Stephenson Dean, School of Data Science

Prepared by Heidrick & Struggles for the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Data Science.

• Position title: The Stephenson Dean, School of Data Science
• Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
• Reports to: Executive Vice President and Provost

The University of Virginia (UVA) seeks a visionary, strategic, and entrepreneurial leader to serve as The Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science.

The School of Data Science began as the University-wide data science institute and became UVA's 12th and newest school in 2019, through the largest private gift in University history. As the first standalone school of data science in the nation, the School of Data Science was designed to advance discovery, share knowledge, and apply data science for societal benefit.

The School of Data Science now stands at a natural transition point. Its next Dean will help articulate the School’s distinctive contribution to an evolving, interdisciplinary field—one that draws from statistics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, the social sciences and humanities, policy, and many areas of application—while continuing to strengthen the School’s academic identity, reputation, and connections across UVA. Central to this identity is an approach to data science grounded in technical rigor, informed judgment, and meaningful societal impact.

The next Dean will build on the openness and interdisciplinary character that have defined the School from the beginning. The Dean will help the School respond to rapid advances in AI and other data-intensive methods while reinforcing data science's foundational role in the development and responsible application of AI. The role will also involve strengthening research and education across disciplines, expanding opportunities for students, and building the partnerships and resources that will support the School’s future.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Dean will provide leadership to propel the School of Data Science forward and enhance its national and global reputation. The Dean of the School of Data Science sits on the Dean’s Council with the deans of the University’s twelve schools, building relationships and collaborations, supporting the goals of the University, and strengthening the community.

The next Dean will serve as the School’s chief academic and administrative officer and a senior leader of the University. The Dean will elevate the School's profile, deepen its role across Grounds, and build trust across faculty, staff, and students. As the School continues to grow, the Dean will help ensure the School remains focused, well organized, and positioned to become a lasting national model for rigorous, responsible, and impactful data science.

The University of Virginia School of Data Science is the first standalone school of data science and UVA’s 12th and newest school. Founded in 2019, the School of Data Science is guided by common goals: to further discovery, share knowledge, and make a positive impact on society through collaborative, open, and responsible data science research and education.

Designed as a “school without walls,” the School of Data Science brings together faculty, students, and partners across disciplines to address complex challenges through data. Today, the School seeks to make that identity increasingly visible across Grounds, strengthening its connections with the rest of the University and playing a larger role in advancing data science as a foundation for responsible AI and understanding AI's societal implications.

The School of Data Science is fast-growing and interdisciplinary, with 56 faculty, 10 wage faculty, 51 staff, and 22 research staff working…