| Primary Purpose of Position |
The Dean of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering reports to the Provosts at
UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T, is a member of the Deans Council, and an ex-officio member of the Gateway Research Park Board of Directors. The Dean must have demonstrated excellence in leadership within the context of change,
Preeminence 2030 and
Forward Together strategic initiatives, and significant research expansion; experience in selecting, evaluating, promoting, and retaining high-quality faculty and staff; innovative and inclusive program development and planning; accreditation oversight; demonstrated capabilities and willingness to obtain significant external funding; managing and allocating financial resources; demonstrated understanding of the need for active student recruitment, retention, and student success; and a clear understanding of the importance of inclusion.
Additionally, the Dean must have an interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary orientation; exemplary communication skills and capabilities to serve as a spokesperson and advocate; a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively; a consensus-building leadership style; a command of the elements of excellence in faculty, staff, and department chairs; the ability to support excellence in teaching, research, and engagement; and a strong commitment to student success. A Ph.D. in a science and/or engineering discipline with experience in nanoscience or nanoengineering from an accredited institution is required, as well as qualifications appropriate for an appointment to the faculty as a tenured full professor. At least three years of significant senior leadership and administrative experience, in addition to academic service and demonstrated success in community/professional engagements across a wide array of organizations, are also requirements for the role.
Percentage Of Time | 20%
Key Responsibility | Develop and advance a strategic vision for the future of the Joint School
Essential Tasks | Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners, the Dean will help create and advance a forward-looking vision for the future of
JSNN. The School is positioned to contribute significantly to the goals of both strategic plans and build upon current successes and commitment to impactful research, student success, economic development, and an inclusive culture. Leveraging the influence and power of these assets will enable
JSNN to be nationally distinct and globally impactful.
Percentage Of Time | 10%
Key Responsibility | Facilitate growth in research and scholarship
Essential Tasks | As
UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T expand research and development, the Dean will be expected to support faculty in their research endeavors and collectively enhance scholarly production. This includes creating strategic doctoral programs and pathways, identifying external funding opportunities and grant-writing activities, providing resources to support faculty research, fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaborations, and recruiting research-active faculty. The Dean will need to demonstrate an understanding of the differences across nanoscience and nanoengineering and identify emerging opportunities through collaboration of the two units across a range of research areas and scholarly activity. The Dean will be expected to ensure excellence in teaching while working to enhance research productivity.
Percentage Of Time | 20%
Key Responsibility | Support a culture of student recruitment, retention, and success
Essential Tasks | The Dean of
JSNN will be expected to develop strategies, such as partnerships with undergraduate focused institutions, to create a pipeline of students to come to
JSNN. The Dean must also set the expectations for
JSNN to align its academic programs, resources, systems, and processes to further increase retention and efficiency toward completion of master's and doctoral degrees. The Dean must promote a collaborative and supportive environment that ensures students have the tools they need to be successful academically and in research while also preparing them for the current and future challenges in the workforce.
Percentage Of Time | 20%
Key Responsibility | Recruit and retain high-quality faculty and staff and lead through change
Essential Tasks | The continued growth and excellence of
JSNN will require an ongoing focus on the recruitment, retention, and development of both staff and research-active faculty at various stages of their careers. Committed and engaged faculty and staff are crucial to fulfilling JSNN's academic mission, goals, and priorities. Student enrollment growth has outpaced the number of faculty and staff within the School. The Dean must ensure highly qualified faculty and staff are recruited, hired, retained, upskilled, and provided with opportunities for growth and promotion as appropriate.
Percentage Of Time | 20%
Key Responsibility | Champion a welcoming and inclusive climate
Essential Tasks | It is expected that the Dean will appreciate, understand, and be committed to the value of Minority
Serving Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, such as
UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T, respectively. The Dean will work closely with the Joint School's leadership team, faculty, staff, and students to support an emerging consensus-driven vision of how this important work will translate into the curriculum and student services and how it will guide and influence teaching, research, and service. Building a talented faculty that will support each institution's diverse student body and support the development of professional, intercultural competencies of faculty, staff, and students will also be extremely important for the School's mission.
Percentage Of Time | 10%
Key Responsibility | Strengthen fundraising, alumni, and corporate engagement and enhance visibility for
JSNN
Essential Tasks | The Dean will develop, lead, and support all corporate, alumni, and donor relations strategies and activities.
JSNN has a rich base of dedicated alumni and a strong and engaged advisory board. The Dean will maximize engagement opportunities and grow significantly philanthropic support for the School. Working closely with the School's development officer and the Universities' Advancement Offices, the Dean will raise funds for key philanthropic priorities. The Dean will be a confident and compelling advocate who will work to enhance the visibility of
JSNN both internally and externally and to understand the opportunities and challenges facing the state, nation, and globe.
Greensboro, NC, is a growing hub for technology companies. It is expected that there will be ample
opportunity for engagement and partnership building with the local business community to ensure the curriculum and student experiences align with the demands of industry leaders. The Dean will be expected to establish, cultivate, and optimize these kinds of relationships for mutual benefit to both universities, the business community, and, in keeping with the institutional missions, to the state of North Carolina. As the chief advocate and spokesperson, the Dean will ensure
JSNN is a recognized leader internally, nationally, and globally. |
| Primary Function of Organizational Unit |
JSNN was established through a joint academic agreement between both institutions, focusing on interdisciplinary and high-impact research, breakthrough innovations, and high-quality student experiences.
JSNN is located at Gateway Research Park South Campus, a thriving research park in East Greensboro, North Carolina, near the campuses of
UNC Greensboro and N.C. A&T.
JSNN was established in 2009 and celebrated its 15-year anniversary in spring of 2024.
JSNN is accredited through
SACSCOC.
JSNN has two departments and one Institute. The Department of Nanoscience, administered by the University of North Carolina Greensboro, offers master's and doctoral degrees in nanoscience and five certificate programs in Synthetic Biology, Medical Science, Nanoscience, Instrumentation, and Advanced Materials. The Department of Nanoengineering, administered by N.C. A&T, offers master's and doctoral degrees in nanoengineering and postbaccalaureate certificates in Synthetic and Systems Biology, Advanced Materials, Micro and Nano Devices, and
STEM Entrepreneurship. Enrollment has increased by 65% since 2019. |
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Feb 06, 2025 