Dean of the School of Natural Sciences

Dean of the School of Natural Sciences at UC Merced

The University of California (UC), Merced, the youngest campus in the world-renowned University of California system, seeks a new Dean of the School of Natural Sciences (SNS) to lead this unique school into an exciting new era as it continues to grow, champion inclusive excellence, and distinguish itself within the UC system and among research universities globally. The new SNS Dean will be joining the university at a pivotal time, with the opportunity to facilitate its ongoing development and ensure its continued rise. The SNS Dean will need to be a gifted academic leader who will work closely with SNS faculty and staff and the larger campus community to continue to develop the school as a magnet for high-caliber students from diverse backgrounds, talented faculty, and a respected center for research addressing major global challenges as well as the pressing needs of the Central Valley.

About UC Merced and the School of Natural Sciences

UC Merced, established in 2005, is the first new UC campus in 40 years and the first American research university of the twenty-first century. With a strong emphasis on research, social mobility, and diversity, UC Merced ranks #28 among public universities and #60 overall among national universities. As a Hispanic Serving Institution and a Minority Serving Institution, UC Merced is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all students can thrive. The School of Natural Sciences, with its outstanding faculty and innovative programs, is a cornerstone of this mission.

Role of the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences

The Dean of the School of Natural Sciences is the chief officer of the School with overall administrative responsibility for an academic unit that currently includes five departments offering six undergraduate majors and four graduate programs, the Center for Chemical Computation and Theory (ccCAT) and the Institute for Symbiotic Interactions, Training, and Education in the Face of a Changing Climate (INSITE).

As of July 2024, the School will also host a Department of Medical Education as part of the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PRIME+ program, a state-funded UC Merced, UCSF, UCSF- Fresno initiative to establish a BS to MD physician preparation pathway for the San Joaquin Valley.

SNS faculty also play active roles in the Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines, the Health Sciences Research Institute, and the Sierra Nevada Research Institute. SNS has 106 tenured and tenure-track Senate faculty and 26 non-Senate faculty, 1,978 undergraduate students, and 278 graduate students (277 Ph.D.).

As the School’s executive head, representative, and administrator, the Dean provides intellectual and academic leadership for the instructional and research missions of SNS and in doing so works closely with the School’s faculty and staff as well as senior leadership across the campus to deliver the School’s mission. The Dean supervises the hiring, promotion, and retention of faculty and staff, guides the development and provides oversight of undergraduate and graduate curriculum and degree programs, oversees and promotes the continuous improvement of the School’s academic and administrative operations, manages all School resources, and works with campus administration and the Academic Senate on matters of School and campus-wide policy. As part of the Provost's leadership team, the Dean is an active participant in planning the campus' ongoing development. Successful candidates will have demonstrated leadership skills in a full range of activities associated with the academic and research missions of the School.

UC Merced is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences. The ideal candidate will possess a distinguished academic record, significant leadership experience, and a strong commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will be adept at advancing interdisciplinary research, guiding professional growth, and managing resources effectively. The new Dean will demonstrate excellent communication and relationship-building skills, the ability to engage with a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students, and the capacity to lead strategic initiatives aligned with UC Merced's mission of achieving R1 research status. This leader will be instrumental in promoting UC Merced's role in social mobility, supporting faculty and student success, and expanding the school's impact both locally and globally.

UC Merced's Provost Office is partnering with Berkeley Executive Search (BES) in the search for the next Dean of SNS. Nominations and inquiries may be sent to executivesearch@berkeley.edu.

To officially apply for consideration and review the full job posting, please visit: https://aprecruit.ucmerced.edu/JPF01797