Maryland Smith Begins Dean Search

With a hiring committee assembled and a job description published online, the search for a new dean at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is officially under way.

“This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a highly regarded business school that is poised to move even higher in the top ranks of global business schools by creating a distinctive brand that is anchored in the quality of its academic programs, preeminence of its research, and impact on the challenges facing the business world and society today,” the posting states.

Maryland Smith is an innovative and entrepreneurial public flagship university, and a top-15 U.S. research business school. It’s well known for preparing its students for future leadership roles by equipping them with up-to-the-moment analytical skills, a global outlook, experience in entrepreneurship and innovation, and a capacity for interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Its next dean will deploy a competitive strategy that will further establish Maryland Smith’s distinctive brand, take advantage of its enviable location to create partnerships and opportunities unique to the Washington, D.C. area, and ensure that its programs support the business school’s mission and align with the broader university’s strategic plans.

The University of Maryland College Park (UMD) is the land-grant institution in the University System of Maryland and a member of the Association of American Universities. UMD is a globally preeminent research university with more than 41,000 students from more than 118 countries. Among the top 25 public universities in the country, Maryland has an annual budget of over $1.9 billion, and employs more than 14,000 faculty and staff.

Maryland Smith is one of its most prized academic units.

With more than 200 faculty members in six academic departments and an $80 million budget, Maryland Smith has about 3,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 graduate students across master’s and PhD programs.

Broadly, Maryland Smith’s dean is responsible for academic leadership, fundraising and financial stewardship.

The committee is searching for a candidate who can successfully manage efforts to create a shared vision for Maryland Smith, setting forth a strategy with a portfolio of highly competitive programs, world-class research, and a process for the strategic allocation of resources. It is seeking a champion for teaching and scholarship, with “outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, high energy, political astuteness, deep commitment to diversity, and a personal style that engenders trust and respect.”

The university hired national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to help in this recruitment. For more information, or to apply or nominate a candidate, please go to www.imsearch.com/7278.