Dean of the School of Music

Dean of the School of Music

DePaul University invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations for its Dean of the School of Music position.

The University seeks an inspiring, collaborative, and dynamic leader to propel the success of its distinguished School of Music through strategic visioning coupled with a deep commitment to DePaul’s enduring social justice mission.

Reporting to Provost Salma Ghanem, the new Dean will join the School of Music during a period of significant momentum exhibited through the 2018 opening of the state-of-the-art Holtschneider Performance Center, the stellar work of a dedicated team of exceptional faculty and administrative staff, the contributions of passionate and engaged students, and inspired partnerships with leading cultural entities in Chicagoland and beyond.

Founded in 1912, DePaul University’s School of Music prepares students to thrive in a variety of professional careers through the mission of an inclusive and compassionate community of musicians dedicated to artistry, excellence, diversity, and leadership in music. Guided by the University’s value of social justice, the School of Music prepares students for dynamic 21^st century careers. Located in one of the most vibrant musical cities in the world, the School of Music provides opportunities for students to study with distinguished faculty who are prominent conductors, composers, performers, recording engineers, educators, and arts managers. DePaul’s School of Music faculty members include members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Chicago’s most prominent chamber music and jazz ensembles. The School of Music is located on DePaul’s beautiful Lincoln Park campus, in one of Chicago’s most desirable neighborhoods, and within a seven-mile radius of more than 200 professional music and theater companies. The Holtschneider Performance Center is a stunning facility of 185,000 square feet designed for performance, rehearsals, and education space, housing a 505-seat concert hall, a 160-seat opera hall, multiple recital halls, and a 75-seat jazz hall.

The next Dean will oversee 22 tenured/tenure-track faculty, two full-time term faculty, 113 adjuncts and part-time instructors, seven direct reports, and a total staff of 20 in the Office of the Dean. The Dean is responsible for all aspects of the DePaul School of Music and the DePaul Community Music Division and oversees an annual expense budget of approximately $11.9 million.

The most compelling candidates will be innovators who can inspire and lead others in an era when economic, cultural, and technological shifts are challenging the relevance of the arts and humanistic expression. Working with faculty, staff, administration, advisory board members, and trustees to refine the long-term vision for the School of Music as a premier educational institution for the musical arts, the next Dean must have aesthetic curiosity and breadth, as well as a record of recognizing excellence in diverse forms of music, musical production, and music education. The new Dean must be willing to take risks, be an adroit negotiator, possess resiliency, and have an inclusive worldview. The successful candidate must have significant leadership experience in developing and executing a strategic vision and be a persuasive and sophisticated communicator who can amplify philanthropy and develop external partnerships.

Founded in 1898, DePaul University is the nation’s largest Catholic institution of higher education and the largest private university in Chicago. Anchored in the global city of Chicago, the University is committed to outstanding teaching, academic excellence, real world experience, community engagement, and systemic change. A Carnegie doctoral/research institution, DePaul serves nearly 22,000 full- and part-time students. Its 863 full-time and 1,679 adjunct faculty members pursue the preservation, enrichment, and transmission of knowledge and culture across a broad scope of academic disciplines. DePaul’s 10 colleges and schools are spread across two major campuses: Lincoln Park Campus and the Loop Campus.

This is a full-time position that will be performed on site in Illinois.
Salary commensurate with experience with a generous benefits package.

Nominations and applications for the Dean of the School of Music are welcomed as soon as possible. Applications should include a complete résumé or vita and a letter of interest. All application materials will be considered in full confidence.

Please send all nominations, inquiries, and applications electronically to:

Julie E. Tea, Managing Director
Kate Phillips, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
DePaulMusicDean@storbecksearch.com

It is the policy of DePaul University that no person shall be the object of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, family relationship status, physical or mental disability, military status, genetic information or other status protected by local, state, or federal law in its employment or its educational settings.