Job Summary
Purdue University Fort Wayne is seeking a Dean to lead its dynamic and vibrant College of Visual and Performing Arts, a center of cultural engagement and enrichment on campus and in the region, serving as a touchstone for the arts community in the metropolitan area and beyond. It is hoped that the new Dean will assume their office on July 1st of 2026.
About Purdue University Fort Wayne:
Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) is the largest university in northeastern Indiana and is a designated metropolitan campus within the esteemed Purdue University system. Our students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from one of the most trusted and prestigious brands in higher education. With just under 6,000 students (46% of whom are first generation), over 300 full-time faculty members, and eight colleges and schools, PFW serves the region as the hub of intellectual, social, economic, and cultural advancement. Indiana’s second-largest city, Fort Wayne, has a population of 270,000 and resides within a greater metropolitan area of approximately 430,000. The city enjoys a diverse, active, and well-supported arts community, is home to several minor league sports teams, and has miles of pathways and trails that highlight the city and the three rivers that flow through it.
The Dean:
The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The Dean is charged with fostering a culture of innovation while sustaining and enhancing the college’s administrative capacities through strategic decision-making regarding personnel, general administration and management, stewardship of a $6.7 million budget, the success and growth of academic programs, and robust development and advancement activities. Success in the role will require an individual who can inspire and unify the community around shared priorities, continue to attract, retain, and cultivate talented faculty and diverse students, and empower a dedicated staff. The Dean will serve as a passionate spokesperson for the importance of the visual and performing arts, sustain the relationships with the wide range of stakeholders that exist, and develop new relationships with potential friends and donors, including alumni, foundations, corporations, and private individuals.
Requirements:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Exemplary academic qualifications, including a terminal degree in an arts-related field and a distinguished academic record that meets the criteria for tenure and rank of full professor in one of the disciplines in the college
- A record of successful academic leadership at the department chair level or above
- Success managing budgets, utilizing data in decision-making, supervising staff, recruiting and retaining faculty, and facilitating the promotion and tenure process
- Experience cultivating donor relationships and sustaining strong community relations
- Demonstrated passion for students; a commitment to teaching excellence; and a commitment to faculty research, creative endeavor, and service.
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills that shape their interactions with the college’s internal and external stakeholders
- An ability to connect with industry and create opportunities for faculty and students
- A record that demonstrates integrity, transparency, honesty, and fairness
Candidates with experience or familiarity with a regional, public university campus, accreditation, and success with major fundraising initiatives are especially welcome.
Application Process:
https://www.pfw.edu/sites/default/files/documents-2025/11/PFW-CVPA-Dean-Posting.pdf
and submit materials here https://careers.purdue.edu/FW/go/FW-Faculty/7720100/. Applications should include a letter outlining the applicant’s background and qualifications and addressing the key opportunities and challenges outlined in the profile, curriculum vitae/resume, and contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without a candidate’s permission). Review of applications will begin after January 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Preferred start date for the position is July 1, 2026. Compensation is commensurate with the resources of a public, regional, metropolitan university.
Purdue University Fort Wayne is an Equal Access/Equal Opportunity employer. Employment is contingent on a satisfactory background records check.