Dean of the School of Arts Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University is seeking a Dean School of the Arts to lead Art Design Film Music and Theatre programs in Gunnison Colorado. Reporting to the Provost this leader will shape a bold vision for creative excellence while driving interdisciplinary collaboration enrollment growth and student success. The Dean will lead and develop faculty and staff expand experiential and career-connected learning and strengthen connections with alumni donors and the broader arts community. This is an opportunity to elevate the Schools visibility and position Western as a destination for creative excellence.

Another Sources client Western Colorado University is recruiting a Dean School of the Arts to join their team in Gunnison Colorado. This is an onsite leadership opportunity and relocation assistance is available.

Heres a little about Western Colorado University:

Western Colorado University offers an educational experience unlike any other. Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains Western combines personalized learning with hands-on academic experiences that take full advantage of its extraordinary surroundings. Small class sizes engaged faculty and experiential learning create an environment where studentsand the professionals who support themmake a meaningful impact every day.

Located in Gunnison Colorado Western is surrounded by some of the countrys most spectacular outdoor recreation. Known as the Basecamp of the Rockies Gunnison offers immediate access to public lands world-class mountain biking at Hartman Rocks fly fishing on the Gunnison River water recreation at Blue Mesa Reservoir and is just 45 minutes from Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Whether youre drawn to hiking skiing biking fishing or simply living in a welcoming mountain community Gunnison offers an exceptional quality of life.

The university is looking to enhance the Schools reputation and position Western as a destination for creative excellence. For a leader energized by interdisciplinary collaboration community engagement and preparing students for meaningful careers in the arts this is an opportunity to shape how creative education grows and evolves at Western.

About this role:

Reporting directly to the Provost the Dean will provide academic creative and operational leadership for the School of the Arts while supervising approximately 1215 employees. This leader will bring Art Design Film Music and Theatre together around a compelling vision for the futurestrengthening collaboration across disciplines expanding experiential opportunities growing enrollment and building the Schools visibility throughout Colorado and beyond.

The opportunity extends well beyond academic administration. The Dean will serve as an advocate and ambassador for the arts cultivate relationships with donors alumni community partners and arts organizations and help connect students with professional experiences and networks. At the same time the Dean will create an environment where faculty and staff can thrive and where innovation in curriculum and creative practice is encouraged.

Scope & Impact

Academic & Creative Leadership 25%

• Collaborate with faculty and university leadership to advance an innovative inclusive vision for the School of the Arts.

• Strengthen connections across Art Design Film Music and Theatre and champion interdisciplinary curriculum development including new certificates concentrations and majors.

• Expand experiential courses industry connections and other opportunities that prepare students for successful careers in creative fields.

• Build a forward-looking academic environment that connects traditional arts disciplines with emerging creative industries.

• Foster a positive collaborative culture and effective communication among faculty staff students and university leadership.

Enrollment & Student Success 25%

• Lead recruitment retention and marketing efforts designed to grow enrollment across the Schools creative disciplines.

• Champion belonging and access while supporting a student experience where all learners have opportunities to succeed.

• Advance assessment and continuous improvement of student learning persistence retention completion career development and placement.

• Build strategies that connect students with practical experiences professional networks and career opportunities.

Advancement & External Relations 20%

• Partner with the WCU Foundation to advance fundraising and donor development for the School.

• Increase the Schools visibility through events media community partnerships and external engagement.

• Cultivate alumni relationships and professional networks within arts industries across Colorado and nationally.

• Serve as a visible ambassador for Western and advocate for its arts programs within regional and national arts education communities.

Faculty & Staff Leadership 15%

• Recruit support evaluate and retain a talented and creative faculty and staff.

• Provide leadership for faculty workloads committee assignments annual evaluations and professional development.

• Encourage contemporary creative practice and pedagogy while supporting faculty in bringing professional experience into the classroom.

Budget & Operational Leadership 15%

• Steward the Schools budget resources and creative infrastructure including studios performance venues galleries and labs.

• Align resources and operations with Westerns strategic priorities program goals and long-term fiscal sustainability.

• Ensure compliance with university and state requirements.

• Partner with program coordinators and administrative support to effectively schedule classes and events.

Qualifications

• Candidates coming from academia are expected to hold a terminal degree in an arts discipline or closely related field.

• Candidates coming from outside academia should hold a degree in a relevant field and bring significant leadership experience in the nonprofit or arts industry along with a demonstrated commitment to the mission and transformative value of higher education.

• A minimum of five years of significant leadership experience within an academic institution or at least ten years of executive-level leadership within the nonprofit or arts industryor a comparable combination of the two.

• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership across people programs operations and creative disciplines.

Additional experience that will strengthen a candidates fit includes:

• An advanced degree in a relevant field for candidates coming from outside academia.

• Experience with recruitment marketing and/or organizational growth.

• Active engagement with professional arts organizations or nonprofits including board leadership.

• Experience teaching in a fine arts discipline in a K12 higher education or nonprofit environment.

Whats in it for you:

The anticipated annual salary range for the Dean School of the Arts is $100000$110000. This position is FLSAexempt.

Some relocation assistance can be provided for the right candidate.

This position is fully on-campus in Gunnison but who wouldnt want to be in such a beautiful place every day

Application Deadlineis October 9 2026 (at 11:59PM

Beyond compensation this opportunity offers the chance to lead a multidisciplinary School of the Arts shape its next stage of growth and build meaningful connections between creative education professional practice and the broader arts community.

Westerns benefit package includes employer contributions to retirement generous employer contributions to medical/dental/vision insurance employee and dependent tuition benefits paid vacation paid sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year. Employees receive basic life insurance and disability insurance at no cost.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Western Colorado University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age (40 and over) color disability gender identity genetic information military or veteran status national origin race religion sex sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by federal state or local law.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act in any materials you submit you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age date of birth or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Another Source works with their clients on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred) please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

#AS1