Dean of the College of Sciences

Dean of the College of Sciences

The Dean of the College of Sciences (COS) is charged to provide the leadership to meet the strategic needs of the university, students, COS faculty and staff, and our community partners. Specific responsibilities of the position include strategic planning for the college in alignment with the university strategic plan, recruitment and selection of faculty and staff, building and fostering cooperative relationships, and managing the finances and budget of the College, program evaluation and development, community outreach, and fund raising. The dean provides vision for the development of resources and services that meet the scholarly and intellectual needs of the university community and works closely with other university officers to advance the overall needs of the university. The dean is directly responsible for supervision of key staff and the evaluation of faculty based on their professional development plans, carrying out the activities related to promotion and tenure. The dean is the chief administrative officer for the college and as such they are responsible for the planning, organization, development, implementation, assessment, and direction of all aspects of the College. The dean will ensure effective shared governance that balances the role of faculty in oversight of academic curriculum, faculty and staff contracts, and the administration of programs in the college. In addition, the dean must develop effective collaboration with two-year partner institutions, employers, and other community organizations to benefit our students.

Responsibilities:

• Enhance and inspire an academic climate that promotes excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Promote an environment of mutual respect that contributes to the mission of the university. Maintain an educational environment which support the interests and needs of underrepresented groups and meet Equity 2030 goals.
• Ensure high quality innovative academic programs for the College of Sciences and contribute to their growth. Promote the college's educational and research activities. Coordinate the overall assessment and evaluation of the College's programs.
• Provide leadership and supervision that emphasize a commitment to inclusion and equity in the recruitment, hiring, promotion, tenure, evaluation, and professional development of faculty and staff of the College of Sciences. Direct the work of faculty and staff, including the approval of faculty assignments and staff position descriptions, training, and orientation of new employees, approval and/or critique of work and performance, and approval of time records and leave requests.
• Develop and strengthen cooperative arrangements with other institutions to expand and improve services to the university faculty, students, and the broader community.
• Represent the university within the academic community and in professionally related activities of the local, state, regional, and national levels, and build relationships with organizations to support the work of the College of Sciences.
• Participate in university planning, policy-making, and executive leadership. Manage complex tasks and adapt to changing institutional priorities using a collaborative and collegial work style.
• Lead advocacy and strategic planning for the college to support growth, and meeting physical, financial, personnel, and academic support needs.
• Provide leadership for college specialized accreditation activities as warranted (e.g., ABET, or others).
• Develop, review, and approve all college program planning, budgets and fiscal plans, contracts, grant management, and implement plans within the approved budget framework
• Contribute as a member of the President's Cabinet, Student Success and Academic Affairs Leadership Team, Leadership Assembly and other assigned councils, committees, and/or workgroups.
• Identify, cultivate, involve, and solicit the community, alumni, and friends of the university in developing and sustaining an active external fundraising program.

Salary Range: $134,505-187,976

This maximum salary budgeted for this position is $181,000. Please note: Filling of this position is dependent upon budget.

Employment for this position is covered by the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities Personnel Plan for Administrators.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: A doctorate or equivalent terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution in a field encompassed by or allied to the disciplines of the College of Sciences.
• Minimum 5 years of faculty experience in a higher education setting and earned tenure from a regionally accredited university.
• Minimum 3 years of administrative leadership experience as dean, dean, coordinator, director, department chair, or similar leadership role.
• Demonstrated skills in written and oral communication to effectively communicate across cultures and to multiple audiences.
• A demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively with students, staff, and faculty in a team environment.
• A demonstrated commitment to the mission, vison, and values of Metropolitan State University.
• Demonstrated competency using computer-based tools for email, data storage and analysis, and workload management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience as a supervisor with responsibility for directing and evaluating work.
• Demonstrated experience serving post-traditional students.
• Demonstrated experience contributing to innovative academic programs, approaches, or modes of delivery.
• Demonstrated experience with continuing quality improvement and/or organizational development projects.
• Demonstrated experience developing and/or maintaining partnerships or cooperative arrangements with external and internal entities.
• Experience contributing to specialized health sciences accreditation reports and/or related activities (i.e., ABET).
• Experience leading or contributing to strategic plan development and/or implementation.
• Administrative leadership experience in a collectively bargained higher education institution.
• Evidence of grant acquisition and/or fundraising success.

Qualified applicants are required to attach the following documents to their online application:

• Cover letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position.
• Current curriculum vita or resume.
• Names of four (4) references with addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers.
• Transcripts - Valid unofficial copies of your transcript showing conferred/awarded date, your name and the academic institution's name/logo are required. We do not accept copy/paste word documents with a list of courses/grades or DARS reports. If selected for hire, official original transcripts will be required.

Work Shift (Hours / Days of work)

8:00 am-4:30 pm

M-F

Telework: Yes

This position is eligible for telework at the discretion of the Provost.

Metro State University empowers learners to transform their lives and communities through relevant, student-centered education in an inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive learning environment.

Metro State University provides an excellent, inclusive, and engaging education to eliminate opportunity gaps and empower our students to lead our communities to a prosperous and equitable future. The university offers programs leading to baccalaureate, masters, and applied doctoral degrees. We provide accessible, high quality liberal arts, professional, and graduate education with continued emphasis on marginalized groups, including adult learners.

The College of Sciences consists of three academic departments (Computer Science and Cybersecurity, Natural Science, and Mathematics and Statistics) that are comprised of 34 full-time faculty members, and an additional 40 FTE of part-time teaching by part-time faculty members. College also includes 5.8 FTE of full-time staff who provide operational and laboratory support for the academic programs. There are 14 bachelor degree programs, 3 graduate degree programs, and numerous minors and certificate offered by the College of Sciences which accounted for 23% of the university's credits enrolled during the 2024-2025 academic year.

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc. We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date: 01-05-2026

Position End Date:

Open Date: 11-13-2025

Close Date:

Posting Contact Name: Maya Washington-Zeigler

Posting Contact Email: maya.washington-zeigler@metrostate.edu