Current Searches

Current Searches | How to Be a Candidate & Candidate Tools | Candidate Search Process

Job Description

Bryn Mawr College
Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr, PA

Bryn Mawr College is one of the world's most distinguished and distinctive colleges. Every year 1,300 undergraduate women and 400 graduate students (both men and women) from around the world gather on the College's historic campus to study with leading scholars, conduct advanced research, and expand the boundaries of what is possible. Bryn Mawr is recruiting a Dean of the Undergraduate College, successor to Dr. Karen Tidmarsh, who has served with distinction as Dean since 1990. The Dean reports to the President for overall operations and to the Provost for academic matters, and serves as a member of the President's Cabinet.

The role of the Dean of the Undergraduate College includes leadership for creating a vibrant academic, intellectual and co-curricular campus life for students, spearheading efforts to strengthen retention, sustaining a strong advising program, and managing a complex array of offices relating to student affairs. The Dean serves ex officio on the Curriculum Committee, working closely with faculty on issues that have particular significance for students, and chairs the Honor Board. Bryn Mawr is one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, and the Dean is charged with enhancing the College's capacity to affirm difference as central to the fabric of its culture and excellence.

Located in suburban Philadelphia, Bryn Mawr's undergraduate college attracts women who share an intense commitment to intellectual inquiry, an independent and purposeful vision of their lives, and a desire to make meaningful contributions to the world. Bryn Mawr is unusual among American liberal arts colleges with its Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, among the first schools of social work in the nation, and its nationally regarded graduate programs in key humanities, science and social science disciplines. The College promotes faculty excellence in both research and teaching, and has strong consortial relationships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Qualifications of the ideal candidate include a doctoral degree (Ph.D. in a liberal arts discipline preferred), teaching experience that contributes to deepening the Dean's understanding of the academic experience of students and faculty, and the ability to establish relationships of mutual respect and understanding with faculty, staff and students. Candidates should have a full understanding and appreciation of the College's unique mission and character and substantial leadership and management experience in higher education, including experience in student affairs.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. Interested individuals should provide a letter describing their interest and experience in the context of the above description of the School and its needs, curriculum vitae, and the names of five references with phone numbers and email addresses. References will not be contacted until candidates have been notified. These materials should be sent by email to the consultants, Jean Dowdall, Ph.D., and Robin Mamlet, at BMCDean@wittkieffer.com. Items that cannot be emailed may be sent to the consultants at Witt/Kieffer, 2015 Spring Road, Suite 510, Oak Brook IL 60523. Confidential inquiries can be directed to them at (630) 575-6131.

Review of applications is underway and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, materials should be received by January 4. The position is available in Summer 2010. Salary and benefits for this position are competitive.

(PDF format requires Acrobat Reader)