Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Overview

Montclair State University invites nominations and applications for a visionary, collaborative, and unifying leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS). As New Jersey's second largest and one of its most diverse institutions, Montclair is redefining what it means to be a university with a public purpose, creating transformational opportunities for students and partnering with communities to make a difference.

Amid historic growth and momentum, this is an opportunity to shape the future of a university on the rise.

Montclair State University (Montclair) is a nationally recognized Research Doctoral University that empowers students, faculty, and researchers to exceed expectations and drive innovation. Montclair delivers the instructional and research resources of a large public university in a supportive, sophisticated, and diverse academic environment. Building on 118 years of distinguished history, Montclair today has 14 colleges and schools serving more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students with more than 300 doctoral, master's, and baccalaureate degree programs.

On July 1, 2023, Bloomfield College officially became part of Montclair State University as Bloomfield College of Montclair State University, providing an affordable, high-quality, and transformative liberal arts educational experience in a small, supportive setting with the resources of a doctoral research university.

Montclair ranks #9 among national universities for social mobility and #11 in graduation rate performance - the rate at which students outperform the anticipated graduation rate of those with similar backgrounds at other schools. Montclair is a designated R2 Doctoral Research Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), one of only two in New Jersey, the largest HSI in the state, and the largest HSI north of Florida and east of Chicago.

Situated just 12 miles from New York City, on a beautiful 252-acre suburban campus, the University welcomes a diverse student population representing 42 U.S. states and territories and 75 countries. The University boasts a second campus located in downtown Bloomfield, just 7 miles from the Montclair campus. As an HSI, Montclair State University is a majority-minority-serving institution, with over 50% of the freshman class identifying as such.

More than 40% of incoming freshmen are the first in their families to pursue higher education, and over 55% are Pell eligible. Montclair ranks in the top 13% of 4,500 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. for return on investment, and the University received the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification.

As the chief academic and administrative officer of the University's largest and most comprehensive academic unit, the Dean will provide strategic, intellectual, and operational leadership at a pivotal moment of institutional transformation. CHSS plays a central role in advancing Montclair's academic mission, research profile, and national reputation for access, excellence, and social mobility. The College encompasses a wide range of disciplines foundational to a public research university and is currently transitioning to a new academic structure organized into four interdisciplinary schools.

The next Dean will lead this evolution with clarity, integrity, and purpose, ensuring that the re-envisioned model strengthens disciplinary identity, fosters collaboration, and enhances the educational and scholarly experience for students and faculty.

The Dean will oversee all aspects of the College's academic and administrative operations, including strategic planning, resource management, program development, faculty recruitment and support, and student success initiatives across undergraduate and graduate programs. A key responsibility will be cultivating a culture grounded in shared governance, transparency, and trust within a highly engaged and unionized faculty. As a member of the Provost's senior leadership team, the Dean will advocate for the College within the University and serve as a visible ambassador to external partners, funders, and communities.

• Oversee all aspects of the College's academic and administrative operations, including strategic planning, resource management, program development, faculty recruitment and support, and student success initiatives across undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Cultivate a culture grounded in shared governance, transparency, and trust within a highly engaged and unionized faculty.
• Advocate for the College within the University and serve as a visible ambassador to external partners, funders, and communities.

• Distinguished scholar and seasoned academic leader with credibility and personal integrity to guide a complex and evolving college.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Deep understanding of student success at scale, particularly within an HSI context.
• Experience navigating organizational change with…