Dean College of Community and Public Affairs

Witt Kieffer is proud to partner with Binghamton University (https://www.binghamton.edu/index.php), a top 40 public institution in the U.S., in its search for the next Dean of the College of Community and Public Affairs (https://www.binghamton.edu/ccpa/) (CCPA). The Dean will lead one of the institution’s most dynamic, rapidly growing, and community-engaged academic units at a pivotal moment in its evolution.

Since its founding in 1946, Binghamton University has built a national reputation for academic quality, innovative research and scholarship, and educational value. Consistently ranked among the top 75 national universities by US News & World Report, Binghamton is one of four research universities in the SUNY system and stands out as one of the most selective public institutions in the nation.

Established in 2006, the College of Community and Public Affairs has distinguished itself through a commitment to social justice, community engagement, and applied scholarship. The College prepares students for leadership in government, nonprofit, education, and human services sectors and has become a recognized contributor in addressing complex societal challenges.

The CCPA's innovative academic offerings, nationally recognized programs, extensive community partnerships, and emphasis on experiential learning position it as a leader in the Central New York region and beyond. Through initiatives such as the Couper-Owens Center for Community Schools, the College demonstrates the real-world impact of research and scholarship while maintaining deep connections with schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and community stakeholders.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean serves as the College’s chief academic and administrative officer, providing leadership for academic programs, faculty affairs, budgeting, student success, research, community engagement, fundraising, and strategic planning. The Dean oversees a diverse portfolio of academic and research programs spanning education, public administration, social work, human development, higher education, and community research while working closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni, community partners, and university leadership to advance the College’s mission and impact.

The next Dean will inherit a College with significant momentum. Graduate enrollment has experienced substantial growth, and research activity continues to expand. At the same time, the College is uniquely positioned to build on the recently adopted university-wide strategic plan, Forward Together:
The Vision for Binghamton University, by creating a comprehensive and inclusive strategic vision that reflects the College’s distinctive strengths and aspirations. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and community partners to define priorities that strengthen the College’s identity while reinforcing its role as a leader in professional education, applied research, and civic engagement.

One of the most important projects for the next Dean will be to build a cohesive College-wide culture that embraces the diversity of disciplines, perspectives, and experiences represented within the community. Other expectations for the new Dean are to strengthen research infrastructure, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, expand philanthropic support, and deepen community partnerships. The selected Dean will also be asked to elevate CCPA's visibility and effectively communicate the impact of its programs more effectively.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished academic leader with a record of strategic vision, collaborative leadership,…