Graduate Division Dean; pos no

Graduate Division Dean

The Graduate Division Dean serves as a senior campus executive and as the chief advocate for graduate education, balancing the needs of students with a range of institutional priorities. The Dean provides visionary, student-centric leadership for a strategic unit focused on research and scholarly excellence, student success, and professional development. Reporting to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship, the Dean bridges the gap between the research enterprise and academic instruction to advance UH Manoa's mission as a premier R1 research institution.

In this capacity, the Dean ensures that the university not only maintains its global standing in research and innovation, but also equips students with the skills and adaptability required to thrive in the modern workforce, including academic, professional, and industry based career pathways.

Provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the Graduate Division, shaping the direction of graduate and advanced studies across the Manoa campus. Collaborate with campus leadership to shape the future landscape of graduate studies, prioritizing the advancement of institutional research excellence and competitiveness, the pursuit of new streams of funding to support doctoral research programs and strategic priorities, and the expansion of professional degree programs, while leveraging opportunities presented by emerging educational technologies.

Represent graduate education in institutional governance, partnering with university leadership, school deans, faculty leaders, campus partners, and external stakeholders, in collaboration with Alumni Relations and Development and with the Graduate Student Organization. Lead the design and execution of strategic initiatives to optimize the graduate student lifecycle spanning recruitment, onboarding, and retention using graduate education data and best practices to reform policies while ensuring graduates are prepared for both high-level research and the evolving workforce.

Provide faculty and chairs with the training necessary to support students, and to foster a culture of scholarly excellence, supportive mentorship, and belonging. Facilitate ongoing consultation with Graduate and Department chairs, faculty, and students to develop, update, and maintain program specific policies and procedures to ensure consistency and transparency in program requirements and to support completion and professional development. Lead financial and operational oversight of a complex portfolio, covering graduate financial aid, admissions strategy, resource planning in partnership with senior leadership, and assist in fundraising efforts.

Identify and mitigate through policy development/revision/enhancement and training, any areas of risk and developing risk to the University, e.g., legal, financial, reputation, and compliance risk, and ensure the team is aware and focused on addressing the same. Adhere to applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures of the University, raise awareness of the same among staff, and direct them in such a way that University compliance requirements are met.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Doctorate (PhD/EdD) or terminal degree from an accredited institution. Academic rank of full professor or demonstrated record of comparable professional experience prior to appointment. Five (5) years of demonstrated leadership in graduate education through significant experience working with students at the individual, programmatic, and institutional levels. Comprehensive understanding of the diverse landscape of graduate education, including the management of research-focused, professional, and accelerated degree pathways.

A proven track record of diplomatic leadership within a shared governance model, demonstrating the ability to navigate complex institutional structures and mediate between the competing needs of faculty, administration, and students, whilst at the same time recognizing that leadership requires the leader to take ownership of difficult decisions. A demonstrated commitment to research and scholarly excellence, academic…