Dean of Bren School Environmental Management and Sciences

Position overview

Position title: Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management

Salary range: The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $250,000 - $400,000. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: July 1, 2026 or later

Open date: February 10, 2026

Next review date: Wednesday, Mar 11, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Interested applicants should apply via Isaacson Miller at:

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) invites nominations and applications for an innovative and visionary leader to serve as Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management ("Bren"). Reporting to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, the Dean will be the chief academic and administrative officer of the Bren School, guiding a dynamic community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing environmental challenges through stellar professional education, ground‑breaking interdisciplinary collaboration and problem‑solving, and distinguished research excellence.

UCSB is a preeminent public research university and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU). Forbes Magazine ranked UCSB as the #8 public university in the country in its 2024‑2025 America’s Top Colleges list. Its 1,107 faculty members include eight Nobel Laureates, 56 American Academy of Arts and Sciences members, Guggenheim Fellows, Mac Arthur and Pulitzer Prize winners, and more than 30 members of the National Academy of Sciences.

The campus enrolls about 25,000 students and, with only five colleges and professional schools and 12 national centers and institutes, offers the benefits of a premier research university with a focus on and appreciation for a high‑quality learning experience. In 2015, UCSB was designated a Hispanic‑Serving Institution, the first AAU institution to receive this designation, and is also an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander‑Serving Institution.

UCSB is also known for its natural beauty as the campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Founded in 1994, the Bren School is recognized for its mission‑driven and interdisciplinary approach to environmental problem‑solving, blending science, policy, economics, and management to deliver actionable solutions and train the next generation of environmental innovators. Its programs prepare students to lead across various sectors, including government, industry, and nonprofit, while advancing cutting‑edge research on areas such as climate change, biodiversity, energy and water resources, environmental data science, law, and economics.

One of UCSB’s two professional schools, Bren is home to 30 interdisciplinary faculty, nearly 30 staff, and approximately 220 graduate students across two professional master’s programs and a research‑based Ph.D. program. Many faculty have connections with departments and programs in the College of Letters and Science, the College of Engineering, and the College of Creative Studies, as well as prominent centers and institutes.

The next Dean will join a school with a strong sense of purpose, collaborative culture, and timely mission.

Bren’s faculty are among the most accomplished in their fields, and its graduates are shaping environmental solutions worldwide. The Dean will be expected to bring strategic vision, entrepreneurial energy, and a deep commitment to the School’s mission, ensuring that Bren continues to thrive as a global leader in interdisciplinary environmental education and research. With new leadership at UCSB and a rapidly evolving landscape for environmental research and graduate education, the next Dean will have the opportunity to…