What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dean of DavisConnects position at Colby College?
Job Description
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Job Summary :
Colby College is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and visionary leader to serve as Dean of DavisConnects. This role offers an exciting opportunity to build upon a successful foundation, advancing a well-established and distinctive program that embeds academic learning with hands-on, experiential opportunities that are available to all students. The Dean will play a crucial role in connecting academic learning with global and domestic experiences, creating a holistic and cohesive journey, and facilitating access for students as they prepare to lead lives of purpose and impact.
Located in Waterville, Maine, and one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the United States, Colby has an increasingly global reach and an international reputation for excellence. Faculty scholars from around the world and intellectually curious students from more than 70 countries are drawn to the scenic Mayflower Hill campus and to Maine's unique environment. More than 260 faculty members and approximately 640 other employees work together to connect students with global experiential learning opportunities and provide academic, administrative, and support services.
DavisConnects prepares Colby students for lifelong success by integrating its leading liberal arts education with unique global internship, research, and experiential experiences for every student, leveraging Colby's powerful personal and professional networks. This set of universal experiences is supported by a robust funding system and an advising model that pairs students with expert industry advisors from their first day on campus. In collaboration with faculty advisors, class deans, and an unrivaled community of alumni and friends, DavisConnects guides students into life and career-enhancing experiences on their path toward employment, graduate study, or entrepreneurial achievement after Colby. DavisConnects' support extends to Colby faculty who wish to create new, immersive global experiences that may require planning and financial assistance. In partnership with the Office of the Dean of Global Engagement, DavisConnects offers faculty the opportunity to explore and submit proposals for Global Innovation Courses and Global Labs.
Reporting to the Dean of the College, the Dean of DavisConnects will be responsible for leading a comprehensive program that ensures each student has access to meaningful learning experiences, including global programs, internships, research opportunities, and guidance for personal and professional growth. By creating these opportunities, the Dean will empower students to enhance their studies with real-world applications, helping them connect their academic knowledge to hands-on learning, personal aspirations, and pathways to post-graduation opportunities that reflect their passions and values. The Dean will build on DavisConnects' strong foundation to further the integration of classroom learning with experiential opportunities. Leveraging this legacy and successes such as JanPlan offerings, research opportunities, and the singular, exemplary experiences that reside in the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence and the Colby Labs (Buck Lab for Climate and Environment; the Linde Packman Lab for Biosciences Innovation; the Halloran Lab for Entrepreneurship; the Lyons Arts Lab; and the Public Policy Lab in development), the Dean will ensure students view their academic studies and hands-on experiences as interconnected, fostering a culture of exploration and growth. This position offers a compelling opportunity to lead a transformative initiative that is central to integrating classroom learning with experiential opportunities as a way to develop unique skills and a sense of purpose and to explore professional paths after college.
The Dean will emerge as an active and valued member of the College's leadership. They will be a natural collaborator and connector and will have the ability to identify new opportunities for employment, internships, and other avenues for enrichment that are universally available and transformational for all students. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to provide strategic vision, dedication to inclusivity, and a strong commitment to guiding students in discovering and pursuing lives of purpose and impact. An advanced degree and significant experience in a related field are preferred. Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience in experiential learning within a liberal arts context, along with the ability to build creative and collaborative relationships across academic and professional domains.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at www.wittkieffer.com.
WittKieffer is assisting Colby College with this search. Candidate materials should be received by March 31, 2025, for full consideration.
Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to :
Sheila Murphy, Sandra Chu, Sarah Palmer ColbyDeanDavisConnects@wittkieffer.com
