Position Summary

The College of Natural Science (NatSci) at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for one or more Assistant/Associate Dean(s) to lead its office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Depending on the breadth of experience and qualifications of the applicants two positions may be considered to coordinate efforts in the DEI Office and advance the College's strategic priorities, as outlined in our 5-year strategic plan (). Hiring may be at the Assistant (faculty and academic specialists) or Associate (faculty) Dean level, as described in the University's Academic Hiring Manual.

The positions are part of broader efforts in the college and across the university to pursue academic and research excellence in a safe, equitable, and supportive environment in which differences are valued and all community members are empowered to grow and succeed. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, developing, coordinating, implementing, and assessing programs that 1) create and sustain inclusive and equitable environments for the college community;  2) ensure the recruitment, retention, and promotion of vital faculty and academic staff talent; 3) provide college-wide DEI and safe workplace training; and 4) strategically create inclusive learning environments for the success of a diverse group of (under)graduate students and postdocs.

Successful applicant(s) will build, support, and assess DEI initiatives throughout all areas of the College, coordinating efforts with other members of the NatSci leadership team and unit administrators to achieve strategic goals of institutional diversity and inclusive excellence. The Assistant/Associate Dean(s) will play a key role in advancing our institutional (https://strategicplan.msu.edu/strategic-plan) and college (https://natsci.msu.edu/about/strategic-plan.aspx) strategic priorities, working closely with the college's DEI office staff, standing DEI advisory committee and a team of facilitators in charge of training programs on cultural competency for personal, organizational, and community change. The NatSci Assistant/Associate Dean(s) will also work with diversity partners across Michigan State University including, but not limited to, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Minorities (CoREM), the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions, the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, and the Office for International Students and Scholars. The Assistant/Associate Dean(s) will become an integral part of these communities by providing strategic and intellectual leadership in NatSci and by serving as liaison(s) between NatSci and the rest of the university in collaborative efforts to develop and adopt equity-based policies and programs.

The Assistant/Associate Dean(s) will report to the Dean and will be part of the NatSci senior administrative leadership team. There is flexibility in regards to the appointment structure of DEI leader(s). A 100%, 12 month appointment is possible, as are partial administrative appointments for applicants seeking affiliations with any of our departments and/or with other colleges, or to enable other professional activities across the college including advising, teaching and/or research. Appointments may be in the specialist, fixed term or tenure systems and at all ranks, commensurate with the experience and qualifications of the applicant(s), with a tentative start date in August 2024.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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