and ambitious leader to serve as the next dean of the Meadows School of the Arts (Meadows). Founded in 1911, SMU is a private research university with a focus on global impact, educating more than 12,500 students (approximately 7,500 undergraduate and 5,000 graduate students) studying across seven degree-granting schools. In February 2025, SMU achieved Carnegie Research One (R1) classification, joining the ranks of the nation's top public and private research institutions.

Meadows brings together the visual and performing arts, design and technology, communications and journalism, arts management, and arts entrepreneurship within a single school—an unusually broad interdisciplinary ecosystem that few institutions can match. Bolstered by four decades of significant support from The Meadows Foundation, the School educates visual and performing artists, designers, creative technologists, media and communications professionals, and arts and cultural leaders, preparing them to make a lasting and transformative impact.

Meadows faculty are uniquely positioned to draw on the School’s interdisciplinary strengths, SMU’s standing as an R1 research institution, and the opportunities afforded by its location in Dallas to advance groundbreaking research, creative scholarship, and collaboration across fields. The School is also a leader in innovative outreach and community engagement, challenging students to make a difference locally and globally by forging connections among art, design, communications, entrepreneurship, and social change. As a convener for the arts, media, and creative industries in North Texas, Meadows fosters cross-disciplinary partnerships and contributes research and expertise that inform and advance these sectors.

Meadows is also home to the Meadows Museum, one of SMU’s most significant academic and cultural resources, which houses one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside Spain.

Reporting to the executive vice president and provost, the dean will be a key leader within the University, advancing the mission and ambitions of Meadows while making a compelling case for the essential role of the arts, design, and communications within a major American research university and beyond. The opportunity to lead Meadows is distinctive: few schools bring together such a broad range of disciplines within one academic community. The next dean will build on this foundation to shape the School’s next chapter, deepen its connections across SMU, and expand its reach through partnerships in Dallas and beyond, drawing on one of the country’s most dynamic arts, media, and cultural communities.

SMU has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this important search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications should be directed in confidence to the firm as indicated at the end of this document.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Courtney Wilk-Mandel is leading this search with David Grimes and Cara Meyers.

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.