DEAN OF THE KNIGHT SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION

Queens University of Charlotte (Queens) seeks a visionary academic leader and experienced administrator with a strong record as both a teacher and a scholar for the position of Dean of the Knight School of Communication, the only school of communication in the country to be endowed by the Knight Foundation.

Founded in 1857, Queens University is a small, private, co-ed, masters-level university focused on tailoring dynamic students in and outside of the classroom. In all of its programs, Queens emphasizes active and collaborative learning, meaningful student-teacher relationships, a creative synthesis of the liberal arts with the world of work, and the value and necessity of lifelong learning. As a testament to the quality of its offerings, its commitment to students, and the transformational nature of its educational experience, the University recently received an extraordinary $35 million gift for scholarships from the late Porter Byrum, a generous and longtime supporter of the institution.

 

Queens is consistently recognized for its strengths. The University is ranked #20 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges – Regional Universities South. Within that same category, Queens is ranked #13 in Best Colleges for Veterans and #30 in Best Value Schools. The University’s John Belk International Program is lauded annually for its support of Queens’ students study abroad. Queens consistently ranks among the top 20 institutions in the country for study abroad.

The University’s campus is nestled in the historic neighborhood of Myers Park, just minutes from uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, a top-25 media market, and an extended classroom for students – full of research, service, and internship opportunities.

Queens offers 2,330 academically talented undergraduate and graduate students a demanding education, grounded in the liberal arts, with 43 majors and 66 minors, through six schools: Knight School of Communication; McColl School of Business; Cato School of Education; College of Arts and Sciences; Presbyterian School of Nursing, and Blair School of Health. The curriculum is enriched by a robust and dynamic general education program, an effective experiential learning and internship program, a vibrant campus life dedicated to community and service, and extensive opportunities for study abroad.

 

The Knight School has developed a dynamic and broad-based program that emphasizes the importance of media literacy, digital storytelling through digital journalism, and digital media production. The School provides an outstanding education for 123 undergraduate and 85 graduate students, offering rigorous, relevant undergraduate programs in communication and journalism and digital media, a graduate program in communication, and a graduate certificate in integrated digital strategy. The Knight School develops students into creative and critical communicators who become engaged citizens, advocates, and leaders in the communities they serve. The Knight School also is the home for Digital Charlotte, which empowers organizations to deliver digital inclusion resources to their communities.

 

The Dean of the Knight School reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and is a valued member of the Deans’ Council. The Dean oversees eight full‐time faculty and a gifted operational staff of six. The Dean serves as the primary advocate and liaison for the School’s faculty in matters of curriculum, interdisciplinary collaboration, policy, program development, and resource allocation and must also be externally focused particularly in advancing grant-related initiatives.  

 

The next Dean will be an innovative, creative, and engaging leader who will lead the development of a shared vision for the Knight School that is forward looking and can leverage the School’s unique qualities. She or he will have a collaborative leadership style and the ability to enhance relationships within the Knight School, across the University, with the Knight Foundation, and in the broader community to promote interdisciplinary initiatives. The next Dean will have an understanding of the constantly changing landscape in communication to ensure the Knight School provides students with a relevant education grounded in best practices and market-driven experiences. She or he will be collegial, approachable, and engaging to sustain a relationship-centered working environment at the School and value the contributions of faculty, staff, and students across the University. The successful candidate will possess the appropriate terminal degree in her or his field, a distinguished record of teaching and scholarly/creative productivity, and exemplary experience in academic administration reflective of the University’s own high standards.

For more information on Queens University, please explore www.queens.edu.

 

Applications will be received until the position is filled, but in order to ensure full consideration by the search committee, applicants are encouraged to have all required materials on file by December 31, 2017. All application materials must be submitted electronically in MS Word or PDF format to QueensCommunication@storbecksearch.com.

 

Julie Tea, Partner and Brian Bustin, Associate at Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, LP are assisting with this search. Nominators and prospective candidates are encouraged to contact them at QueensCommunication@storbecksearch.com to arrange confidential conversations.

 

Queens values campus diversity and demonstrates this in campus initiatives; we particularly encourage members of historically under-represented groups to apply. Queens University of Charlotte is completely and firmly committed to supporting and celebrating all forms of diversity.  Queens does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, sexual identify, religion, age, national origin, disability, political beliefs, veteran status, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law in the administration of its educational and admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic programs, employment and hiring policies, or other University-administered programs.