Dean Graduate School of Counseling

Position Title : Dean Graduate School of Counseling

No. of Positions to Fill 1

Department / Program : GSCP 12030

Work Location : Nalanda Campus

Reports to : Chief Academic Officer & Vice President for Academic Affairs

FLSA Classification : Exempt / Salaried

FTE : 100% (40 hrs / week)

Position Location : Hybrid, on site as needed

Compensation : $136,000 - $160,000 DOE

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by 11 / 1 / 25

Job Summary : 
Reporting to the University’s Chief Academic Officer / Vice President for Academic Affairs (CAO / VPAA), the Dean of the Graduate School of Counseling (“GSC” or “School”) provides strategic leadership and management oversight of the School. The Dean is responsible for planning, coordination, and administration of the School and its concentrations as well as offering support and guidance to concentration chairs, faculty, and staff to develop and strengthen the School’s academic reputation and maximizing enrollments. In collaboration with School faculty and staff, the Dean leads efforts in initiating short- and long-term goals, setting vision for the GSC’s academic leadership, managing the administrative leadership of the School, participating in cross-university collaborations, and implementing all facets of the University’s strategic plan that relate to the GSC.

The Dean leads the faculty and staff in maintaining a student-centered culture within all curricular, certificate and co-curricular offerings, including but not limited to student collaboration around curriculum development and assessment.

The Dean works closely with concentration chairs to foster distributed leadership and empowerment and a supportive, collaborative and growth-promoting culture within the School. The Dean is responsible for fostering and maintaining an inclusive community among faculty, staff and students within GSC with practices and curriculum that affirm Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) values and goals.

The Dean is responsible for the oversight and management of School policies related to student academic experiences to insure appropriate and consistent application of policies across concentrations. Working closely with faculty, Student Success, and the Student of Concern Team, the Dean will facilitate the partnership between student support services and School faculty ensuring an appropriate balance for faculty between offering direct support to students and understanding and utilizing campus resources.

The ability of School graduates to successfully apply for licensure across the country is a central commitment to students. Currently the School is not accredited by CACREP which is a requirement for licensure in a few states. (Naropa does not accept applicants from those states.) The Dean, in close collaboration with the GSC faculty and concentration chairs are responsible for ensuring that the curriculum, field experiences and student and concentration learning outcomes meet the CACREP 2024 Standards and where possible, meets educational standards for licensure eligibility via equivalency, in states where Naropa University is authorized to deliver its concentration. The Dean is responsible for leading GSC and Naropa University through the CACREP accreditation process with the goal of becoming accredited by 2028 or 2029.

The Dean is responsible for people resource management of faculty and staff in collaboration with concentration chairs, develops long-range staffing plans to include oversight of new core, ranked and adjunct faculty hires, retirement, and support staff that are aligned with the needs of concentration delivery, enrollment, and market projections. In addition, the Dean seeks opportunities to enhance the professional development of all staff and faculty within the school as appropriate to each individual’s career trajectory, aspirations, and rank in alignment with School needed. The Dean is responsible for fiscal matters of the GSC, including budget planning and management. In collaboration with the CAO / VPAA, the Dean supervises a diverse group of faculty and staff and oversees supervision and evaluation processes throughout the School. The Dean takes an appreciative approach to cultivating relationships throughout the School, promotes peer mentoring and collaboration, and takes an interest in the growth and accomplishments of personnel at all stages of career.

Collaborating with School faculty and University leaders, the Dean promotes the external visibility and contributions of the GSC and Naropa University locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In alignment with this goal, the Dean promotes faculty scholarly, research, activist, and creative (SRAC) publication both in well-established areas within the fields of counselor education, contemplative pedagogy and in the specialty areas that support the Clinical Mental Health degree offered by GSC. The Dean promotes the participation of students in faculty SRAC work and works with Development Office staff to locate potential funding, and otherwise locates potential ways to make faculty and faculty-student work visible within and beyond Naropa. In service of these goals, the Dean works with faculty and staff to promote a vibrant and supportive culture that affirms JEDI and contemplative values within the School to optimize workload demands so that faculty and staff have opportunities to make contributions in alignment with their skills and aspirations.

Job Duties & Responsibilities :

• Provides management and oversight of all GSC concentrations and supervises the GSC concentration chairs.
• Leads the application for CACREP accreditation for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrations including the collection and analyzing of concentration and student learning outcome data.
• The Dean is responsible for ensuring that the curriculum meets licensure eligibility standards in states the Naropa concentration is offered.
• Collaborates with concentration chairs to monitor and optimize class sizes and effective and efficient use of resources.
• Collaborates with the concentration chairs and the Library Director to grow and manage collections, library services and access.
• Coordinates the offering and assessment of the School’s courses and degree offerings, promotes instructional innovation, and ensures compliance with academic and accreditation standards.
• Ensures GSC collaboration with the Registrar, Financial Aid, the International Student and Scholars Coordinator, and the Coordinator of Accessibility Resources to promote access and student success.
• The Dean is responsible for the oversight and management of School policies related to student academic experiences to insure appropriate and consistent application of policies across concentrations.
• Facilitates a positive collaborative relationship between Admissions staff and GSC faculty and staff to promote student recruitment including ensuring that faculty have the time and support to conduct admissions interviews in a timely manner.
• Promotes student retention through fostering collaboration with Academic Advising.
• Oversees the effective and efficient stewardship of GSC and University resources.
• Provides visionary leadership for the GSC to advance the School’s and the University’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
• Strengthen a positive and compassionate culture of faculty, staff and students across the school with students at the center.
• Works closely with concentration chairs to mentor underperforming faculty and to hold such faculty accountable to School standards.
• Works directly with the GSC concentration chairs to improve and maintain a culture of evidence-based practices.
• Works with faculty and the Deans of Naropa College and The Graduate Collective to develop BA-MA bridges in alignment with strategic goals.
• With the Senior Academic Administrator, oversees development and management of the instructional and operational budgets.
• Collaborates with the Chairs, CAO / VPAA and the Vice President of Mission, Culture and Inclusive Community to integrate justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) and contemplative learning outcomes throughout the curriculum and to grow faculty expertise in teaching, assessment and curriculum development that incorporates JEDI and contemplative learning outcomes.
• Coordinate with concentration chairs to manage the core curriculum.
• Ensures robust onboarding and mentoring of new faculty and staff.
• Integrates management of the practicum and internship supervision process into the GSC curricular structure in collaboration with The Office of Community Based Learning and Career Development.
• With the Senior Academic Administrator, oversees management of syllabus archives including making syllabi available to alumni.
• Collaborates with University leaders and faculty to develop certificate concentrations in alignment with the School’s academic concentrations.
• Collaborates with the CAO / VPAA and Development to pursue grant and other development opportunities. Participates actively in fund-raising in collaboration with Development and the President’s Office.
• Works with the Director of Alumnx Relations and concentration faculty and staff to strengthen the participation of alumni in university life.
• Maintains commitment to the Dean’s own professional and personal growth.
• Collaborates with the CAO / VPAA and the Dean of Naropa College and The Graduate Collective to serve on University level committees and task forces. Serves on the CAO / VPAA’s leadership team.

Minimum Qualifications :

Naropa recognizes the following holidays throughout the year :  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Fall Break, 4th Thursday and Friday in November, Winter Break, the last two weeks in December encompassing the Christmas holiday as well as New Year’s

Naropa’s health and welfare benefits include the following : medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment, an employer-sponsored pre-tax retirement savings plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching, and a variety of voluntary, employee-paid supplemental insurance plans.

A comprehensive benefits package is available to full-time employees who work a minimum of 30 hours each week. Employees who work 20 – 29 hours each week are eligible for only the employer-paid short-term & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance & accidental death and dismemberment, and the retirement plan, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

Employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in Naropa’s retirement plan only, which includes up to 2.5% employer matching.

All regular full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including student workers, accrue sick leave benefits. Full-time and part-time staff positions accrue vacation and personal time. All leave accrual rates vary based on the position, hours worked, and years of service.

The University recognizes the importance of including its employees in its organizational mission and values and welcomes employees into the classroom to “touch the magic.” Specifically, regular employees are provided generous tuition remission opportunities for themselves and their family members.

Naropa University participates in the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program (CIC-TEP). CIC-TEP is a network of CIC colleges and universities willing to accept, tuition-free, students from families of full-time employees of other CIC participating institutions (full-time as designated by the employer / institution). Additional information can be found here : .

Naropa University is an equal opportunity, non-discriminatory employer and Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and relationship violence. This law applies to all students, faculty, and staff.

JOB CODE : AY

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