Dean of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

The University of Georgia (UGA), the flagship public, land-grant and sea-grant university of the state of Georgia, seeks an experienced and energetic leader to serve as the Dean of the Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School, reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. The University seeks candidates who are innovative and accomplished leaders in their field, forward-thinking professionals who have a strong commitment to academic excellence and are dedicated to furthering an accessible and inclusive campus environment and engagement with the relevant industries in Georgia and beyond. The Dean will provide energetic and visionary leadership as well as principled administrative guidance and advocacy for the tripartite mission of the School in teaching, research, and public service/outreach.

The University of Georgia is one of the leading public research universities in the nation and the world. Founded in 1785 as the first public university in the country, UGA's faculty excel in fundamental and applied research, innovation, and technology transfer; and deliver outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; and support communities in Georgia and around the globe through public service and engagement. In Fall 2022, UGA enrolled 40,607 students, employed more than 3,600 faculty, and had an annual budget of over $2 billion. Interest in UGA degrees continues to rise with undergraduate applications for admission reaching more than 40,000 and more than 6,200 new first-year students enrolling in Fall 2022. Total annual research expenditures at the University have increased 55.8% since fiscal year 2013, and research expenditures now stand at $545.6 million for fiscal year 2022. UGA’s main campus is in Athens, GA, 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses located in Griffin, Tifton, Buckhead, and Gwinnett as well as residential campuses in Washington, DC; Cortona, Italy; and Oxford, England. The University has numerous regional, national, and international partnerships for research, education, and service, and an extensive and dedicated network of more than 355,000 living alumni across the globe.

UGA maintains outstanding academic programs in the arts and humanities, agricultural and environmental sciences, forestry and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, health and life sciences, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, engineering, journalism and communication, public and international affairs, education, and professional programs that include business, law, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Its research and academic strengths are matched by an enduring commitment to technology transfer, as evidenced by UGA’s national leadership in intellectual property creation and the number of products created by companies based on UGA licenses. Recently, major investments in research have led UGA to international leadership in areas such as infectious diseases, data science and artificial intelligence, vaccine development, glycoscience, precision agriculture, human trafficking, resilience and environment, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, and many others.

The University of Georgia has goals to advance its national and international standing in research and scholarship by leveraging the excellence of all its faculty and the comprehensive nature of its public, land- and sea-grant missions. For further information about the University of Georgia, please visit: www.uga.edu.

Founded in 1906 as the Peabody School of Forestry, the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources is committed to providing teaching, research and outreach activities related to the conservation and management of our natural resources. Today over 70 faculty and 100 support staff members are focused in fisheries and wildlife, forestry, geospatial information technologies, natural resource management, outdoor recreation and tourism, soil and water resources, and sustainability. Warnell programs emphasize the understanding of managed ecosystems throughout Georgia and the world.

Warnell offers a variety of degrees including a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Forest Resources, Master of Natural Resources and Doctor of Philosophy. With around 300 undergraduates and 190 graduate students, we provide training for those interested in careers across the spectrum of sustainable natural resources management. Our alumni are highly successful and include CEOs of industry-leading organizations as well as top administrators of important government agencies focused on natural resources. More information about the Warnell School can be found at https://warnell.uga.edu/.

Responsibilities:

• Leads the School by promoting a culture of excellence, innovation and strategic agility.
• Promotes excellence and works effectively with faculty, staff, students, University of Georgia administrators, and alumni to promote the mission of the School.
• Communicates the mission and importance of the programs in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources to internal and external audiences.
• Generates and administers public and/or private financial and non-financial support for a program or the School.
• Manages a flat administrative structure without departments; hires all faculty for the School as well as conducts their annual reviews; and oversees the management of School lands and facilities.
• Develops the budget for the School in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Administration.
• Works to enhance and maintain an inclusive and diverse environment.
• Builds and maintains relationships with public, industrial, and nongovernmental organizations associated with natural resources in order to advance the mission of the School.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates must have a terminal degree such as a Ph.D. (alternate terminal degrees will be accepted) in a discipline related to forestry and natural resources.
• A minimum of two years of experience in a discipline related to forestry and natural resources is required.
• A minimum of two years of experience as department head/chair, assistant/associate dean, or leader of a large center, institute, program or unit.
• A demonstrated record of excellence in teaching, research and service, and to be eligible for appointment as full professor with tenure at time of appointment. To be eligible for tenure on appointment, candidates must have been tenured at a prior institution and bring a demonstrably national reputation to UGA. Please see the School's Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure for more information including the requirements for the rank of Professor.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and/or Competencies:

• Thoughtful, intelligent, visionary leadership; strong team-building and communication skills; and delivering results by meeting strategic goals in a timely fashion.
• Strong executive leadership with good budgetary skills.
• Proven ability to be a successful fundraiser, working with foundations and individual donors as well as encouraging externally supported scholarship.
• A clear understanding and commitment to the mission of a land-grant university.
• The highest degree of personal integrity and an ability to gain the confidence of and work in a collaborative and collegial manner with the faculty, staff, and students both internal and external to the School, through effective communications and transparent decision making.
• Strong interpersonal skills that will facilitate positively managing relationships with constituent groups in business and industry, federal and state agencies, volunteer and professional organizations, and foundations whose goals are consistent with the mission of the School of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Applications: Applicant screening will begin immediately. Candidates are encouraged to submit their materials by Sunday, November 19, 2023; however, screening will continue until the position is filled. The application packet should include a cover letter detailing how the applicant’s credentials and experience meet the needs, responsibilities, and qualifications stated above; a current resume; and contact information for three references (who will not be contacted without further correspondence with the applicant).

All applicants must apply online at https://www.ugajobsearch.com. Please see the job posting at: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/342269

To request a descriptive Opportunity Profile for this position, provide a nomination, or seek additional information, please contact Callie West, Primary Consultant with the UGA Search Group, 805-813-3901 or Callie.West@uga.edu. Letters of recommendation or a simple nomination should include the name and contact information for the nominee.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).