University of Washington – Dean, College of Built Environments

The University of Washington (https://www.washington.edu/) invites applications, inquiries, and nominations for the position of Dean, College of Built Environments (https://be.uw.edu/) (CBE). The next dean will be an innovative and energetic leader who can elevate the curriculum, foster strong partnerships with the community and internal collaborators, and develop dynamic opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.

The University of Washington (UW) comprises campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma, as well as a world-class medical center serving the state and the region. Each year, the UW inspires more than 60,000 students to learn from renowned experts in their fields. UW has been recognized as the #1 most innovative public university (https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/10/23/uw-is-most-innovative-u-s-public-university-no-5-in-the-world-according-to-reuters/) and is consistently ranked among the top public universities (https://www.washington.edu/news/2024/10/09/uw-ranks-among-best-in-the-world-fourth-among-us-public-institutions/) in the world. The UW receives more federal research dollars than any other U.S. public university.

The College of Built Environments (CBE) traces its history to 1914 when the Department of Architecture was founded. Today, the college is celebrated as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education addressing the global challenges of urbanization, climate change, affordable housing, resilience, technological innovation, and health and wellbeing. CBE is comprised of five departments including Architecture, Construction Management, Landscape Architecture, Real Estate, and Urban Design and Planning. With 65 full-time faculty, 16 affiliate and part-time faculty, and 64 staff, CBE offers an opportunity to work with a diverse and enthusiastic group of professionals committed to the advancement and success of the college. CBE serves a wide range of students, including 757 undergraduates, 414 master's, and 31 doctoral students.

The college is housed in Gould Hall (named after the founder and first head of the Department of Architecture), Architecture Hall, and several smaller buildings. Gould Hall is a pivotal center for collaboration for CBE students. The college has multiple other facilities that support the work of students, faculty, and staff, including the Fabrication Lab, the Digital Commons, and the Visual Resources Collection. The unique opportunities presented by the Pacific Northwest in terms of the built environment, along with the potential for service-learning opportunities with local industries and firms, make CBE a dynamic place for both education and community engagement.

Reporting directly to Provost (https://www.washington.edu/provost/biography/) Tricia R. Serio, the dean will focus on strengthening existing programs and developing new ones to meet the community's evolving needs. The dean will provide leadership and guidance in fulfilling CBE’s mission and continue to advance the reputation and prestige of the college on a global scale. The dean will join the university at a time of excitement and momentum as it welcomes President Elect Robert J. Jones on August 1st.

The dean will enhance relationships and collaborations within the college, university, and with industry partners. Prioritizing interdisciplinary collaboration across the campus and maintaining and strengthening these relationships to foster a culture of cooperation and innovation is essential. CBE is uniquely situated to develop new partnerships with the community, city, and beyond. The dean will play a pivotal role in seeking out new ways to engage with potential partners and friends of the college. Taking a leading role in securing private funding for the college will also be critical.

A distinguished record as an accomplished scholar or noted contributor to the profession, possessing a terminal degree in their field of expertise and creative excellence satisfying the requirements for the rank of full professor with tenure in one of CBE’s academic units is required.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile (https://apptrkr.com/6024375).

WittKieffer is assisting the University of Washington in this search. For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 24, 2025.

Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to:

Melissa Fincher, Suzanne Teer, Jenna Brumleve

UWDeanCBE@wittkieffer.com

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer (https://ap.washington.edu/eoaa/). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact WittKieffer at UWDeanCBE@wittkieffer.com.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

The base salary range for this position will be $300,000 - $345,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. Other compensation associated with this position may include administrative salary supplement and allowances. A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at Benefit Summary (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/).