Dickinson College - Provost

Dickinson College, a highly selective, residential liberal-arts college of national standing, is seeking a provost and dean of the college (“provost”) to assume a lead role in fulfilling the institution’s mission of providing an innovative and interdisciplinary education to prepare students to lead rich and fulfilling lives of engaged global citizenship.

This leader will succeed Neil Weissman, Ph.D., who has made extraordinary contributions to Dickinson since 1975. The provost oversees the Division of Academic Affairs, which includes the associate provosts and deans of the college, the Office of Global Study & Engagement, the Office of the Registrar, The Trout Gallery, the Center for Civic Learning and Action, the Center for Sustainability Education, Library Services, the Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, the Office of Sponsored Research and the Multilingual Writing Center.

Founded in 1773, Dickinson is known for its bold and innovative curriculum. The college offers its 2,183 students 46 majors with signature programs in international studies and sustainability. The college hosts more than 50 study-abroad programs in 24 countries on six continents and offers study in 13 modern languages. 

The 180-acre campus of Dickinson College is located in the heart of historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which is readily accessible to New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Dickinson boasts one of the most beautiful college campuses in the region. The Carlisle metro area was named one of the country’s best places to raise a family by Forbes magazine and was voted one of America’s “most livable cities.”

The provost will serve as an essential partner to President John Jones in shaping and advancing the institution’s strategic priorities. As the college’s chief academic officer, the provost will steward the institution’s academic enterprise, working collaboratively with other senior leaders, faculty, students and staff to further define a distinctive institutional academic identity.

Proactive and visionary, the provost will provide invigorating academic leadership across the college, working to enable and facilitate the success of Dickinson’s deeply talented and committed faculty. The provost will work in tandem with the vice president of student life to ensure that Dickinson provides a seamless, integrated and holistic experience for its students, who upon graduation will be prepared not only for meaningful careers but to be productive, responsible and influential leaders and citizens in their communities. The provost will partner with the vice president for finance and administration to strengthen budget processes that prioritize academic planning and will optimize structures and processes within the Office of the Provost to maximize effectiveness and impact.

Candidates must bring a distinguished record of academic achievement and senior leadership experience. The successful candidate will have an earned doctoral degree and developed a portfolio of teaching and scholarship sufficient to qualify for an appointment at the level of professor with tenure. The next provost will express a passion for the mission of a liberal-arts education and understand the important academic, social and economic roles that the college plays in its communities. Other distinguishing assets include: experience in partnering closely with student life and enrollment management, advancing the mission of a complex institution and understanding emerging needs and trends in higher education in order to advance strategic priorities.

The provost of Dickinson College will be presented with the opportunity to serve as a senior leader of an institution with a clear, compelling, and unique mission and will have the opportunity to accomplish the following professional and personal objectives:

• serve as the top academic leader in a prestigious and bold liberal-arts college with a powerful history and exciting future possibilities;
• interface regularly with students who are accomplished in their academic performance, personal character and leadership capacity;
• work with a world-class faculty and dedicated staff who are committed to the highest levels of student performance, success, and outcomes;
• partner with a new president who has been warmly welcomed and who presents an exciting agenda centered on growth in resources, reputation and student success;
• interact regularly with a high-profile and dedicated Board of Trustees, all of whom are intent on contributing to Dickinson’s success; and
• work and live in a beautiful, bucolic region of Pennsylvania, known for its high quality of life and emphasis on community and family.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile, a CV or resume, and a statement on diversity. WittKieffer is assisting the Dickinson College in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 6, 2023. Application materials should be submitted using the buttons below.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed in confidence to: John K. Thornburgh and Luis Bertot at DickinsonProvost@wittkieffer.com.

Dickinson’s Commitment to Inclusivity

Dickinson welcomes those who are seeking to be part of an intellectual and social community that values justice, free inquiry, diversity, and equal opportunity. It is a fundamental policy of the college to respect pluralism, civility and mutual understanding within its community. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or any other protected class.