Dean of the Chatham College for Women

Chatham University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Chatham University, a vibrant coeducational university with a nationally recognized women’s college, seeks an accomplished scholar, teacher and leader to serve as Dean of Chatham College for Women. One of the oldest colleges for women in the nation, Chatham College for Women of Chatham University offers over 30 undergraduate majors in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts, as well as pre-professional programs and innovative interdisciplinary programs. The Dean will play a critical role in developing and executing a clearly articulated academic strategy and vision for the College that is women-centered and establishes the distinctiveness of women’s education and of a women’s college. Collaborating with the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs, and the other deans as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Dean will be responsible for overseeing the College’s educational policy, the faculty, students, curriculum, and instructional budgets.

The new Dean will assume leadership during a time of exceptional promise and opportunity to expand Chatham’s national reputation as a leader in innovative, rigorous, global women’s education rooted in the liberal arts. S/he will seize upon opportunities and developments both on and off campus, including the development of Chatham’s new 388-acre Eden Hall campus, the recent achievement of university status, and unique features such as flexible, personalized curricula and accelerated programs that offer students both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years. Building on a proud 140-year history of Chatham College for Women, the new Dean will be a champion for the unique opportunities and benefits afforded by women’s education.

In addition to a strong record of teaching and scholarship suitable for appointment at senior rank, the successful candidate will be a proven student-centered leader, a collaborative and effective steward of human and financial resources, and an exceptional communicator to both internal and external constituencies. S/he will demonstrate commitment to the highest academic standards, to a diverse, inclusive, and flexible learning environment, and to creative, forward-thinking teaching and curriculum development. The new Dean will have the advantage of an exceptionally warm and collegial community of faculty, students, and administrators; one which fosters respect, personal connections, and collective investment in learning and growth.

This search is being conducted with the assistance of Katherine Jacobs and Allison Kupfer of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group. Please direct nominations, inquiries and application materials in confidence to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document.

HISTORY AND MISSION OF CHATHAM

That our daughters may be as cornerstones
(polished after the similitude of a palace)
-Translation of the Chatham College motto,
Filiae Nostrae Sicut Antarii Lapides.

Chatham University was chartered on December 11, 1869, under the name Pennsylvania Female College. It was founded to provide women with an education comparable to that which men could receive at the time at "colleges of the first class." The founders were somewhat ahead of their time: 1869 was the year that the National Association of Women's Suffrage was established, and the year John Stuart Mill published The Subjection of Women. Pennsylvania Female College occupied what was then the largest private residence in Allegheny County - the George Berry mansion atop Fifth Avenue in Shadyside. Fifteen faculty and just more than 100 students occupied the 11-acre campus. In 1890 the name of the institution was changed to Pennsylvania College for Women, and in 1955 the name was changed again to Chatham College. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted university status in 2007, which was officially announced on May 1, 2007 and marks Chatham's newest tradition, University Day.

Now home to approximately 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students, Chatham’s Shadyside Campus includes the beautiful and historic, rolling 39-acre Woodland Road arboretum campus, as well as Chatham Eastside, which is located only one mile away and has allowed the University to expand several successful programs including interior architecture, landscape architecture, occupational therapy, physical therapy and physician assistant studies. On May 1, 2008—one year after having been granted University status by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania—Chatham received a gift unequaled in its history: the Eden Hall Campus from the Eden Hall Foundation. Originally a farm and retreat for the working women of the Heinz Corporation in Pittsburgh, Eden Hall will be an academic eco-campus accessible to Chatham students and also a community resource for the residents of Pittsburgh’s North Hills. The nearly 400-acre campus will be a living laboratory for environmental programs and will support a variety of educational, environmental, women’s leadership and community programs.

Today, Chatham is academically comprised of three colleges: Chatham College for Women, which offers baccalaureate degrees to women only; the College for Graduate Studies, offering master’s and doctoral degrees and teacher certification to both women and men; and the College for Continuing and Professional Studies, offering undergraduate, graduate, professional and continuing education online to both women and men. Chatham faculty members teach across the three Colleges. With the advantages of a beautiful, historic setting nestled in a vibrant major city, Chatham is proud to prepare students, bachelors through doctoral level, to excel in their professions and to be engaged, environmentally responsible, globally conscious, life-long learners, and citizen leaders for democracy.

ACADEMICS AND FACULTY

Chatham College for Women offers over 30 major programs of study in both the core liberal arts disciplines, as well as innovative programs including Arts Management, Exercise Science, Film/Digital Video-Making, Forensics, Global Policy Studies, Interior Architecture, and Hispanic Studies. Engineering is available through a dual degree program with either Carnegie Mellon University or Penn State University, in which the student spends three years at Chatham and two years at the other institution and receives two bachelor’s degrees.

The College’s approximately 100 full-time faculty work closely with students on externally-funded research and help them to create personalized, self-designed majors. Chatham offers innovative degree options like the Accelerated Masters, in which students may earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as few as five years on campus. Chatham’s close-knit atmosphere, supportive work environment and proximity to an urban area with a vibrant higher education community are some of the elements that have attracted top scholars to join the faculty in recent years.

Full-time students may take advantage of a wide variety of opportunities, including coursework for credit and co-curricular exchanges, at neighboring institutions through the Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education, including Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh, and Point Park University.

For more information about academics at Chatham, access their course catalog at http://www.chatham.edu/academics/documents/20092010AcademicCatalog.pdf.

CHATHAM UNIVERSITY: MISSION INITIATIVES

The distinctive hallmarks of a Chatham education are highlighted by three focused mission initiatives currently underway: Global Understanding, Sustainability, and Women’s Leadership.

The Global Understanding initiative includes:

• Global Focus, a program that promotes the acquisition of sustainable global competencies through the critical and holistic exploration of one specific country or region of the globe every year. The program received the Institute of International Education’s 2002-2003 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education in recognition of the University’s Year of the Communities of Islam. More recently, the program’s focus was on Brazil in 2008-2009, and on the Economic Community of the West African States in 2009-2010. Academic year 2010-2011 will be the Year of Turkey.

• Chatham Abroad offers every Chatham sophomore the opportunity to participate in a multi-week faculty-led travel opportunity to explore different parts of the world. This past year, faculty led trips to Belgium, Greece, and Russia as part of a curriculum-based program. Chatham has several women’s colleges around the world as sister institutions, including Doshisha Women’s College in Japan, Seoul Women’s University in Korea, and Universidad Interamericana in Latin America.

• The Benter Initiative for Global Citizenship, established through a $1 million gift from technology entrepreneur William Benter in 2006, awards travel grants to faculty members and students to study in the Middle East.

The Sustainability initiative includes:

• The Rachel Carson Institute was established at Chatham in 1989 to continue the legacy of the Silent Spring author, Chatham’s most distinguished alumna, by promoting the awareness of understanding of significant and current environmental issues through national and regional conferences, debates, lecture, series, seminars, panel discussions and other education programs.

• The 338-acre Eden Hall Campus, given to Chatham in 2008, established the largest university campus in Allegheny County and will enable Chatham to expand its academic and environmental programs for both its student population and for the North Hills community at large. The Campus will house Chatham’s new School of Sustainability and the Environment, including an environmental learning lab, and programs in food studies, landscape architecture, and women’s studies. The peaceful and beautiful environment of the campus is intended to foster a close-knit and supportive community of learners.

• Chatham’s Climate Commitment Committee was established to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and achieve sustainability in energy use as described in the President’s Climate Commitment, which was the result of a collaborative process involving the University community. The Committee will implement cost-practical strategies and tactics based on empirical data and fulfill an important part of the University’s larger vision to increase the general environmental sustainability in campus resource use.

Women’s Leadership

• The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham offers programs for women in business to help them advance and hone their skills by teaching them to think and act entrepreneurially. CWE focuses on shortening the learning curve to success by providing hands-on, cutting-edge practical programs for women business owners. Funded by the Kauffman Foundation, CWE offers Mentoring and Peer-to-Peer Learning Roundtables for women business owners in more mature stages of business.

• The Pennsylvania Center for Women, Politics, and Public Policy at Chatham is a non-partisan center devoted to fostering women’s public leadership through education, empowerment, and action. Focusing on women’s political involvement in Pennsylvania, the Center conducts candidate and advocacy trainings, offers educational programs in applied politics, and provides timely analysis on women’s issues through its Hillman Chair in Politics and Regional Women’s Initiative.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEW DEAN

In the first 12-18 months of his or her tenure, the Dean will be expected to:

Articulate a clear academic vision and strategy for the College. The new Dean will work closely with faculty, chairs, administrators, and other colleagues to craft and implement a distinctive, forward-looking vision and strategy for building and refining the College’s academic program. The Dean will continuously review the various academic programs, centers, and department and program chairs, take stock of the range of curricular plans and proposals in various stages of incubation, and offer new ideas from his/her own experience and perspective. S/he will develop new programs, partnerships and initiatives that capitalize on Chatham’s unique assets and history, positioning it to compete successfully for both new students and additional support.

Guide and support faculty as they advance both the College and their careers. The successful candidate will implement programs and policies to nurture faculty development and build on a supportive and unified faculty culture that values teaching, scholarship and service. Guidance in and support for faculty grant solicitation is of particular importance. The Dean must ensure that the structure of his/her office provides efficient and effective support for faculty and staff and promotes open communication and decision-making. S/he will need to bring skills and judgment that will build faculty confidence and trust, including a strong sense of fiscal accountability and the fortitude to make difficult decisions regarding resource allocation.

Act as a strong spokesperson and excellent communicator. The new Dean will be an insightful and persuasive spokesperson, both internally and externally, for the unique, rich heritage and compelling mission that undergirds the academic program at Chatham and its commitment to educating women to be successful citizens and leaders. S/he must be committed to fostering inclusive decision-making processes and ensuring that communication among faculty, staff, and students is open and effective.

Articulate a clear and compelling case for the benefits of women’s education in the 21st century. In the vibrant educational community of Western Pennsylvania and beyond, the new Dean will be a passionate advocate for the proud legacy and bright future of women’s colleges. S/he will also demonstrate accessibility and a commitment to promoting a student-centered culture.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The new Dean will be an experienced administrator who can provide both strategic and operational leadership to Chatham College for Women. A doctoral degree from an accredited institution and a record of distinguished scholarship are required, and a record of success in soliciting and managing external funding is strongly desired.

While no individual will embody all of them, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional assets and personal qualities:

• Experience as a teacher, scholar and administrator with a broad understanding of the disciplines across the liberal arts and pre-professional fields; an academic record and standing commensurate with senior rank;

• Effective management skills and evidence of administrative experience, particularly in a transparent and highly participatory system of governance;

• Commitment and ability to sustain and enhance high quality education at the undergraduate level; keen understanding of and commitment to the processes and strategies related to program assessment and accreditation;

• Experience within a small, liberal arts academic setting; a commitment to promoting a student-centered learning environment;

• The ability to inspire, motivate, develop, and mentor faculty; a thorough, first-hand understanding of academic research and a record of success securing funding for scholarly work;

• Strong financial and management skills; a solid understanding of the financial complexities of a medium-sized private university; a track record of successful academic management at the departmental level; responsibility for a diverse and substantial portfolio;

• A thorough understanding of the goals and values of a liberal arts education in the 21st century, and how it supports and intersects with professional preparation;

• A self-driven, collegial, and open style; an ability to partner effectively with other leaders in areas of joint responsibility; a record of proactively working with colleagues, keeping them professionally engaged, and striving to develop and nurture their success;

• Outstanding communication skills to inspire a full range of constituencies and external audiences;

• A demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity at all levels;

• A reputation for integrity and the highest standards of moral behavior; and

• A healthy sense of humor.

LOCATION

Named the “Most Livable City in the U.S.” by The Economist in 2009, Pittsburgh offers all the excitement of a metropolis - an eclectic music scene, dozens of museums and galleries, professional sports teams, great restaurants and shopping, plenty of bookstores and coffee shops, and a thriving cultural community. It's a bustling hub of business with six Fortune 500 companies, more than 300 foreign-owned firms, two of the largest banks in America, a health system ranked in the nation's top ten, and the busiest inland port in America. Pittsburgh is also a model for sustainability and green space among American cities, with among the highest number of LEED-certified buildings and the most acres of park per capita of any major city.

TO APPLY

More information about Chatham may be found at: http://www.chatham.edu. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and will be reviewed as they are received. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history and where you learned of the position should be sent to: Chatham-D@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and reviewing process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

Chatham University is a committed EEO/AA institution.
Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.