Dean of Students

Dream. Study. Create. Repeat. Welcome to life at AUArts. 

AUArts is where creativity thrives. It is a community of students, faculty, staff and alumni who are diverse in culture and thought—a community that fearlessly explores what moves and drives them. AUArts offers its 1,000 students studio-based programming that leads to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in one of nine disciplines, a Bachelor of Design in one of two, and an MFA in Craft Media. Known for being a haven for makers, designers, and artists, AUArts is a testing ground for a future shaped by one’s unique vision and drive, and a place where just about anything is possible.  

It is in this context that Alberta University of the Arts invites applications and nominations for the role of Dean of Students—a key position that will enable the University to effectively respond to emerging student needs as well as further advance its academic and research ecosystem under a redesigned leadership structure which sees Student and Academic Affairs lead by three Deans. 

Dean of Students 

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Dean of Students use their expertise in recruitment and admissions to provide strategic oversight of student affairs including programs, services, facilities, procedures, and administration.  As a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Dean will also work collaboratively with the other two Deans to implement a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan as well as the development of an international student recruitment strategy.  Most of the portfolio will focus on enhancing programming and services for current and future students, which includes both Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) and other experiential learning opportunities. 

Importantly, the incumbent will be a major champion for equity, diversity, and inclusion and will use their track record in this space to guide their culture building work at the institution.   

Attributes Sought in Candidates 

Drawing from their leadership roles within post-secondary institutions, the incumbent will be able to speak to and demonstrate their competency in the following areas:  strategic oversight of safe spaces; strategic oversight of active inclusion; strategic oversight of continuous improvement with a focus on innovation and change mandates; strategic oversight in domestic and international recruitment, strategic oversight of collaboration between and within teams; and strategic oversight of long-terming visioning and goal setting.  The candidate most likely to realize success in the role possesses strong verbal, written, interpersonal, facilitation and mediation skills as well as the ability to exercise sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy.  They will bring a clear vision for how diversity contributes to institutional excellence.  Importantly, they will have an advanced or terminal degree, preferably in an area of focus at the instruction.   

AUArts is an equal opportunity employer strongly committed to fostering diversity within its community and welcomes those who would contribute to the further diversity of the university. It encourages expressions of interest from all qualified applicants for consideration for this or other suitable vacancies although applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. 

AUArts is partnering with BIPOC Executive Search to ensure an applicant list that has greater representation from Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour, thereby reflecting Canada’s diverse population. All interested applicants can send their resume and letter of interest to Candice Frederick or Jason Murray by e-mailing cfrederick@bipocsearch.com, or can apply through the BIPOC Executive Search mobile app. 

We thank everyone for their expression of interest—and are truly appreciative of the time individuals put into applying—but with the limitations of time only those selected for an interview will be contacted.