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Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Leadership Profile
Prepared by
Jean Dowdall, Ph.D.
Dennis M. Barden
Elizabeth K. Bohan
and the WCAS Dean Search Committee
Fall 2014
This leadership profile is intended to provide information about Northwestern University and the position of
Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. It is designed to assist qualified individuals in assessing
their interest in this position.
The Opportunity
Northwestern University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of dean
of the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (WCAS). The College
constitutes the liberal arts core of a multifaceted AAU research university that has a
distinguished and distinctive interdisciplinary tradition.
Northwestern University is global in its scope, with 12 schools and colleges located on two
campuses in Illinois (in Evanston and in Chicago) and one situated in Doha, Qatar. Ranked 12th
among national universities by U.S. News, Northwestern has approximately 3,800 full-time
faculty. The University’s total enrollment is just over 16,000, with undergraduates comprising
just over half of that number.
Weinberg is not only the largest of Northwestern’s undergraduate schools but also the school
with the most Ph.D. students. There are 4,300 undergraduate students, 1,300 graduate
students, and 600 full-time faculty members in the Weinberg community. The College is made
up of 26 departments and as many specialized programs, intersecting with every part of the
University and enrolling students from all of Northwestern’s undergraduate schools.
The dean’s primary responsibilities are to foster a vibrant intellectual community that values
analysis and innovation, critical thought, and creative expression; lead WCAS in articulating the
College’s strategic priorities; increase the resources essential to sustaining and shaping the
College; maintain the excellence of academic programs; and oversee and enhance the
management of the College. The new dean will be a tenured full professor with an international
reputation as a distinguished scholar, an inspiring intellectual vision, and strong academic
leadership and management experience.
Additional information about Northwestern is available at www.northwestern.edu; information
about WCAS may be found at www.weinberg.northwestern.edu. Information for those who wish
to be candidates for the position is available at the end of this document.
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The Role of the Dean
The dean of Weinberg is the intellectual leader of the College and a key member of the
University leadership team. The new dean will have the opportunity to articulate a bold shared
vision and to inspire others to participate in its implementation.
The dean’s primary role is to ensure that Weinberg provides a rich academic environment that
promotes excellence in undergraduate education, graduate student training, and faculty
research. Specific responsibilities include:
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Developing the College’s strategic plan, raising money to support the priorities outlined in
that plan, and allocating resources;
Formulating an annual faculty hiring plan, reviewing recommendations for faculty offers,
and extending offers to approved candidates;
Presiding over the faculty tenure, promotion, and salary-setting committees, and making
recommendations for approval to the provost and president;
Representing the College within the University and to external communities;
Cultivating close working relationships with faculty, students, and staff.
Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership
The new dean of Weinberg will be asked to undertake critical leadership tasks, including the
following:
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Articulate a unifying vision: Champion the liberal arts both internally and externally,
advocating for the arts and sciences as a core intellectual resource for the University.
Energize faculty and students around a vision that reflects historically recognized as well as
new modes of intellectual production and pedagogy.
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Build resources: Use creativity and leadership to secure resources to support the vision.
Collaborate with senior university leaders and fundraise so as to ensure support for
continued faculty excellence and undergraduate opportunities.
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Support diversity: Continue to realize Northwestern’s commitment to diversity and create
supports systems for a diverse student body. Improve practices to recruit, retain, and
support outstanding faculty who enhance both the diversity of the professoriate and the
learning environment for all students.
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Lead through change: Encourage creativity and innovation in pedagogy, research,
outreach, and administrative operations. Build mutually supportive relationships with central
administration, deans, faculty members from WCAS and the other schools, students, and
external supporters. Guide the exploration of new technologies for higher education.
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Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities
The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal qualities.
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Academic accomplishment and stature: International reputation as a distinguished
scholar with a record of academic accomplishment appropriate to appointment as a tenured
full professor in the College.
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Commitment to fulfilling Weinberg’s mission: Ability to inspire and lead a vibrant
intellectual community that values analysis and innovation, critical thought, and creative
expression. Skill in recruiting, retaining, and supporting outstanding faculty. Expertise in
promoting quality undergraduate and graduate teaching.
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Understanding of the forces, opportunities, and challenges that have an impact
on higher education: Knowledge of the complex economic, political and cultural issues
being addressed by leaders across higher education in the United States and globally.
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Leadership: Ability to articulate ambitious and creative plans for the College in ways that
inspire a broad community to solve problems, build consensus, and implement shared goals.
Capacity for strategic thinking and formulation of new initiatives. Appreciation and
enthusiasm for the extraordinary range of disciplines represented in the College. Ability to
foster a culture of trust and fairness among chairs, directors and staff.
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Communication skills: Ability to advocate for the College’s priorities while working
effectively with other deans and University senior leaders. Facility in representing faculty
concerns to administration and administrative concerns to faculty.
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Management skills: Successful experience in leading and managing a complex
organization, including the ability to shape and implement a plan, lead large-scale and
cross-disciplinary projects, manage complex financial resources, and work effectively with
colleagues and staff. Proven track record of being both decisive and inclusive.
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Capacity to develop essential resources: Ability to attract funds from private
philanthropists, foundations, and corporations as well as eagerness to cultivate and solicit
donors. Creativity in building revenue streams to support the College’s activities.
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Appreciation of distinctive groups within Weinberg: Awareness of the specific needs
and contributions of tenure-line faculty, teaching-track faculty, graduate students,
undergraduates, staff, and alumni. Recognition of the contributions and challenges faced by
people from historically under-represented groups.
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Personal qualities: Wide-ranging intellectual curiosity and a commitment to shared
governance and transparency. Appreciation for the expertise of others in making informed
decisions.
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The Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Founded in 1851, Weinberg is the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive school in the
University. Its departments and programs encompass the arts and humanities, foreign
languages, mathematics and statistics, natural sciences, and social sciences. Weinberg houses
26 academic departments, which offer majors and minors in 45 fields. Faculty members are
actively involved in research, undergraduate education, and graduate training. Most Weinberg
departments, as well as many of its interdisciplinary programs, provide opportunities for
graduate study. Northwestern ranks near the top among private universities in the number of
Ph.D. degrees awarded annually. Detailed information about the College’s academic
departments, academic programs, and centers and institutes may be found at
http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/departments/in-depth/.
Structure
The dean plays a central role within a large collaborative team. Reporting to the dean are 26
department chairs and seven associate deans. The director of development for WCAS, who
reports to the associate vice president of alumni relations and development, works closely with
the dean. Three advisory boards provide input to the dean about the operations and goals of
the College: the WCAS Board of Visitors (composed of 50 alumni leaders from across the
country); the Student Advisory Board (comprised of undergraduate representatives from each
of the majors); and the Staff Advisory Board. The dean reports to the provost, who will select
and appoint the dean in consultation with the president. The organization chart is in Appendix I.
Faculty
Weinberg faculty members are internationally acclaimed for the quality of their research and
teaching. They are recipients of more than $100 million in sponsored research support annually.
In addition to mentoring 40 percent of the University’s Ph.D. students, they teach 67 percent of
undergraduates University-wide. Recent honors include a Nobel Prize and several MacArthur
Foundation “genius” awards, as well as memberships in the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. The provost has signaled Northwestern’s
investment in the College’s faculty by authorizing searches for 20 new positions in the 2014-15
academic year. In addition to 450 tenured or tenure-line faculty, Weinberg has 150 Professors
of Instruction; in the past decade, Weinberg has put in place measures to make visible the
contributions of these faculty, while also rationalizing systems for their recruitment and
promotion.
Undergraduate Students and Programs
WCAS recruits, educates, and mentors a talented undergraduate student body of 4,300.
Weinberg is highly selective; each year about 1,100 first-year students enter the College,
chosen from over 20,000 applicants. These students come from all 50 states and more than 30
foreign countries. In 2013-14, Weinberg students received eight Fulbright Fellowships, three
National Science Foundation Fellowships, and one Marshall Fellowship, along with numerous
disciplinary scholarships. More than 30 percent of students complete a double major; 97
percent of entering students return for their sophomore year and 95 percent graduate from
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Northwestern. More than 80 percent of Weinberg graduates eventually undertake graduate or
professional study.
Weinberg prides itself on preparing students for a lifetime of engagement through learning,
research, and discovery. Students have the opportunity to conduct research through such
programs as the Undergraduate Research Assistant Program and Undergraduate Research
Grants Program.
The College emphasizes leadership and character development through student participation in
a wide range of extracurricular activities. Weinberg also offers students the opportunity to take
applied courses through the University’s professional schools. Students are invited to explore
the link between theory and practice, engage in experiential learning, and capitalize on the
University’s proximity to Chicago. Each year, for instance, over 300 students pursue
academically challenging internships through Chicago Field Studies. The College also sponsors
professional linkage seminars taught by accomplished professionals from outside the University.
Graduate Education
1,300 graduate students working toward Master’s and Ph.D. degrees constitute an essential
part of Weinberg’s community of scholars. Through The Graduate School, WCAS faculty offer
graduate degrees in over 30 areas of study. The Graduate School, which admits and funds
students, sponsors an Interdisciplinary Cluster Initiative that facilitates connections between
doctoral students and faculty from disparate departments and programs. Graduate students
have recently received a number of prestigious awards, including a National Science Foundation
Predoctoral Fellowship, National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship, Charlotte
W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, and NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship.
Research
Research is a key component of Northwestern’s pioneering and innovative spirit. Much of the
research in Weinberg involves building interdisciplinary research teams across departments,
schools, and universities around the world. The Office for Sponsored Research works with the
College to support over 90 school-based research centers and 26 University centers.
Researchers connect to the community through strategic partnerships with institutions such as
the Chicago Botanic Garden, Argonne National Laboratory, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum,
and Fermilab. Although WCAS has begun to experience a tighter federal funding environment,
the overall research productivity of faculty continued its upward trend in 2013. The total
Weinberg award dollars, including awards to Weinberg faculty who are primary PIs on grants
submitted through units outside Weinberg, grew from $101.3 million in 2012 to $105 million in
2013. For more information, go to FY2013 Weinberg Sponsored Research Report.
Strategic Planning
In 2011, Northwestern completed “NorthWEstern Will,” a strategic plan that outlined four goals
critical to the University’s future: “Discover Creative Solutions,” “Integrate Learning and
Experience,” “Connect our Community,” and “Engage the World.” The new dean will have the
opportunity to engage with this vision and to think about ways that WCAS can tailor or further
expand these goals. The plan, known as “We Will,” can be viewed at
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http://www.northwestern.edu/strategic-plan/docs/strategic-plan.pdf.
In 2013, the College began developing a five-year plan that takes the NU Strategic Plan as a
springboard and articulates distinct yet complementary goals for Weinberg. In consultation with
faculty, staff, alumni and students, a working group is in the process of drafting a blueprint to
guide decision-making and investments. The new dean will play a key role in shaping this plan.
Strategic themes identified thus far include: enabling faculty and students to achieve greater
depth and impact in their work; ensuring a distinctive undergraduate academic experience;
preparing graduates for post-collegiate success; propelling Ph.D. student success; and engaging
with the world.
A new magazine, Weinberg, has been created to communicate the College’s core values (e.g., a
commitment to intellectual experimentation, professional success, social justice, and life-long
learning). The latest issue can be viewed at
http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/discover/weinberg-magazine/spring-summer2014/index.html.
Resources
Library: One of the leading private research libraries in the United States, Northwestern
University Library houses a collection of five million volumes and 14 terabytes of unique digital
content. Its distinguished special collections include the internationally recognized Africana,
Music, and Transportation libraries. Additional information can be found at
www.library.northwestern.edu.
Finances: Weinberg’s operating budget for 2014-15 is approximately $119 million, with
another $105 million in extramural research support. The operating budget includes University
appropriated funds, income from WCAS endowments, annual gifts, and research administration
indirect cost recovery. The dean is responsible for preparing and presenting to the central
administration an annual report and proposal that identifies opportunities for further investment
of University resources.
The University recently launched a $3.75 billion campaign planned to extend over the next four
years, including a $250 million goal for Weinberg. The WCAS Annual Fund generated cash and
commitments of over $23 million in 2013-14. The College’s campaign priorities include support
for the following: the newly created Department of Asian Languages and Cultures; neuroscience
research and education; and global health and environmental science, policy and culture. More
information about the fundraising accomplishments of WCAS may be found in Appendix II of
this document.
Technology: The Department of Academic & Research Technologies works in close partnership
with the NU Library to provide key resources for faculty and students. These resources include
a course management system, expert digital media production services, and educational
software development. The Multimedia Learning Center is housed in Weinberg and also serves
the University in humanities computing and language instruction.
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Northwestern University: An Overview
Northwestern University is a private institution founded in
1851 to serve the Northwest Territory, an area that now
includes the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan,
Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota. The University strives
for a level of preeminence achieved by only a handful of
universities in the world.
Northwestern encourages innovation and the integration of
experience across many fields. This culture positions the
University well to lead higher education in the 21st
century. Northwestern also offers an unusually broad
range of substantive academic opportunities for an
institution of its size. The combination of close interschool
cooperation and a distinctive academic calendar (the
quarter system) enables students and faculty to tailor their
education and research individually in innovative ways.
A charter member of the Big Ten and the conference's
only private institution, Northwestern sponsors 19
intercollegiate athletic teams.
The University’s 12 schools and colleges include:
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Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences (1851) – Interim Dean Mark Ratner
Feinberg School of Medicine (1859) – Dean Eric G. Neilson, M.D.
School of Law (1859) – Dean Daniel B. Rodriguez
Bienen School of Music (1859) – Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery
School of Communication (1878) – Dean Barbara J. O’Keefe
Kellogg School of Management (1908) – Dean Sally Blount
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science (1909) – Dean Julio M. Ottino
The Graduate School (1910) – Dean Dwight A. McBride
Medill School of Journalism, Media and Integrated Marketing Communications (1921) –
Dean Brad Hamm
School of Education and Social Policy (1926) – Dean Penelope L. Peterson
School of Professional Studies (1933) – Dean Thomas F. Gibbons
Northwestern University in Qatar (2007) – Dean Everette E. Dennis
Northwestern’s 240-acre campus in Evanston, located 12 miles north of downtown Chicago,
houses Weinberg College, School of Communication, School of Education and Social Policy,
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, Medill School of Journalism, Kellogg
School of Management, and Bienen School of Music. The School of Law, Medical School, McGaw
Medical Center, School of Professional Studies, and Kellogg School's part-time MBA program are
located on a 25-acre campus in downtown Chicago. Northwestern’s location near a world-class
city provides opportunities for extensive collaborations with area institutions. A wide range of
cultural and entertainment opportunities — outstanding museums, performing arts, recreation,
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and sports — are available to enrich the lives not only of students, faculty, and staff at
Northwestern, but also members of the greater Evanston and Chicago communities.
Northwestern University in Doha, Qatar, founded in 2007, offers programs in journalism and
communication. NU-Q seeks to train journalists and media professionals who will help bring the
story of the Middle East to the wider world. NU-Q also offers students the opportunity to
complete a certificate in Middle East studies and a minor in media and politics.
University Leadership
President
Morton Schapiro began his term as the 16th president of
Northwestern in2009. He is a professor of economics in
Weinberg and also holds appointments in the Kellogg School of
Management and the School of Education and Social Policy.
President Schapiro is among the nation's leading authorities on
the economics of higher education, with particular expertise in
the area of college financing and affordability. He has written
more than 100 articles and five books. The National Science
Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, the World Bank,
the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the College Board, the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development, and other groups have recognized his work.
President Schapiro previously served as president of Williams College and dean of the College
Letters, Arts, and Sciences at the University of Southern California. He received his bachelor's
degree in economics from Hofstra University and his doctorate from the University of
Pennsylvania.
Provost
Daniel I. Linzer became provost of Northwestern in 2007, having served
previously as associate dean and then dean of Weinberg College. Provost
Linzer joined the faculty in 1984 as an assistant professor and is now
professor of molecular biosciences. He has conducted pioneering research
on the molecular basis of hormone action.
Provost Linzer received his Bachelor of Science degree in molecular
biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University and a Ph.D. in
biochemical sciences from Princeton University. He completed a National
Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship at The Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine. Among the many awards he has received
are the Searle Scholars Award, the American Cancer Society Faculty
Research Award, and the Northwestern Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award.
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Procedure for Candidacy
Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Review of applications will begin
immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applicant
materials should be received by October 15, 2014. Candidates should provide a curriculum
vitae, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in
the Leadership Profile, and the names and contact information of five references. Candidates
will be notified before references are contacted. These materials should be sent via e-mail to
the Search Committee’s consultants Jean Dowdall, Ph.D., Dennis M. Barden, and Elizabeth K.
Bohan at [email protected]. The consultants can be reached by phone through the
office of Donna Janulis at (630) 575-6131.
As per Northwestern University policy, this position requires a criminal background check.
Successful applicants will need to submit to a criminal background check prior to employment.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected
classes including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The material presented in this Leadership Profile should be relied on for informational purposes only. This
material has been copied, compiled, or quoted in part from Northwestern University documents and
personal interviews and is believed to be reliable. While every effort has been made to ensure the
accuracy of this information, the original source documents and factual situations govern.
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Appendix I: Organization Chart
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Appendix II: Development Activity
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Development Activity
$60,000,000
80
70
$50,000,000
$40,000,000
50
$30,000,000
40
30
$20,000,000
Number of Gifts
Value of Gifts
60
20
$10,000,000
10
$0
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
Dollars Raised
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
YTD
Major Gifts ($100K+) Raised
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