Dean

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence and interdisciplinary research, seeks a visionary and strategic Dean to lead its College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS or the College). As the university’s broadest academic unit, and a cornerstone of its liberal arts mission, CAHSS prepares students to think critically and creatively while fostering research and scholarship with real-world impact. As UMBC continues to build on the momentum of its recent elevation to R1 research status, the next Dean will play a vital role in shaping the College’s future, strengthening its academic programs, supporting faculty achievement, and advancing its public mission. 

In this pivotal leadership role, the Dean will steward a college comprising 24 departments and two programs, each contributing unique perspectives and strengths. The position calls for a leader who can nurture collaboration across disciplinary boundaries, support faculty in expanding their research and creative work, and enhance education amid evolving funding landscapes and enrollment patterns. The Dean will serve as a compelling advocate for the arts, humanities, and social sciences, demonstrating their critical role in higher education and society. 

Success in this role will require a seasoned academic administrator with a distinguished record of scholarly achievement and a deep commitment to inclusive pedagogy and student success. This leader will be a coalition builder, skilled at fostering trust and relationships across the university and with alumni, donors, and external partners. Experience navigating complex institutions and a thoughtful approach to strategic planning and resource management will be essential. Equally important is a leadership style grounded in empathy, integrity, and curiosity that creates a climate where people feel supported and the entire community can thrive. 

Please submit all inquiries, nominations, and applications (including CVs and letters of interest) below.

Keight Tucker Kennedy is leading this search with Annah Wells and Alexis Scott. 

Have accommodation or access needs? Isaacson, Miller and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If you have any accommodation or access needs, we are happy to provide reasonable accommodations.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, values safety, cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning, equity, and civic engagement. Consistent with these principles, UMBC does not discriminate in offering equal access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of a UMBC community member’s race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information.