Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College

Search Prospectus —  Microsoft Word 97-2003 document     Adobe PDF file

Thiel College in Greenville, PA invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College (VPAA). As the institution's chief academic officer, the VPAA provides academic leadership to the campus community and collaborates with members of the President's Cabinet to accomplish strategic priorities.

Commitment to the student-centered mission and vision of Thiel College and to the students we serve, engaged in the academic, athletic, performing arts, and social aspects of a residential campus, and active in the Greenville community.

Entrepreneurial and innovative while being respectful of the tradition, history and heritage of Thiel, envisions creative synergies between traditional liberal arts and career preparation, willing to take risks, understands the power and potential of instructional technology, and is committed to excellence in implementing new programs. 

Mature leadership and collaborative management style, understands process and governance in academia, acts with integrity and authenticity, makes informed decisions and communicates those decisions with tact and sensitivity, advocates for the faculty, and integrates best practice assessment and faculty evaluation as a basis to lead the faculty toward continuous improvement in teaching and learning.

Effective communicator on campus and off campus, assists to secure grants and gifts to support academic initiatives, transparent in addressing issues or concerns, instills a sense of mutuality and unity, and builds a strong sense of community among faculty, staff and students. 

Understands and supports the important role that athletics, performing arts, clubs and activities, academic support services, residential life, the library, and other academic and non-academic staff play in making Thiel a special learning community and embraces diversity among students, faculty, and staff as a core value.

Earned doctorate with a record of superior classroom teaching and appropriate scholarly or other professional activity commensurate with the rank of professor, appreciation for private church-related higher education and particularly the Lutheran identity of Thiel and supports the spiritual growth of the community.

Application Process

Nominations and confidential inquiries should be directed to Dr. Peter T. Mitchell, Proactive Transition Management by e-mail peter@ptm.bz or phone 843-325-0983. 

A prospectus describing the position, Thiel College, the Greenville community, and the timetable for the search can be found at www.thiel.edu/vpaa_search. 

Electronic submission of all application materials is required; materials may be submitted in confidence to the following secure email address: vpaa@thiel.edu, and should include a letter of application, CV, list of five references, and a concise statement of qualifications in reference to the Key Opportunities and Qualifications listed above. 

Candidates will be evaluated as soon as their application is received. The search will be confidential and references will not be contacted until the applicant is notified. Applicants who apply before January 24, 2010 will receive full consideration. Semi-finalist interviews will be held in mid-February at the Pittsburgh Airport and finalist campus interviews will be held in early to mid-March with an appointment by April 1, 2009.  Expected start date is July 1, 2010.  

Proactive Transition Management – Peter T. Mitchell, President – www.ptm.bz