Dean, Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts

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Position Overview

The newly formed Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts stands at a defining institutional moment as Rider University builds upon its success in educating first generation college students through high-quality experiential learning opportunities. The inaugural Dean has the rare opportunity to shape the academic, artistic, and strategic identity of this newly configured college.

Key opportunities include:

• Articulating and implementing a bold, integrated vision that unifies music, media, communications, and the performing arts under a coherent academic and professional framework
• Positioning the new college as a distinctive national model for interdisciplinary arts education within a comprehensive university
• Strengthening and expanding relationships with alumni, arts organizations, media partners, donors, and foundations
• Developing and rejuvenating innovative undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with evolving creative industries
• Enhancing national visibility and brand recognition through artistic excellence, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurial initiatives
• Advancing a culture of equity, belonging, and student success across all programs
• Building philanthropic capacity and securing external funding to support scholarships, endowed positions, facilities, and programmatic growth

This role offers a visionary and experienced leader the chance to translate Westminster Choir College’s historic excellence into a contemporary platform for distinction and growth.

• Provide strategic direction for all academic programs
• Lead new program development and interdisciplinary curricular innovation

• Recruit, develop, evaluate, and support faculty and staff
• Provide direct oversight of administrative and support staff
• Promote effective shared governance practices

• Serve as a visible advocate for students
• Advance initiatives that support recruitment, retention, completion, and career readiness

• Develop and manage the College budget
• Align financial planning with strategic goals
• Oversee responsible and equitable distribution of resources

• Partner with University Advancement on fundraising initiatives
• Cultivate alumni relationships and expand alumni engagement
• Serve as an ambassador for Westminster at local, national, and international levels

• Demonstrated ability to bring diverse constituencies together around a shared strategic vision
• Capacity to integrate conservatory traditions with emerging interdisciplinary and media focused approaches
• A strategic thinker who can translate ideas into measurable outcomes

• Established national reputation and professional network within relevant artistic, academic, and industry communities
• Ability to leverage relationships to advance partnerships, visibility, and philanthropic support

• Proven success in academic affairs, including faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and promotion
• Experience with interdisciplinary curriculum design and new program development
• Knowledge of accreditation processes and standards
• Familiarity with leadership in a unionized environment preferred

• Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and grant development
• Commitment to strengthening alumni engagement and external partnerships

• Significant budgeting and resource allocation experience
• Commitment to equity based decision making and transparent resource distribution
• Ability to align financial stewardship with strategic priorities

• Outstanding moral and ethical decision maker
• Commitment to shared governance, collaboration, and inclusive excellence
• Strong advocate for student success, faculty development, and staff engagement

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience

The inaugural Dean will be a collaborative team player who honors Westminster’s historic legacy while advancing innovative, interdisciplinary approaches that position the College for sustained distinction and growth. The successful candidate will be an accomplished academic leader with a record of visionary leadership, administrative effectiveness, and national engagement in music, the performing arts, media, communications, and/or related disciplines. They must hold a doctoral degree in their area of specialty and have a demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishment, ideally at the rank of Full Professor. A minimum of five years of administrative experience is required, preferably 10 or more.

NOTE: The successful candidate for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.

Rider University is committed to fostering an inclusive, vibrant living and learning community that embraces students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and enables them to achieve success.

Rider University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For additional information regarding our Benefits visit https://www.rider.edu/about/offices-services/human-resources/benefits/overview-employee-benefits/full-time-administrative-employees