Job description

The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to serve as the Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. This is an excellent opportunity for an equity-minded, creative, strategic, inspiring, and proven leader to join a dynamic university community that values strong community connections and provides authentic community-embedded learning experiences for its students.

Founded as a teacher’s college in 1889, the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) has graduated generations of educators, more than any other Colorado university. While UNC’s roots remain strong as a leader in preparing teachers and school administrators, the university has diversified its academic portfolio to include programs that prepare students to be leaders in a variety of fields, including health sciences, business, the humanities, and performing and visual arts. Today, the university is classified as a Carnegie Research 2 institution that is home to approximately 8,500 students and more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs housed across five colleges: Education and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Monfort College of Business, Natural and Health Sciences, and Performing and Visual Arts. In response to a current and growing need for new doctors, the university is also pursuing the creation of a sixth college that is on track to welcome its first class as early as fall 2026: the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

UNC is committed to supporting its students and providing them with a high-quality education and a community in which they can thrive. The university’s expert faculty and tradition of scholarship and hands-on learning give students exceptional opportunities and a personalized education. UNC is proud to be Colorado’s newest Hispanic Serving Institution and to be recognized by the Colorado Department of Higher Education as a First Generation-Serving Institution.

The university’s 260-acre main campus is in the city of Greeley, a vibrant town of nearly 115,000 in the heart of northern Colorado. According to 2020 census data, Greeley is one of the fastest-growing locations in the country, ranking the fastest in Colorado and the fourth fastest in the nation. Through the university’s Extended Campus, students also have access to a UNC education online or at off-campus centers located in Denver and Loveland.

UNC has a long and rich tradition in the preparation of education professionals. Demonstrating its commitment to the university’s state-mandated mission to prepare education professionals, high quality u ndergraduate and graduate programs are offered. In addition, to preparing personnel for Colorado’s schools, the College offers programs in Psychology, American Sign Language and English Language Interpretation, Counseling, and Applied Statistics and Research Methods.

The Dean’s responsibilities include devising the college’s strategic priorities in collaboration with the faculty; retaining a high-quality and diverse faculty; advancing innovative and creative programs that are high quality; attracting a committed and diverse student body; establishing links between research, theory, and professional application; forging research and curricular connections with other schools and departments across the university; retaining and developing a diverse and talented staff; managing and securing the resources necessary to execute the college’s strategic vision; and maintaining productive relationships with community partners, donors, alumni, trustees, and local, national, and global academic and professional communities.

How to apply

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as two separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile found at www.wittkieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Northern Colorado in this search, which will remain open until an appointment is made.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Mercedes Chacón Vance and Jenna Brumleve at [email protected].
Compensation and Benefit Information

Compensation range: $180,000 – $220,000

Benefits: The University of Northern Colorado provides a wide range of benefits for its employees. Information on university benefits programs, including eligibility, is available at https://w ww.unco.edu/human-resources/employee-resources/benefits/