Interim Dean, Unified College of Education and Social Work

The Interim Dean provides executive leadership for the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) and the Graduate School of Social Work (GSSW) during a critical period of transition and institutional transformation. Reporting to the Provost the Interim Dean is responsible for overseeing daytoday academic and administrative operations of both colleges while leading a comprehensive transparent and inclusive process to develop synergies between the two academic units.

The Interim Dean will steward academic continuity faculty and staff stability and student success during the time of transition while designing and implementing the governance organizational academic and operational frameworks necessary for a successful and sustainable unified college. The role requires a collaborative change leader who respects the distinct professional identities and disciplinary traditions of education and social work while advancing a shared vision culture and structure. Additionally the role will collaborate as a university citizen to align MCE and GSSW approach to institutional transformation with broader Provost priorities for academic transformation across the University of Denver.

Primary Responsibilities

Transitional and Unification Leadership

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of the unification of MCE and GSSW into a single college in alignment with university goals and governance processes.
• Develop in collaboration with faculty staff and university leadership a clear vision timeline and implementation plan for unification.
• Oversee the integration of academic structures administrative functions governance bylaws policies and reporting lines.
• Ensure clear consistent and transparent communication with all stakeholders throughout the transition process.
• Identify risks dependencies and opportunities associated with unification and proactively address them.

Academic and Programmatic Stewardship

• Ensure academic quality accreditation integrity and continuity of programs during the interim period.
• Support faculty leadership in aligning curricula program portfolios and interdisciplinary opportunities within the unified structure.
• Oversee professional licensure clinical and field education requirements and compliance with accrediting bodies.
• Encourage innovation and excellence in teaching communityengaged learning and interdisciplinary scholarship.

Faculty Staff and Culture

• Provide steady leadership to faculty and staff across both colleges during organizational change.
• Foster an inclusive respectful and collaborative culture that values shared governance and professional voice.
• Oversee personnel decisions workload planning and organizational design consistent with the interim charge and university policy.
• Support leadership development among associate deans chairs directors and administrative leaders.

Students and Student Success

• Ensure continuity and quality of the student experience during the merger of these two units including advising field clinic and internship learning activities and professional preparation.
• Communicate clearly with students about the transition and its impact on their academic programs and credentials.
• Promote student wellbeing belonging and timely degree completion.

Budget Operations and Resources

• Oversee budgets resource allocation and financial planning for both colleges during the interim period.
• Identify efficiencies shared services and strategic investments to support longterm sustainability of the unified college.
• Collaborate with university partners on administrative integration.

Governance Advancement and Representation

• Work with faculty governance bodies to develop structures appropriate for a unified college.
• Serve as the chief academic and administrative representative of both colleges during the interim period.
• Partner with advancement teams to ensure continuity and growth in donor relations and external partnerships.
• Prepare documentation recommendations and transition materials to support the eventual permanent leadership structure.

Required Qualifications

• Earned terminal degree in education social work or a closely related field.
• Academic credentials appropriate for appointment as a tenured full professor.
• Demonstrated experience in senior academic leadership roles.
• Proven ability to lead complex organizational change and collaborative planning processes.
• Strong commitment to fostering a respectful inclusive workplace where all employees can succeed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading interdisciplinary or multiunit academic organizations.
• Familiarity with accreditation and licensure requirements in education and/or social work.
• Experience with academic restructuring mergers or largescale institutional transitions.
• Demonstrated financial and operational leadership.

Key Leadership Attributes

• Trusted transitional leader and consensus builder
• Strategic and system-oriented thinker
• Clear empathetic and transparent communicator
• Commitment to academic excellence and missiondriven education
• Ability to balance continuity with change

Term and Scope

This is a termlimited interim appointment intended to provide leadership and stability during the unification process and to position the unified college for longterm success under permanent leadership.

Application Deadline

For consideration please submit your application materials by4:00 p.m. (MST) April 29 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is UC.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $400000 - $450000.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate departmental budget availability internal salary equity considerations and available market information but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offersexcellent benefits including medical dental retirement paid time off tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about theUniversity of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of DenversNonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.