Working/Functional Title

Associate Dean for DEI & Faculty Affairs

Position Summary

The Associate Dean for Equity, Justice and Faculty Affairs is a member of the Dean’s leadership team and works closely in an advising capacity with the Dean, as well as the other Assistant and Associate Deans on Equity and Inclusion issues with a particular focus in Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs to embed them within the context of the values, principles, goals, and objectives of the College of Arts & Letters. The position is full-time (75% administration/25% research/creative activities), 12-month appointment, at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure.

The position is responsible for promoting the values-enacted strategic development and implementation of the overarching diversity, equity, inclusion, and wellbeing agenda and related Transformative Justice and Charting Pathways of Intellectual Leadership initiatives for the College. This includes fostering an inclusive workplace and overall culture of care that recognizes, values, and sustains an equitable and inclusive environment and sense of wellbeing and belonging for all faculty, students, and staff in the College community. In particular, the Associate Dean will take the lead in assessing, identifying, developing, and implementing key initiatives in faculty and academic staff affairs that are informed by a Transformative Justice approach and align with the MSU Strategic Plan 2030, the MSU DEI Plan, and the College of Arts & Letters Strategic Plan. Associated responsibilities include consulting and/or partnering with the Faculty Excellence Advocate (FEA), the Institutional Diversity: Excellence in Action (IDEA) Coordinator, the other Associate and Assistant Deans, and the Chairs and Directors to ensure that the college takes a coordinated and comprehensive approach to creating and nurturing a more equitable and inclusive culture across the mission. The position will collaborate with other Assistant and Associate Deans on identifying and addressing gaps in faculty and academic staff affairs, especially in areas of faculty recruitment and retention.

The position prepares background materials for personnel matters for the Dean. In cooperation with the College’s other associate and assistant deans, the position provides faculty development opportunities that lead to measurable improvement and empower faculty members to chart pathways to intellectual leadership in their fields. Further responsibilities include enhancing evaluation procedures and developing training opportunities for faculty and academic staff.

Overview of Responsibilities

• Assist Dean in all personnel matters as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Advise Dean and provide chairperson support on personnel matters pertaining to faculty grievances and discipline, including Title IX related cases.
• Oversee all aspects of the search and hiring process for both tenure-stream and non-tenure stream, including Implicit Bias and Equity Search Practices trainings for college searches. The position will work closely with the Human Resources Team Lead and the Human Resources Team. Manage faculty and academic staff hiring approvals and outside work for pay.
• Oversee the summer hiring process together with HR and Finance Team leads.
• Meet with the HR Team Lead and HR Team regularly to optimize the values-enacted performance of academic human resources in the College.
• Work with chairs and directors on recruitment and retention of faculty and academic staff (e.g., best practices in annual review and promotion and tenure).
• Oversee the preparation and offering of professional development opportunities in the College in collaboration with the other Associate and Assistant Deans that lead to measurable improvement in teaching and learning and faculty and student recruitment and retention (e.g., coordinates the New Faculty Orientation, CAL Faculty Mentoring Fellows Program).
• Serve as facilitator and ex officio member of the CAL Committee on Inclusive Practices (CIPC), working together with department/unit diversity, equity, and inclusion committees.
• Oversee and facilitate with HR Team Lead the following: export control/visa approvals, College chair and director major reviews, sabbatical review, transfer of tenure home, dual appointment waivers, subvention agreements, and retirement agreements.
• On behalf of the Dean, the position facilitates retention offers and partner hires.
• Assist the Dean in the evaluation of college chairs and directors.
• Represent the College in Union of Non-Tenure Track Faculty (UNTF) contract negotiations.
• Work with College Development Office as needed to support fund-raising in the area of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Wellbeing,
• Represent College on relevant University Committees and Initiatives

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Doctorate or MFA

Minimum Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Must hold the rank of tenured Associate or Full Professor and possess a PhD or MFA in a field within the arts and humanities or a very closely related field. 
• Proven intellectual leadership in a department or program; 
• Ability to work effectively as part of a values-enacted leadership team built on trust, shared goals and open communication; 
• Demonstrated professional expertise in the area of Transformative Justice, in particular experience in facilitating workshops and other related professional development opportunities
• Proven dedication and experience in developing, promoting, and successfully implementing diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and wellbeing goals.
• Commitment to leadership characterized by transparency, openness, equity, and dedication to college and university strategic priorities; 
• Ability to collect information, problem-solve, perform analysis, and propose solutions; 
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit

1. a letter expressing interest in this position and describing leadership philosophy, qualifications, and experience,
2. a current curriculum vitae,
3. A 1-page summary of your philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to intellectual leadership in the areas of teaching/curriculum development, research/creative activities, service, outreach, advising, and/or administration. The statement should also include an explanation of related past or planned activities/endeavors as well as how the candidate will advance our goals of inclusive excellence. For more about MSU’s DEI efforts, see https://inclusion.msu.edu/. For more information about writing diversity statements, see https://cal.msu.edu/documents/cal-guidelines-for-the-writing-of-diversity-statements/
4. email addresses for 4 potential referees.

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin on September 1, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, please submit applications by that date. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number 880746.

For more information, contact the Search Committee Chair, Ruth Nicole Brown (rnbrown@msu.edu). Please also consult the College website: http://www.cal.msu.edu/

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Review of Applications Begins On

09/01/2023

Website

cal.msu.edu

Department Statement

The College of Arts & Letters recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture, which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The College of Arts & Letters is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion. 

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

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About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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