Dean of Gevirtz Graduate School of Education

Dean of Gevirtz Graduate School of Education

Reporting to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, the Dean will serve as the academic leader and chief executive of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education ("the Gevirtz School" or "the School"). The School aims to further its leadership in addressing pressing educational and social issues through interdisciplinary collaborations grounded in research, teaching, and community-engaged service in the areas of education and applied psychology. The Dean will have the unique opportunity to lead the School's dedicated faculty, staff, and students to sustain its academic distinction and reputation while collaboratively envisioning its next chapter of impact and excellence.

UC Santa Barbara is a preeminent public research university and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU). Forbes Magazine ranked UC Santa Barbara as the #8 public university in the country in its 2024-2025 America's Top Colleges list. Its 1,107 faculty members include eight Nobel Laureates, 56 American Academy of Arts and Sciences members, Guggenheim Fellows, MacArthur and Pulitzer Prize winners, and more than 30 members of the National Academy of Sciences. It is home to 12 national centers and institutes. The campus enrolls about 26,000 students and, with only five colleges and professional schools, offers the benefits of a premier research university with a focus on and appreciation for a high-quality learning experience. In 2015, UCSB was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the first AAU institution to receive this designation, and is also an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. UCSB is also known for its natural beauty as the campus sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The Gevirtz School has a distinguished history of applied research, teaching, and community engagement. Today, the School enrolls approximately 230 graduate students and awards approximately 240 academic degrees (M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D.) and professional credentials (PPS, ESC, MST, SST) each year. The School consists of the Department of Education, which includes the Teacher Education Program (TEP), and the Department of Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology (CCSP). The School maintains several research centers and clinics and provides three undergraduate minors: Applied Psychology, Educational Studies, and Science and Mathematics Education (with CalTeach).

With the arrival of a new Chancellor and other senior leaders, UCSB is entering a period of transformation. The next Dean of the Gevirtz School will play a vital role in shaping this moment, working in close partnership with faculty, students, and staff to guide the School with clarity and purpose. Building on the School's rich history, the Dean will be charged with identifying new avenues for innovation and growth while honoring the school's core values. This is a rare opportunity to lead a deeply engaged academic community through a time of change, and to position the Gevirtz School as a national model for research, teaching, and community impact. To achieve these goals, the Dean will address several key challenges and opportunities:

• Develop a strategic vision that leverages the School's unique strengths to ensure continued national and international prominence in research, scholarship, and societal impact
• Build a sustainable model for finance, revenue generation, research support, and graduate student support
• Advance academic programs, expand opportunities for undergraduate enrollment and degree programs, support faculty growth, and foster academic community
• Cultivate an organizational culture of transparency, cohesion, and collaboration
• Sustain and deepen community engagement and external partnerships
• Advocate for the School within and beyond UCSB, elevating its visibility and reputation

A qualified applicant will possess a doctoral degree in education, applied psychology, or a related field. UCSB seeks an inspiring leader with an outstanding record of scholarship and strong management and leadership skills. The successful candidate will have many, if not all, of the following qualifications and characteristics:

• A record of academic excellence that would qualify them for an appointment as a tenured full professor in a Gevirtz School department.
• A distinguished teacher, scholar, and academic leader in education, applied psychology, or a related field who brings a passion for academics, research, teaching, and community-engaged service;
• Significant administrative experience with a track record of success in a complex institution;
• Intellectual leadership, with the wide-ranging interests required to understand, appreciate, and encourage the varied work within the School;
• An astute understanding of finances and the relationship between academic priorities and the budget and the ability to make thoughtful decisions around financial resources;
• An extensive track record in building sponsored research and supporting scholarly work, with deep knowledge of the internal and external mechanisms required to sustain and expand a top tier research program;
• A demonstrated commitment to student success and the University of California's mission as a public university of promoting accessibility, excellence, and community;
• A demonstrated capacity for and interest in fundraising and generating new sources of revenue, including the ability to carry an inspiring message, cultivate key external constituencies, attract partners, raise funds, generate enthusiasm among alumni, and obtain commitments to support the School;
• Outstanding communication and listening skills with the ability to articulate a vision, inspire others, attract partners, and generate enthusiasm;
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence with the ability to connect with the members of the UCSB community and to work effectively across the campus and with external groups;
• A collaborative approach to leadership and a passion for advancing a unit in alignment with advancing the overall institution.

Applications, including CVs and cover letters, should be submitted via the Isaacson, Miller website: