University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Associate Dean/Professor Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs_Fall 2
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States, 37955
Overview
The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (the School) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks an accomplished and entrepreneurial academic administrator to serve as Associate Dean. The Baker School serves nearly 150 students in its second year of operation. The School’s graduate programs are growing rapidly and the undergraduate degree, now in its inaugural year, has proven popular among first‑year students at UTK. The School has an excellent facility, a distinguished faculty, and a dedicated staff committed to building a leading school of public policy and public affairs. The Associate Dean will serve as the School’s chief academic officer, overseeing faculty and programs to position the School for long‑term success. In partnership with the Dean, the Associate Dean will operationalize strategic initiatives, lead faculty oversight including recruitment, retention, and development, support curricular enhancements, and act as the School’s liaison to the broader UTK campus, especially programs with cross‑listed offerings and joint faculty appointments. The Baker School has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment effort. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document. Role of the Associate Dean
The Associate Dean will have an opportunity to shape the Baker School’s trajectory at a critical moment in its development and help build a world‑class public policy and public affairs school for students, faculty, and staff. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean has a central role in the administration of the Baker School. This position provides leadership and direction for the Baker School's faculty and academic programs. The Associate Dean is responsible for setting the strategic hiring goals of the school, mentoring and retaining faculty, and overseeing tenure and promotion processes and the annual review process. The Associate Dean’s role in developing academic programs complements the faculty affairs portion of the position. The directors of graduate and undergraduate studies report to the Associate Dean, and the allocation and development of faculty teaching and research resources to meet program growth is a key part of the Associate Dean’s portfolio. Key Opportunities and Challenges for the Associate Dean
The Associate Dean will be a highly collaborative and strategic leader with proven experience elevating academic excellence and driving key administrative decisions. To be successful, the Associate Dean will address the following opportunities and challenges: Partner with the Baker School Dean to drive strategy
Leaders inspire others to work toward a shared vision. The Associate Dean will help shape and drive the vision of the Baker School, serving on the Dean's cabinet and providing advice and information to the Dean on all matters related to faculty, academic programs, and curriculum. The Associate Dean will also serve as the voice of the faculty on the Dean’s cabinet, ensuring that the faculty perspective is well represented in strategic conversations about the future of the Baker School. In addition, the Associate Dean has an opportunity to provide fundraising support to the Dean and the School’s Director of Advancement in development activities focused on academic priorities. As the Baker School grows and finds its foothold amongst its peers nationally, the Associate Dean will partner with the Dean and other School leaders in conducting national surveys, special events related to faculty and students, benchmarking, college‑wide instructional activities, and public policy and public affairs education‑related research and development. This is an opportunity for a systems‑oriented leader to influence and execute the Dean’s strategic vision for the Baker School and build on a solid foundation primed for growth. Serve as the chief faculty affairs administrator for the Baker School
As the Baker School continues to grow and meet increasing demand for public policy and public affairs education, the Associate Dean will be responsible for the professional growth and development of current and future faculty, including recruiting and hiring, retention, promotion and tenure, and annual reviews. As a critical liaison between the Dean and faculty, the Associate Dean is expected to be highly visible and accessible to faculty while serving as a key point of communication in both directions. The Associate Dean will help translate the Dean’s strategic goals for the Baker School into actionable initiatives that utilize and leverage the faculty’s expertise. As the Baker School evolves and matures, the Associate Dean will establish and refine shared governance processes and procedures that shape its culture and community. The School is highly interdisciplinary and includes faculty from business, economics, international relations, political science, public administration, and other disciplines. The Associate Dean will recruit and onboard new faculty, particularly in the first five years as the School prioritizes senior faculty hires. Further develop academic program infrastructure and student support systems
In partnership with the Graduate and Undergraduate Program Directors, and serving as an ex officio member of their respective faculty committees, the Associate Dean will provide academic oversight to ensure the development of curricula, instructional resources, and academic processes of the highest quality. As the first classes progress, the Associate Dean will be integral in the assessment and refinement of the curricula and reporting for future accreditation requirements. The Associate Dean will establish and interpret critical academic policies and procedures that inform the creation, maintenance, and revision of curricula, courses, and programs of study within the School. Working with the Baker School professional Student Success staff, the Associate Dean will oversee academic policies and ensure the right systems are in place to support student success while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Liaise with the broader University of Tennessee, Knoxville community
The Associate Dean will be a strong advocate for the School in the broader UTK community. As the chief academic and faculty affairs administrator, the Associate Dean will serve as the liaison to UTK’s Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, ensuring that School policies and procedures align with broader campus practices. The Associate Dean will build relationships across departments, schools, and colleges at UTK to bolster the Baker School’s reputation and ability to partner with other academic units, particularly those programs with cross‑listed offerings and joint faculty appointments. About the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
Information about the Baker School can be found at the Baker School overview site. Qualifications and Characteristics
The ideal candidate will be a distinguished public policy/public affairs leader and scholar with substantive experience in academic administrative leadership. While no single candidate will possess all ideal attributes, applicants who bring many of the following experiences and qualities are encouraged to apply: Required
Professional & academic credentials: Demonstrated record of scholarly output and excellence in teaching and research. Qualifications appropriate to hold rank of full professor in the Baker School. Doctoral degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Affairs, Public Administration, Economics, or a related field required. Demonstrated success in executing a strategic vision and an understanding and appreciation for shared governance structures. Demonstrated success in attracting, retaining, and mentoring faculty. Collegiality and teamwork. Experience assessing faculty annual performance and in the promotion and tenure process. Commitment to supporting faculty. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication. High emotional intelligence and active listening. Ability to engage internal and external stakeholders to build partnerships and collaborations. Commitment to intellectual diversity, integrity, dependability, fairness, and trust. Drive, resilience, and optimism. Strong commitment to public policy and public affairs education and civic service. Preferred
Leadership experience: Ability to partner with people across schools and departments to align activities with school and institutional goals. Executive management experience, including policy development and implementation. Administrative experience: Oversight and refinement of curricula and leadership through accreditation processes. Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations
Screening of complete applications will begin on December 16, 2024 and continue until the search process is completed. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2025. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be submitted via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: Open searches at Isaacson, Miller. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged. Contact: Jeff Kessner, Partner; Stephen Kalogeras, Associate; Jenny Rubin, Senior Search Coordinator; Isaacson, Miller. Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The University of Tennessee affirms it does not discriminate in its education programs and activities or in its employment practices. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violations of civil rights should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.
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The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (the School) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks an accomplished and entrepreneurial academic administrator to serve as Associate Dean. The Baker School serves nearly 150 students in its second year of operation. The School’s graduate programs are growing rapidly and the undergraduate degree, now in its inaugural year, has proven popular among first‑year students at UTK. The School has an excellent facility, a distinguished faculty, and a dedicated staff committed to building a leading school of public policy and public affairs. The Associate Dean will serve as the School’s chief academic officer, overseeing faculty and programs to position the School for long‑term success. In partnership with the Dean, the Associate Dean will operationalize strategic initiatives, lead faculty oversight including recruitment, retention, and development, support curricular enhancements, and act as the School’s liaison to the broader UTK campus, especially programs with cross‑listed offerings and joint faculty appointments. The Baker School has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment effort. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this document. Role of the Associate Dean
The Associate Dean will have an opportunity to shape the Baker School’s trajectory at a critical moment in its development and help build a world‑class public policy and public affairs school for students, faculty, and staff. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Associate Dean has a central role in the administration of the Baker School. This position provides leadership and direction for the Baker School's faculty and academic programs. The Associate Dean is responsible for setting the strategic hiring goals of the school, mentoring and retaining faculty, and overseeing tenure and promotion processes and the annual review process. The Associate Dean’s role in developing academic programs complements the faculty affairs portion of the position. The directors of graduate and undergraduate studies report to the Associate Dean, and the allocation and development of faculty teaching and research resources to meet program growth is a key part of the Associate Dean’s portfolio. Key Opportunities and Challenges for the Associate Dean
The Associate Dean will be a highly collaborative and strategic leader with proven experience elevating academic excellence and driving key administrative decisions. To be successful, the Associate Dean will address the following opportunities and challenges: Partner with the Baker School Dean to drive strategy
Leaders inspire others to work toward a shared vision. The Associate Dean will help shape and drive the vision of the Baker School, serving on the Dean's cabinet and providing advice and information to the Dean on all matters related to faculty, academic programs, and curriculum. The Associate Dean will also serve as the voice of the faculty on the Dean’s cabinet, ensuring that the faculty perspective is well represented in strategic conversations about the future of the Baker School. In addition, the Associate Dean has an opportunity to provide fundraising support to the Dean and the School’s Director of Advancement in development activities focused on academic priorities. As the Baker School grows and finds its foothold amongst its peers nationally, the Associate Dean will partner with the Dean and other School leaders in conducting national surveys, special events related to faculty and students, benchmarking, college‑wide instructional activities, and public policy and public affairs education‑related research and development. This is an opportunity for a systems‑oriented leader to influence and execute the Dean’s strategic vision for the Baker School and build on a solid foundation primed for growth. Serve as the chief faculty affairs administrator for the Baker School
As the Baker School continues to grow and meet increasing demand for public policy and public affairs education, the Associate Dean will be responsible for the professional growth and development of current and future faculty, including recruiting and hiring, retention, promotion and tenure, and annual reviews. As a critical liaison between the Dean and faculty, the Associate Dean is expected to be highly visible and accessible to faculty while serving as a key point of communication in both directions. The Associate Dean will help translate the Dean’s strategic goals for the Baker School into actionable initiatives that utilize and leverage the faculty’s expertise. As the Baker School evolves and matures, the Associate Dean will establish and refine shared governance processes and procedures that shape its culture and community. The School is highly interdisciplinary and includes faculty from business, economics, international relations, political science, public administration, and other disciplines. The Associate Dean will recruit and onboard new faculty, particularly in the first five years as the School prioritizes senior faculty hires. Further develop academic program infrastructure and student support systems
In partnership with the Graduate and Undergraduate Program Directors, and serving as an ex officio member of their respective faculty committees, the Associate Dean will provide academic oversight to ensure the development of curricula, instructional resources, and academic processes of the highest quality. As the first classes progress, the Associate Dean will be integral in the assessment and refinement of the curricula and reporting for future accreditation requirements. The Associate Dean will establish and interpret critical academic policies and procedures that inform the creation, maintenance, and revision of curricula, courses, and programs of study within the School. Working with the Baker School professional Student Success staff, the Associate Dean will oversee academic policies and ensure the right systems are in place to support student success while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Liaise with the broader University of Tennessee, Knoxville community
The Associate Dean will be a strong advocate for the School in the broader UTK community. As the chief academic and faculty affairs administrator, the Associate Dean will serve as the liaison to UTK’s Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, ensuring that School policies and procedures align with broader campus practices. The Associate Dean will build relationships across departments, schools, and colleges at UTK to bolster the Baker School’s reputation and ability to partner with other academic units, particularly those programs with cross‑listed offerings and joint faculty appointments. About the Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs
Information about the Baker School can be found at the Baker School overview site. Qualifications and Characteristics
The ideal candidate will be a distinguished public policy/public affairs leader and scholar with substantive experience in academic administrative leadership. While no single candidate will possess all ideal attributes, applicants who bring many of the following experiences and qualities are encouraged to apply: Required
Professional & academic credentials: Demonstrated record of scholarly output and excellence in teaching and research. Qualifications appropriate to hold rank of full professor in the Baker School. Doctoral degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Affairs, Public Administration, Economics, or a related field required. Demonstrated success in executing a strategic vision and an understanding and appreciation for shared governance structures. Demonstrated success in attracting, retaining, and mentoring faculty. Collegiality and teamwork. Experience assessing faculty annual performance and in the promotion and tenure process. Commitment to supporting faculty. Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication. High emotional intelligence and active listening. Ability to engage internal and external stakeholders to build partnerships and collaborations. Commitment to intellectual diversity, integrity, dependability, fairness, and trust. Drive, resilience, and optimism. Strong commitment to public policy and public affairs education and civic service. Preferred
Leadership experience: Ability to partner with people across schools and departments to align activities with school and institutional goals. Executive management experience, including policy development and implementation. Administrative experience: Oversight and refinement of curricula and leadership through accreditation processes. Applications, Inquiries, and Nominations
Screening of complete applications will begin on December 16, 2024 and continue until the search process is completed. The anticipated start date is August 1, 2025. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be submitted via the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: Open searches at Isaacson, Miller. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged. Contact: Jeff Kessner, Partner; Stephen Kalogeras, Associate; Jenny Rubin, Senior Search Coordinator; Isaacson, Miller. Equal Opportunity
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The University of Tennessee affirms it does not discriminate in its education programs and activities or in its employment practices. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violations of civil rights should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.
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