Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs

School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC or the School), one of the world's premier institutions for art and design education, seeks an inspiring and collaborative academic leader to serve as its next Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Affairs (dean of faculty). The dean of faculty will join the institution as it navigates a critical juncture in higher education more broadly and shapes the School’s future priorities under its FORWARD strategic plan. With a legacy of advancing both the teaching and practice of contemporary art, SAIC’s impact resonates across disciplines and around the world. The dean of faculty will represent and advocate for a robust and diverse community of tenure and non-tenure track faculty while shaping conversations around academic and programmatic offerings at SAIC. The School is defined by its groundbreaking educational model, one that eliminates traditional majors at the undergraduate level and empowers students to forge their own interdisciplinary paths.

SAIC’s community of 3,100 degree-seeking students includes artists, designers, and scholars who challenge norms and redefine the boundaries of creative expression. The School’s unique affiliation with the Art Institute of Chicago, the nation’s second-largest fine arts museum, offers students unparalleled access to world-class collections and cultural programming. Complemented by cutting-edge facilities and deep-rooted partnerships with Chicago’s educational, civic, and cultural institutions, SAIC provides a dynamic and richly resourced environment for artistic exploration and growth.

Reporting to the provost, the successful candidate will oversee the quality and coordination of SAIC’s academic programs, research and professional practice activities, faculty enrichment, recruitment, and retention efforts, and related administrative operations, in pursuit of maintaining SAIC’s high standards of teaching, scholarship, and creative production. The dean of faculty will sustain a productive educational environment that engages the interests of faculty, students, alumni, and partners within and beyond the institution. In addition, the successful candidate should have significant administrative and budgetary experience, demonstrate innovative thinking, an inclusive approach to academic leadership, and possess a strong scholarly or artistic record of achievement meriting a tenured appointment as a full professor in a field appropriate to one or more of SAIC’s departments.

COMPENSATION AND LOCATION

The expected salary range for this position is $260,000 to $275,000 annually. SAIC offers a comprehensive package of benefits including generous paid time off; paid holidays; medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits; competitive retirement plan (up to nine percent employer contribution); tuition remission and tuition exchange program; employee discounts; and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent below.

Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Ben Tobin is leading this search with Stephen Kalogeras and Alaine Small.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].

APPLY NOMINATE contact Stephen Kalogeras Full Description

How to apply

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/school-art-institute-chicago/dean-faculty-and-vice-president-academic-affairs

School of the Art Institute of Chicago website

Posted 2026-10-21, open through 2027-01-19. Posted by the organization on ExecSearches.