Job description
St. Norbert College, the only Norbertine college in the world, seeks a mission-driven and entrepreneurial academic leader to serve as its Dean of Faculty / Chief Academic Officer.
Imagine leading a faculty of dedicated teacher-scholars who know their students by name. Imagine shaping a curriculum that pairs the enduring strengths of the liberal arts with the career-connected programs today’s students seek.
Reporting to President Laurie M. Joyner, Ph. D., and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the Dean of Faculty will lead St. Norbert’s academic division at a moment of renewed momentum. The College has posted three consecutive years of positive audited operating results, launched eight new majors and a 4+1 MBA in fall 2026, and received a $15 million gift from the Norbertine community that founded it in 1898.
This is a role for a change agent. The Dean of Faculty will lead faculty and staff in executing a compelling value proposition for traditional undergraduates while diversifying programs and markets (e.g., expanding dual enrollment, online learning, and lifelong learning opportunities, etc.) This leader will use data to guide strategic decisions about programs, curriculum, and institutional resources.
Grounded in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the Norbertine ideal of communio, St. Norbert offers a leader the rare opportunity to build a focused, distinctive academic portfolio and a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability
THE POSITION
The Dean of Faculty / Chief Academic Officer is the College’s senior academic leader, a full-time administrative appointment reporting directly to the President. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Dean is the President’s lead partner in advancing the academic enterprise.
With primary responsibility for faculty and curriculum, the Dean shares accountability with Cabinet colleagues for mission integration, enrollment, student success, and financial sustainability, bringing an institution-wide perspective to academic priorities and resource decisions. Reporting to the Dean are an Assistant Dean of Faculty, divisional chairs, and an Executive Administrative Assistant. The Dean also oversees areas such as the Registrar’s Office and the Mulva Library.
The Dean works in close partnership with Cabinet colleagues: with the Mission Officer in advancing the Catholic, Norbertine, and liberal arts mission; with the leaders of Enrollment and Student Affairs to meet recruitment and retention goals; with the Chief Financial Officer to align academic priorities with the College’s financial model; with Advancement to identify and prioritize opportunities for support.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
> Recruit, hire, and retain faculty in light of the College’s mission and current needs, and interview finalists for mission alignment
> Lead faculty development and oversee fair, rigorous faculty evaluation and peer review processes for rank and promotion
> Steward the curriculum and academic program portfolio, including ongoing program review using data on outcomes, demand, and cost
> Lead assessment of student learning outcomes and sustain a strong culture of assessment
> Oversee accreditation and compliance with the Higher Learning Commission and Wisconsin licensure bodies
> Develop and manage an academic budget tied to the strategic plan, including analysis of faculty workload
> Partner with faculty governance and key faculty committees, meeting regularly with faculty leadership
> Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the President, offering candid counsel, advancing an agreed-upon academic agenda, and taking ownership of its implementation
> Represent the President as requested and lead special projects in support of the College’s strategic agenda
LEADERSHIP AGENDA
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St. Norbert seeks an entrepreneurial change agent. In the first years in the role, the next Dean of
Faculty will be expected to:
> Lead the Faculty in Defining St. Norbert’s Value: Executing a compelling value proposition for traditional undergraduates while diversifying programs and markets (e.g., expanding dual enrollment, online learning, and lifelong learning opportunities, etc.) This leader will use data to guide strategic decisions about programs, curriculum, and institutional resources.
> Build a Focused, Distinctive Academic Portfolio: Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to identifying and launching programs that respond to student and workforce demand, while honoring the College’s academic standards and liberal arts core.
> Lead with Data: Use data with confidence to guide program reviews, faculty workload analysis, curricular choices, and the allocation of academic resources, and build a culture of assessment centered on student learning outcomes.
> Recruit, Develop, and Evaluate an Excellent Faculty: Attract faculty who embrace the College’s mission, support experienced and early-career faculty alike, and hold high expectations for teaching, scholarship, and service through fair, rigorous evaluation.
> Move the Institution Forward: Engage faculty in shared governance with candor, transparency, and respect, explaining how and why decisions are made, while having the conviction to make and carry out difficult decisions.
> Advance the Catholic and Norbertine Mission: Help articulate how the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the Norbertine ideal of communio shape teaching, scholarship, and the student experience, ensuring that a values-based liberal arts education remains at the heart of every program, including new professional offerings.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
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The successful candidate will hold an earned doctorate or other terminal degree and considerable experience as a tenured faculty member, preferably at senior rank, with a commensurate record of scholarship and teaching excellence. The candidate should bring a proven record of academic leadership that advanced consequential actions contributing to the strength of their institution.
The College also seeks:
> An entrepreneurial mindset and a record of launching or growing academic programs, partnerships, or new delivery models
> Comfort and skill using data to drive decisions, including program review and faculty workload analysis
> Decisive, courageous leadership, and the ability to move an institution forward through change
> Experience recruiting, developing, and evaluating faculty, and leading curriculum and assessment
> Experience leading and implementing a hybrid learning environment
> Experience with accreditation, strategic planning, and implementation
> Strong administrative and financial acumen, including academic budgeting
> Broad knowledge of trends in higher education and the ability to apply institution-wide thinking to challenges and opportunities
> A collaborative and relational style, a record of working across divisions, and respect for shared governance
> The ability to quickly earn the trust of faculty, set clear goals, and be accountable for outcomes
> Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
> A deep commitment to the Catholic and Norbertine identity of the College and an understanding of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Catholic Social Teaching; a candidate deeply rooted in the Catholic faith is strongly preferred
> Integrity, warmth, a sense of humor, and the ability to inspire confidence across campus
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
St. Norbert College offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. The College is open to reasonable relocation support, including temporary housing, and the successful candidate is expected to relocate to the De Pere area promptly.
St. Norbert benefits include:
> Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with an on-site employee clinic and HSA and FSA options
> 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, with a college match that increases with years of service
> Tuition waiver for employees, spouses, and dependents at St. Norbert, plus Tuition Exchange and CIC Tuition Exchange programs
> Life, disability, and AD&D insurance, and an employee assistance program
> On-campus Children’s Center, library privileges, and athletic event access
How to apply
Small College Consulting is assisting St. Norbert College in this national search. Applications, nominations, and confidential inquiries may be directed to Hannah Askew at [email protected].
Applications should include a letter of interest describing the candidate’s interest in and alignment with the leadership agenda in this profile, a current curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of five professional references. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.
