Dean

Lawrence University seeks a collaborative, creative, and forward-looking leader to serve as the next Dean of the Conservatory of Music. Currently celebrating the 150^th anniversary of its founding, the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music is poised for a Dean to build upon its long history of excellence and innovation, while collaboratively envisioning an even brighter future for the institution.

The conservatory distinguishes itself from other top conservatories and schools of music in myriad ways. It values all histories and traditions of music-making across culture and genre and meaningfully creates opportunities for faculty and students to engage critically and creatively with music in this context. It is one of few distinguished conservatories to be integrated with a preeminent liberal arts college, and it supports faculty and students in exploring their academic and artistic interests across traditional disciplinary boundaries. For instance, conservatory students pursue academic coursework in the college, and college students have access to lessons, ensembles, and performance opportunities in the conservatory. Many students pursue the BA-BMus dual degree, enabling them to access deep, applied study while experiencing the broad-based liberal education the college offers, and faculty from the conservatory frequently collaborate and co-teach with colleagues in the college, for instance, in Lawrence’s distinctive First-Year Studies program. This transformative approach sets students up for success in their lives and careers and has led to the strong reputation the conservatory currently enjoys.

The conservatory is now primed for a Dean who will build upon this strong foundation and envision its next era of eminence. The Dean will serve as the strategic leader for the conservatory, making key decisions about resource allocation and programmatic development, all with an understanding of the importance of collaboration, shared governance, and institutional culture. The Dean will be a key institutional leader at the university, including serving as a member of the President’s cabinet and on the Academic Affairs leadership team. In this work, they will engage widely across the university, finding ways to further align the conservatory and the college, advocating for resources, and supporting strategic enrollment efforts. They will assess the administrative and operational processes in the conservatory, work closely with staff to refine systems and procedures to be more efficient and equitable, and enhance communication channels to ensure all relevant constituencies are informed of opportunities, programs, and policies. In addition, the Dean will serve as the public face of the conservatory, broadcasting the excellent work of the faculty and students, developing meaningful opportunities for community engagement, and strengthening the institution’s profile and reputation both regionally and nationally. The successful candidate will be a unifying, inspiring, and supportive leader who respects the conservatory’s culture, embraces the creative and transformative education the conservatory offers, has a genuine appreciation for the broad diversity of musical traditions, and inspires the faculty, staff, and students to reach new heights.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries should be submitted in confidence electronically below. 

Karen Avery is leading this search with Keith Mason and Caroline Corry. 

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