Dean Search

Barney School of Business

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Dec. 1, 2023. Application materials should be submitted electronically.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed via email to Cesarina Thompson.

The University of Hartford (UHart) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean of the Barney School of Business.

The next dean will join the Barney School at an exciting moment of growth and momentum. With new facilities; a recently completed, broad-based strategic action plan; and several new programs and initiatives underway, the AACSB-accredited School is poised to refine and differentiate its position as a leader in business education.

The Role

The dean of the Barney School of Business provides the creative vision for the school and uses decisive leadership skills to help realize, maintain, and fortify that vision. The School, which boasts a distinctive undergraduate Career Ready focus and a 91 percent employment rate for its graduates, requires its dean to be a compelling and effective representative of the School and of the entire University, on campus, on the regional level, and on the national stage. The dean initiates opportunities to engage with students and faculty in an ongoing effort to further the School’s educational mission and ensure its continued growth and success.

The dean reports to Provost Katherine Black, works closely with the president (a search for a new president is currently underway), and serves as a collaborative colleague on the provost’s Council of Deans. At the Barney School, the dean oversees a school composed of 39 full-time and 19 part-time faculty, 12 staff members, and 498 undergraduate and 642 graduate students.

The Barney School has created several effective advisory boards that include executives and business leaders who represent diverse industries in and around the greater Hartford region. Many of these individuals are Barney School alumni. Among other responsibilities, the dean collaborates with these and all stakeholders, evaluates their recommendations, acts on them when appropriate, and pursues all necessary resources to help the School reach and exceed its goals.

More about Barney Mission and Vision About UHart

Academics at Barney

The Barney School offers nine undergraduate majors, four master’s degrees, five graduate dual degrees, and several graduate certificates, including two new programs: sports management and supply chain and logistics management.

Barney's programs continue to make rankings across the nation. The Barney School of Business is an outstanding business school, according to The Princeton Review, and has also been ranked among the 2023 Best Online MBA Programs by U.S. News & World Report.

undergraduate programs graduate programs

Career Ready Success

91%

of our graduates are working or continuing their education
$60-70K

is the median reported salary
100%

of students complete at least one internship in their major

Desired Qualities and Qualifications

Essential for the role is a distinguished record of academic and/or business leadership and achievement, an exceptional ability to generate a strategic vision and motivate others to help achieve it, and the professional and personal gravitas that can bring effective leadership and stability to the Barney School. Ideally, a candidate would hold a terminal degree in a relevant business discipline and possess the qualifications commensurate with tenure and the rank of full professor within the Barney School. Candidates who have held non-academic roles, with significant business leadership and achievement, will be considered.

The expertise to tap into the strengths and skills of all faculty and staff members to help them pursue, achieve, and maintain the strategic vision
An entrepreneurial disposition that allows the prompt and assertive recognition of all opportunities and resources that can assist in realizing the vision
A proactive and practical approach to the growth and allocation of resources
A full understanding of the national and international business education landscape, and the needs and challenges facing industry leaders of today
A clear and convincing aim to make career readiness the centerpiece of all school objectives
A commitment to promoting and supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging at all levels of the institution
The ability to build consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders, internally and externally
An aptitude to collaborate with UHart leadership in an ongoing effort to build productive relationships with regional and national partners who can advance the mission of the Barney School
The motivation and ability to convey the Barney School story in a compelling and persuasive manner that can attract students, donors, and partners
Superb written, oral, and one-on-one communication skills, and a high comfort level with public speaking
An interest in and ability to listen well to all questions, concerns, comments, and suggestions from any individual who expresses a desire to communicate with the Office of the Dean
A desire to be visible, approachable, empathetic, sincere, and fair
An objective to be transparent with all issues, resolutions, ideas, and new projects in order to keep the entire school community well informed
A commitment to engage with faculty in support of their continued professional development
Full knowledge of the AACSB accreditation requirements, and the ability to lead the school seamlessly and efficiently through the reaccreditation process
Experience engaging and leveraging effective collaboration with UHart advisory boards
A personal presence rooted in confidence and achievement that embodies the best characteristics of what the Barney School seeks in its students, faculty, staff, and partners

There are many excellent prospects that the Office of the Dean can leverage to help take the Barney School of Business to even greater levels of reputational status, student success, and operational efficiency. In addition, the dean works with faculty, students, staff, and business leaders to further refine the School’s mission, vision, and values, which in turn helps ensure that the Barney School of Business maintains and grows its resources and strengths.

Toward that end, the dean must embrace the following opportunities and challenges:

Continue to raise the school’s visibility to all potential audiences, nationally and internationally
Promote the school’s collaboration with Cigna, the 3+1 MBA program, and online program development
Create new partnerships with leading businesses, explore new avenues for collaboration, and seek additional resources, particularly where opportunities exist for experiential learning, internships, work-study programs, and scholarships
Assess the school’s enrollment functions and offer ideas for enhancement in pursuit of the brightest and most diverse student body
Track student retention and success metrics, and recommend initiatives for further improvement
Continue to promote and expand the School’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging
Serve as an inspiring leader who can nurture internal relationships and be accessible to all key stakeholders, students, faculty, and staff
Work with other UHart deans to explore and initiate programs and partnerships to augment and endorse the best the University has to offer
Elevate the Barney School’s academic reputation through the hiring, development, and retention of outstanding faculty members, and by recognizing and supporting their achievements in teaching, scholarship/professional productivity, and service
Serve as a champion for the staff by providing encouragement and support for their professional development
Develop valuable new programs and update existing ones when deemed necessary and appropriate to enhance enrollment and retention
Enhance the fundraising effort with individual and corporate contributors, alumni, and other potential sources of new revenue
Identify fiscal efficiencies, and apply practicality to all budget and expenditure obligations
Inspire the faculty and staff to use all their abilities and professional tools to reach a level of personal best that in turn will encourage students to be motivated and industrious in their own educational pursuits

Application Procedure

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or résumé, a letter of interest addressing the themes outlined in the above description, and the names and contact information for five references. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s prior approval.

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 1, 2023. Application materials should be submitted electronically. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Cesarina Thompson, PhD, at BSBSearch@hartford.edu.

The University of Hartford is an open and welcoming community, which values diversity in all its forms. In addition, the University aspires to have its faculty and staff reflect the rich diversity of its student body and the Hartford region. Candidates committed to working with diverse populations and conversant in multicultural issues are encouraged to apply.