Dean, Faculty of Arts

Saint Mary's University acknowledges it is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

Saint Mary’s University invites nominations, applications and expressions of interest for the position of Dean, Faculty of Arts. With the widest selection of humanities and social science disciplines in the Maritimes, the Faculty of Arts is home to 11 academic departments, an array of interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as a number of innovative new Minors. Excellence in research and teaching is integral to the Faculty’s academic mission, as are the promotion of critical thinking, creative expression, experiential learning, as well as interfaculty collaboration, and engagement with the local, national and international community. The Faculty represents a diverse, collegial community that offers its students an enriching Arts education committed to student success, crossing traditional boundaries, innovating, and providing a unique forum for intellectual inquiry. It is an exciting time to join Saint Mary’s as the University continues to enhance its position as Canada’s International University, and build on its Strategic Plan.

Reporting to the Vice-President, Academic and Research, the Dean of Arts is the Faculty’s lead academic and administrative officer and member of the University’s senior leadership team. Responsible for the Faculty’s operations – including resource allocation, fundraising and advancement – the Dean will be an effective advocate for the Arts, charged with elevating the profile of the Faculty, and providing leadership in enhancing the Faculty’s teaching and research mission as well as the student experience and community engagement.

The ideal candidate will be an outstanding scholar with a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline, and significant administrative experience earned in a dynamic and complex environment. The Faculty of Arts particularly encourages applications from candidates who are able to contribute to the Indigenization of the curriculum and the university. The Dean will demonstrate a deep passion for the humanities and social sciences, and will develop a bold vision aimed at implementing meaningful institutional change, prioritizing Arts and diverse peoples and knowledges. It is imperative that the new Dean be highly inclusive and collaborative in their style, and possess superb interpersonal and communication skills, and a strong orientation toward relationship building.

Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Saint Mary’s has evolved into a modern, secular and metropolitan university; the second largest in the province with more than 50,000 alumni. The University is a national leader in international and intercultural education, offering a vibrant and culturally diverse environment for over 7,000 students spread across the faculties of Arts, Science, Business, Education, and Graduate Studies and Research. The University is highly ranked among Canadian universities for research; it is home to nine Canada Research Chairs and receives over $8m annually from external funding sources. It also has a long history of athletic excellence. Saint Mary’s has a well-established commitment to cultural diversity and encourages and supports the development of a global perspective, developed on campus in the student body, the curriculum, and in teaching, research, and staff communities. Building on its strong tradition of accessibility and community engagement, it lets students experience the world, all in one city block.

The Committee will begin consideration of candidates in January 2020, and will continue until the position is filled. Nominations and applications should be submitted to smuarts@odgersberndtson.com  

Saint Mary's University hires on the basis of merit and is committed to the principles of employment equity. Saint Mary's University encourages applications from qualified women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities. All applicants will receive a self-identification form for confidential submission to our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office.  In keeping with Citizenship and Immigration Canada requirements, all qualified persons are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.  The Search Committee encourages applicants to highlight any involvement in enhancing diversity and inclusion in their previous institutional environment.