Dean

The University of Michigan seeks a collaborative and strategic leader to serve as the next dean of the Marsal Family School of Education (“Marsal” or “SOE”). The new dean will join a top-ranked, widely regarded, and highly energized school of education with a committed community of talented scholars, students, and staff. As part of this exceptional institution, the dean will have an unparalleled platform to advocate for and create meaningful change, not just for Michigan students, but for educator preparation, educational leadership, and education policy at the local, state, and national levels. The dean will build on Marsal’s legacy and strengths, advance innovative programming, and elevate the School’s academic excellence and impact while reinforcing the critical role of education as a powerful force in addressing critical societal challenges and creating a more democratic, just, and sustainable world.

Ranked second on US News and World Report’s list of top education schools and located on the university’s flagship campus in Ann Arbor, 35 miles west of Detroit, the Marsal Family School of Education has a long-standing international reputation for excellence in research, teaching, and public engagement. Its top-flight faculty, including members of the National Academy of Education (11), the National Academy of Sciences (1), and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2); lead nationally recognized programs in higher education, educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, teacher education, and education policy; and contribute to $11 million in annual research expenditures. As of fall 2025, the School enrolls nearly 500 students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, who maintain close connections to their educators as evidenced by a 7:1 student-faculty ratio.

The Marsal Family School of Education is well positioned to continue as a leading voice in education across the state of Michigan and in the national and international ecosystems, serving as a beacon from which cutting-edge research and schools of thought evolve into practice. The dean will lead Marsal, uniting and energizing the community around a shared identity and the potential to further strengthen its diversity of existing program areas and research expertise, while also selectively exploring new opportunities and initiatives that align with Marsal’s mission and priorities. The School seeks a new dean with an outstanding record of leadership in the field, superb communication and interpersonal skills, strong administrative abilities, demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence, common sense, and a personal style that engenders trust and respect. The successful candidate will be a good listener, well organized, and visible on campus and in the community. The dean will have a great passion for the role of public higher education and be equally passionate about the future growth and excellence of the University of Michigan. The Marsal community looks forward to partnering with a new leader who can harness the energy and expertise of its talented faculty, staff, and students and its resources to be maximally effective, leveraging its many strengths and seeking ways to make a great school even better than it is today.

The University of Michigan has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will remain confidential and should be directed below. Jeff Kessner and Elizabeth Weithman are leading this search with Diana Carmona and Jenny Rubin.