Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

Bates College, a historic, selective, residential liberal arts college, seeks a strategic, thoughtful, and inspiring leader to serve as its next Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty (VPAA/DOF). The VPAA/DOF will join the College at an exciting time, working closely with the new president to develop and implement a bold, new strategic plan for Bates. Working in concert with the Bates community, the VPAA/DOF is charged with strengthening the academic enterprise by supporting faculty scholarship and development, promoting excellent teaching and inclusive pedagogy, inspiring curricular innovation, leading a dedicated staff, and fostering Bates’ intellectual community. The VPAA/DOF will be a collaborative leader with deep experience in academic affairs, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and a passion for the liberal arts.

Founded in 1855, Bates has been coeducational from the beginning, and it has always welcomed students of diverse races and ethnicities. The College’s commitment to academic excellence, intellectual exploration, and engaged citizenship defines its character. Today, Bates is known for its rigorous and engaged liberal arts education that centers on deep and sustained interactions among students, faculty, staff, and local community; a commitment to opportunity and excellence that grows directly out of its history and mission and responds to contemporary geographic, demographic, and economic realities; and Purposeful Work, a program built on the premise that preparing students for lives of meaningful work lies at the heart of the liberal arts mission. 

In its next VPAA/DOF, Bates seeks an inspiring leader and accomplished academic who will cultivate the academic vision of the College, champion teaching and scholarly excellence by supporting, leading, and advocating for faculty and academic staff, and serve as a trusted thought partner to the president, trustees, and other members of the senior leadership team. The VPAA/DOF will be a key partner to the president, faculty, and campus community in defining the strategic academic vision as the College embarks on a strategic planning process in 2025. The VPAA/DOF will work with faculty across disciplines and fields to ensure that the curriculum is both robust and coherent, that general education requirements are more smoothly navigated, and that all students are sufficiently supported to pursue their academic interests. The VPAA/DOF will also successfully cultivate collaborative and sustained partnerships with relevant administrative units across the campus.

Candidates must be outstanding scholars and teachers who demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence, equity, and inclusion. In addition, the successful candidate will have demonstrated collaborative and transparent leadership, an ability to cultivate a broadly diverse community, the capacity to bring initiatives to completion, and openness to new ideas with a track record of leading innovation across academic and institutional boundaries. The next VPAA/DOF will support a culture of strong shared governance, manage a complex academic enterprise and a large budget. The VPAA/DOF should exhibit high integrity and possess strong belief in the value of a liberal arts education in and for today’s world. 

Kate Barry is leading this search with Karen McPhedran.

Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The College prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status, and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff.  Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations.  All College faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.