Dean School of Public Affairs

American University

Washington,

D.C

American University (AU) seeks an experienced, visionary, and strategic leader to serve as its next Dean of the School of Public Affairs (SPA). The new Dean of SPA will lead a nationally recognized school of public affairs within a newly designated R1 institution, with an opportunity to build on the university's and the school's long-standing reputations for excellence in teaching, research, and social impact.

As part of the university's leadership team of AU President Jonathan Alger and Provost Vicky Wilkins, the Dean will play an important role in further elevating the profile and influence of AU and SPA nationally and internationally by supporting and developing the school's research profile and advancing its innovative approaches to public affairseducation, community service, intellectual leadership, and public influence.

American University is a dynamic institution in Washington, DC, with a history of catalyzing impact-driven scholarship and teaching, fostering intellectual curiosity, supporting student success, and empowering lives of purpose, service, and leadership. In the last five years, AU has doubled research funding, engaged in innovative cross-disciplinary scholarship, and developed advanced and applied learning opportunities for students. Through the successful completion of the Change Can’t Wait campaign in 2024, the university established nine newly endowed faculty positions and launched or named four distinctive centers and institutes that will build on the strengths of the AU community to incubate innovative ideas.

At the foundation of this remarkable upward trajectory is a community of passionate leaders who thrive on tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.

SPA is well-positioned to capitalize on AU's strategic investments and the opportunities afforded by its geographic location in one of the world's most influential cities. A leading public affairs school and the top-ranked public affairs school in DC, SPA trains the next generation of civic and academic leaders through a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate degree programs and professional training opportunities.

With Washington, DC as its laboratory, SPA promotes a culture of innovation where faculty conduct cutting-edge public affairs research that builds bridges between the academic and policy worlds and shapes public understanding of the core challenges of our times. SPA’s faculty span multiple disciplines, including political science, public administration, public policy, criminology, criminal justice, terrorism, homeland security policy, economics, sociology, psychology, and law, and their work shapes debate and action at the local, national, and international levels.

As SPA’s chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean provides intellectual leadership to SPA faculty, students, and staff, and leads planning, program development, fundraising, administrative, and personnel efforts to build and sustain excellence in the school’s operations. Reporting to the provost and serving as a member of the President’s Council and Deans’ Council, the Dean works collaboratively with AU leadership, other administrators and deans, faculty, and staff to advance the university and the school.

Additionally, the Dean serves as SPA’s primary representative, engaging with external stakeholders to build visibility, reputation, philanthropic support, and revenue.

American University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this important recruitment. Please direct all inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications in strict confidence to the following:

Sean Farrell, Partner

Pam Pezzoli, Partner

Janette Martinez, Senior Associate

Drew Chang, Senior Search Coordinator

Isaacson, Miller

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The University prohibits discrimination and discriminatory harassment (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) against any AU community member on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual's genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases").