Dean, Public Service and Education

Welcoming Community. Posts residential Campus is located in Waterbury Connecticut on 58 beautiful acres in the heart of New England. We are proud to offer the programs athletics and academic support you would find at an elite school as well as the dynamic culture and welcoming feel of a tight-knit community. We are also proud to offer many of the same advantages-academic support learning flexibility a welcoming community-online as well.

Providing One-On-One Support. At Post our focus on making education personal extends to every step of the learning process from helping students make the most of their financial aid options to providing online tutoring support offer advice counsel and support when and where each student needs us. In fact as soon as a student enrolls a dedicated team of personal advisors begin their role as a helpful resource. They help students complete the financial aid process choose the program that fits their needs and work with the student to align their education with their specific career objectives. These advisors coach students through to academic success and help with job search campaigns upon graduation.

NCAA. Post University is proud to be home to 21 NCAA Division II Sports. Division II athletics represents over 200 colleges and universities that provide thousands of student-athletes with the opportunity to compete at a high level of scholarship athletics while excelling in the classroom and fully engaging in the broader campus experience. This balance in which student-athletes are recognized for their academic success athletics contributions and campus/community involvement is at the heart of the Division II philosophy.

Awards and Recognition.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked 6 of Post Universitys online programs among the Best Online Programs for 2024.

Previously Post University was ranked among the Best Online Programs for the following:

• Best Online Graduate Business Programs
• Best Online Veterans Graduate Business Programs
• Best Online Graduate Education Programs and Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans 2019 and 2022
• and 2018 Best Online Bachelors Programs
• 2018 Best Online Bachelors Programs for Veterans
  

Top Workplaces USA ranked Post University a 2025 Top Workplace 5 years running 2021-2025 and awarded Top Workplaces Work-life Flexibility Award 2025 as well as previously in 2024 and 2023.

Military Times Best for Vets has ranked Post University among the top institutions for military students recognizing it as the No. 16 primarily online university nationwide No. 4 in Connecticut and No.23 in the Northeaster in its 2024 rankings.

Dean John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education

Our next Dean will embody bold thinking revolutionary ideas backed by sound operational execution and a strong belief in excellence as the benchmark for success. As the Dean we expect a talented executive leader to instill a vivid vision of the school activate each persons contribution to that vision execute said vision and structure accountability required for success. We seek a leader who prioritizes expects and requires from themselves and others an insightful and innovative approach to achieving exceptional student success results. This singular focus is why Post University has continued to excel within the educational sector.

As a member of the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) Cabinet and the Universitys Leadership Team the Dean for the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education reports directly to the CAO and is the schools senior academic and administrative leader. The Dean works collaboratively across Academic Affairs and the University to advance high-quality online academic programming and course instruction on the quality of the schools main campus and online focusing on personalizing the holistic student experience. Post University serves as diverse population of students with a main campus location in Waterbury CT and a strong global online presence.

In collaboration with the CAO and operational units the Dean will advance educational effectiveness in the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education such as student enrollment retention persistence and graduation rates. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who combines strategic thinking and solid business acumen to perform all role accountabilities and provide enriched personalized learning experiences for every student.

The Dean for the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education is an onsite role in Waterbury CT and is not a remote opportunity.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Leadership

• Model Posts non-negotiable behaviors with all audiences all the time.
  
• Adopt innovative strategies and data informed decision-making in support of Posts smart growth as a global employer.
  
• Ensure academic integrity in all academic department informational communications internal or external.
  
• Demonstrate expertise in effective student-centered success-oriented and ethical leadership.
  
• Establish and launch the schools mission shared vision and identity.
  
• Build the strength relevancy of the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education name locally regionally and nationally by establishing relationships with counterpart institutions transfer institutions local business/industry partners K-12 partners and the Post University community.
  
• Actively participate in the universitys leadership team to support the university-wide strategic planning process with the specific accountability and advocacy for the school.
  
• Provide leadership in the development enhancement and review of academic policies.
  
• Ensure timely and transparent information communication across the School Academic Affairs and/or the University.
  
• Enhance the ethos of collaboration and respect among all Faculty Associates and Students.
  
• Engage with the external community to foster educational partnerships and opportunities that enhance the schools impact and visibility.
  
• Practice inclusive excellence and shared governance principles that promote diversity equity and inclusion within the School and Post University.
  

Curriculum and Program Development

• Develop and implement new degree programs and work closely with the CAO Faculty and Associates to enhance the student experience.
  
• Conduct ongoing evaluations of the academic portfolio.
  
• Review and act on student concerns raised in the school including Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) dismissal appeals and violations of Posts Civility Code and Academic dishonesty policies.
  
• Assure compliance with state federal and accrediting agency regulations and with the CAO effectively communicate all such policies to students Faculty Associates and the University community.
• Collaborate with the Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning and the Regulatory Department to ensure academic content in the Catalog and on the website and other University publications are accurate and representative of the school.
  
• Develop and encourage opportunities to deepen the schools interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship in ways that capitalize on Posts Workforce Ready Initiatives and Humanities General Education outcomes.
  
• Promote research scholarship and innovative practices within the school.
  
• Collaborate with CAO and the Regulatory department to ensure compliance with programmatic accreditors.

  
  

  Student Success and Educational Effectiveness
  

• Provide student-centered and data-informed leadership in planning implementing assessing and ongoing improvement of all curricula instructional modalities courses and programs within the assigned academic areas.
  
• Gather and synthesize data from various sources to review evaluate and communicate the schools progress toward the strategic plan goals.
  
• Collaborate with the assessment team to ensure yearly program review and monitor retention persistence and graduation rates.
  
• Work closely with the Chief Academic Officer and University Operations to ensure optimal student experience from enrollment to graduate relative to KPIs.

  Personnel and Resource Allocation
  

• Develop and manage the schools operational and personnel budget and participate in the University-wide budgeting process.
• Hire evaluate and develop effective and dedicated Program Chairs Faculty and Associates for the School to foster a culture of transparency creativity accountability and continuous quality improvement.
  
• Supervise and evaluate Assistant Deans and support strategic initiatives surrounding Associate Faculty professional development.
  
• Collaborate with the Center for Teaching and Learning to develop and provide professional development opportunities to faculty and associates within the school.
  
• These responsibilities are note exhaustive and may include additional tasks as directed by the Chief Academic Officer and Provost.
  

  MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
  

  To perform this job successfully an individual must perform each essential function satisfactorily.

  The requirements listed below represent the knowledge skill and performance required. Reasonable accommodation may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
  

  QUALIFICATIONS
  

  The successful candidate will possess a terminal degree reflective of one or more disciplines within the John P. Burke School of Public Service and Education. The candidate should have at least five years of experience in higher education leadership or a related professional field. Other qualifications include:
  

• Knowledge of and experience in adult education (theory pedagogy and andragogy) as it relates to online and blended learning modalities.
  
• Demonstrated knowledge of current research and state and/or national initiatives to enhance students access persistence and success.
  
• Proficiency in designing and teaching courses online; demonstrated success in academic higher education program and curriculum development; experience with faculty/staff professional development.
  
• Experience with budgets and fiscal management.
  
• A proven record of effective leadership through collaborative and shared decision-making; initiative-taking action-oriented get it done mentality.
  
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills.
  
• An innovative vision for the future of service and education programming in higher education particularly online.
  
• Ability to balance advocacy for the school with the greater needs of the University.
  
• Deep commitment to the goals and advancement of online education.
  
  

Applications

This is a rolling search and strong candidates will be reviewed and moved forward as they are identified. Applications should include the following:

• Current curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
  

Buffkin/Baker an executive search firm is assisting in this search. Inquiries of interest nominations and applications should be submitted electronically in confidence to:

Dr. Pelema Ellis Partner

Dinah DeWitt Associate