Dean, School of Public Affairs

Position Details
University of Colorado | Denver
Faculty Level/Title: Dean
Working Title: Dean, School of Public Affairs
FTE: Full Time 1.0 FTE | Hybrid
Salary Range: $235,000 - $275,000
Position #00611800- Requisition #41193

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at:

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-colorado-denver-school-public-affairs/dean

Dean, School of Public Affairs

Strategic Leadership and Vision
Provide bold, collaborative leadership to advance the School of Public Affairs and position it for long-term success.
* Develop and implement a strategic vision for the School of Public Affairs that aligns with the university's refreshed strategic plan and reflects the opportunities of a leading urban research university.
* Foster a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement in response to emerging issues in public policy, public administration, social equity, governance, nonprofit leadership, criminal justice, public finance, and civic engagement.
* Partner with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community stakeholders to identify priorities and achieve measurable outcomes.
* Collaborate with the Provost, Deans, and campus leaders to advance institution-wide goals and initiatives.
* Serve as the chief advocate and ambassador for the School of Public Affairs locally, statewide, nationally, and globally.
* Position the School as a thought leader in addressing complex public challenges facing cities, states, nations, and communities.

Academic Excellence, Research, and Public Impact
Advance excellence in teaching, scholarship, policy engagement, and public service.
* Provide intellectual leadership for undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs.
* Support faculty excellence in teaching, research, creative work, policy engagement, and community-engaged scholarship.
* Increase the visibility, impact, and external funding of faculty scholarship and research.
* Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships that address pressing public challenges and inform public decision-making.
* Support applied research, policy analysis, and evidence-based solutions that contribute to the public good.
* Ensure successful maintenance and continuous improvement of NASPAA accreditation and academic quality standards.
* Strengthen the School's national reputation and ranking as a leading school of public affairs.
* Advance scholarship and educational programs in areas such as public policy, public administration, nonprofit management, criminal justice, public budgeting and finance, sustainability, governance, technology and society, public health policy, and social equity.
* Foster partnerships among faculty, research centers, policymakers, and practitioners to translate knowledge into action and public impact.

Student Success and Leadership Development
Champion a student-centered culture that promotes access, success, belonging, and preparation for public leadership.
* Lead strategies that increase enrollment, persistence, retention, graduation, and post-graduation success.
* Prepare students for impactful careers across government, nonprofit, philanthropic, international, and public-serving organizations.
* Enhance the student experience through experiential learning, internships, capstone projects, community-engaged learning, and public service opportunities.
* Strengthen pathways that support student achievement, leadership development, and social mobility.
* Expand partnerships that create employment opportunities, policy fellowships, public service experiences, and professional mentorship.
* Foster an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive and achieve their educational goals.
* Utilize data-informed decisions to support enrollment management, student success, and program effectiveness.
* Promote civic engagement, ethical leadership, and a lifelong commitment to public service.

Partnerships, Advancement, and External Engagement
Cultivate relationships that advance the School's reputation, impact, and resource base.
* Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with local, state, federal, and international government agencies; nonprofit organizations; philanthropic foundations; community organizations; and private-sector partners.
* Expand collaborations that support research, policy innovation, experiential learning, workforce development, and community impact.
* Serve as a visible and trusted leader in policy, civic, and community conversations that advance the public good.
* Lead fundraising efforts in partnership with University Advancement to secure philanthropic support and strategic investments.
* Engage alumni as ambassadors, mentors, advisors, practitioners, and donors.
* Enhance the visibility and reputation of the School through thought leadership, public engagement, and professional association involvement.
* Leverage the university's urban location and proximity to the seat of state government to create meaningful regional, statewide, national, and global partnerships.
* Support executive education, professional development, and community-facing programs that serve public sector and nonprofit leaders.

Organizational, Financial, and People Leadership
Lead with transparency, collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to shared governance.
* Oversee the School's budget, personnel, facilities, and resources to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability.
* Recruit, retain, develop, and support outstanding faculty and staff.
* Support center directors and program leaders in achieving academic, research, and strategic goals.
* Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, trust, shared governance, and mutual respect.
* Promote excellence through clear expectations, assessment, and continuous improvement.
* Advance a welcoming and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.
* Support faculty and staff development while fostering a culture of engagement, innovation, and high performance.
* Meet established goals and performance expectations while ensuring responsible stewardship of university resources.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
* A terminal degree in a relevant discipline offered by the School of Public Affairs, from an accredited institution.
* Record of transformative leadership demonstrating the ability to develop and execute strategic priorities, lead organizational change, and achieve measurable results.
* Evidence of success building partnerships with government, nonprofit, and community organizations.
* Demonstrated ability to successfully secure resources through fundraising, external partnerships, sponsored programs, or other revenue-generating activities.
* Proven ability to lead collaboratively and effectively in complex organizations.
* Substantial financial management experience, including the equitable allocation of resources across multiple programs and initiatives, and supporting innovation around new degrees, certificates, or other revenue generators.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)
* Successful senior leadership experience at a research university, school of public affairs, or comparable complex organization.
* Demonstrated record of advancing innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
* Experience leading initiatives that improve student success, enrollment growth, retention, and career outcomes.
* An innovative, intellectually engaged leader who makes difficult decisions with reflection, fairness, and transparency and is willing to challenge the status quo to guide the college to further prominence locally, nationally, and internationally.
* A clear, transparent, empathetic, and empowering communication style; an openness to listening and integrating the input of others; an ability to advocate for the college's priorities; an ability to convey the mission, vision, and impact of the college and university to both internal and external audiences; and the capacity to serve as a thought leader within Colorado and beyond.
* A champion for inclusive excellence, access and campus engagement with exemplary skills in communicating, collaborating with, and supporting a diverse community, removing barriers to inclusion, promoting student voice, and valuing student agency.
* Ability to foster a deep sense of community both internally at the college and externally with partners; desire to listen and learn and to serve as a visible and positive presence at the school and on campus; and ability to foster a culture and community where kindness, humility, and respect are high priorities.
* A relationship-based leadership style that values teamwork and collaboration; a firm belief in shared governance and a high level of collegiality in working with faculty, staff, and students; experience bringing people together to solve challenges and seize opportunities; ability to delegate; respect and appreciation for all of the disciplines of the college; and experience facilitating strong partnerships among academic programs and other divisions of the university.
* A leadership style that demonstrates accountability, integrity, compassion, empathy, kindness, humility, curiosity, enthusiasm, humor, flexibility, forward-thinking, good judgment, and discernment.
* A deep appreciation for research and scholarly endeavors, a record of recruiting and developing both people and programs of the highest quality.
* Successful experience in or a demonstrated capacity for fundraising; an eagerness to build relationships with donors, alumni, and community partnerships to help advance the mission of SPA.
* Familiarity with the issues and opportunities across a range of academic areas and a natural curiosity about a broad range of intellectual endeavors, including those represented throughout the college's programs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
* Credibility with community and government leaders as a thought leader and innovator in industry practice and education Exceptional visionary and strategic thinking and leadership skills.
* Excellence in leading, evaluating, recruiting and analyzing.
* Demonstrated management and administrative ability.
* Effectiveness as a fundraiser, networker and strategic alliance-builder.
* Strong, demonstrated commitment and accomplishment in inclusive excellence, access and campus engagement.
* Successful experience and/or strong potential for success building and/or enhancing strong programs of corporate sponsorships, funded research, and other mission-aligned revenue generation.
* Success in establishing mutually beneficial relationships with internal and external constituents such as, but not limited to, alumni, government, and accrediting bodies.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* The ability to build and work with teams up and across the organization.
* The ability to resolve conflict in a positive manner.
* Demonstrable accomplishments in working with a variety of teams, groups, and leaders that will bridge to a university setting.
* Experience with data driven decision making that translates to enrollment and marketing.
* Ability to lead the development of strategies to increase enrollments, improve retention and enhance the student experience including internships and experiential learning activities.

Conditions of Employment
* Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.
* This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.
* This position is for a three-year appointment. A review will be conducted during the third year to determine reappointment.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements
* The ability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally, reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard and mouse, and have good near vision for computer work; often requiring minimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieve items from shelves or drawers.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The University will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu .

Employment Sponsorship
Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $235,000 - $275,000
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.
The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
Benefits statement to include in all benefits-eligible positions. See Eligibility Matrix.
Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline
* Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, and interviews begin. Preference will be given to complete applications received by October 5th, 2026. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Required Application Materials:
To apply, please visit: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-colorado-denver-school-public-affairs/dean

Questions should be directed to Janette Martinez, jmartinez@imsearch.com

Background Check Policy
The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.