Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College

Occidental College (or Oxy), a nationally recognized liberal arts institution, seeks a highly collaborative and strategic leader to be their next Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College (Dean). The Dean will be joining an institution poised for evolution with a new, innovative President; passionate faculty, staff, and students; and senior leadership committed to Occidental’s excellence and their students’ success. As the chief academic officer, the Dean will provide leadership for the academic program to advance the College’s mission and strategic priorities and continue Oxy on its impressive trajectory. This is a compelling opportunity to join a vibrant, values-driven institution at a moment of institutional strength, transition, and renewed momentum.

Founded in 1887, Occidental is one of the few liberal arts colleges located in a major metropolitan area, and the only such institution based in Los Angeles. The College offers a distinctive educational experience that integrates rigorous academic inquiry with the cultural, civic, and professional resources of Los Angeles. With nearly 2,000 students and a student-faculty ratio of 9:1, the College is known for its interdisciplinary curriculum and commitment to its mission as a liberal arts college anchored by four cornerstones: excellence, equity, community, and service.

The Dean will join Occidental under the leadership of President Tom Stritikus, whose arrival in 2024 has energized the campus community around a shared commitment to excellence and planning for a vibrant future. With the successful completion of the $252 million Oxy Campaign for Good and the launch of The Occidental Promise, the College is poised to build on its core strengths while adapting to the evolving landscape of higher education. The Dean will play a central role in this work, rallying the intellectual energy and thoughtfulness of the Oxy faculty to evolve and refine academic and co-curricular programming and priorities, support faculty development and retention, strengthen systems and processes through shared governance, and continue its high-touch culture of care to ensure Occidental’s distinctive liberal arts programs and mission continue to thrive in a dynamic urban context.

Occidental’s location in Los Angeles remains one of its greatest assets, offering unparalleled opportunities for community-engaged learning, interdisciplinary scholarship, and strategic partnerships. The faculty has built many innovative programs which advance the liberal arts within this uniquely urban, global setting. The Dean will help the College further leverage its ideal setting to expand experiential learning, develop new academic programs, and elevate Occidental’s visibility locally, nationally, and globally. At the same time, the Dean will be expected to foster a collaborative and inclusive academic culture, steward resources thoughtfully, and lead with courage within a culture of care in a rapidly changing environment. Occidental is ready to enter its next chapter with purpose and ambition. The Dean will be instrumental in helping the College build upon its existing successes through continued implementation of the Occidental Promise. In doing so, the Dean will partner with the faculty to best position the institution in the contemporary academic landscape by embracing innovation, growing enrollment, and co-creating a sustainable and exciting future for the academic enterprise that prepares their diverse and talented student body for the modern world. This is a compelling opportunity to join a vibrant, values-driven institution at a moment of institutional strength, transition, and renewed momentum—where faculty across ranks, including a robust and engaged non-tenure track cohort, are deeply invested in the College’s mission and student success. The Dean will work to address the following key opportunities and challenges: 

• Expand the great work of the Oxy Promise and build upon the strength of the faculty to evolve for the current moment 
• Build trust while inspiring and uniting a passionate community through shared governance and a high level of communication
• Thoughtfully lead the Dean’s team, strengthen systems, and steward resources to ensure the success of the College and its students
• Champion the liberal arts while encouraging innovation and evolution
• Tell Occidental’s distinctive academic story broadly

The anticipated salary range for the position is $295,000-$310,000. The position will include a house within walking distance to campus. Occidental is centrally located within the neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and Highland Park in Los Angeles, just a short distance from Pasadena. 

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.

Lindsay Gold is leading this search with Evan Layne and Julia Hochner. 

In addition to its commitment to a harassment-free educational and working environment, Occidental College is an equal employment opportunity employer. The College is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable state and federal laws on the matter. The College does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, transfer, discipline, layoff, rehire, termination and social and recreational programs.