Who we are

Why Rensselaer? Our dynamic global community of changemakers includes some of the world’s leading researchers, students, alumni, and faculty who ask the important questions and devise the scientific and technological innovations that make the world a better place for all of humanity. Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, Rensselaer is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, and one of the world’s fastest supercomputers. 

Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, three astronauts, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.

As part of a top-tier technological research university, the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute fosters the interdisciplinary collaboration needed to address the complex and urgent challenges of today’s world. HASS is home to the Department of Arts, Economics, Cognitive Science, Communication and Media, and Science and Technology Studies, along with an award-winning program in Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences. Here, students can pursue a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs that shape socially conscious, responsible, and creative global leaders.

HASS students work alongside scientists, engineers, architects, business professionals, and world-renowned faculty members to explore the social and cultural aspects of today’s global challenges in order to find innovative and sustainable solutions. HASS programs, intentionally designed to accommodate dual majors, allow students to bring fresh perspectives to other areas of study and teach them to think critically about the ethical and social implications of rising technologies.

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Reporting to the Provost, the Dean is the chief academic officer for the School of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (HASS). The Dean oversees and approves all academic programs and policies and is accountable for the advancement of both teaching and research initiatives. Additionally, the Dean is instrumental in recruiting, promoting, and nurturing a welcoming community of belonging and inclusion for students, faculty, staff, and professionals. The Dean ensures excellence across academic and research endeavors, engaging in strategic planning and managing administrative and financial matters. As a member of the Dean’s Council and Provost’s Leadership Team, the Dean contributes to broader Institutional decision-making processes.  

RPI seeks an individual with many of the following experiences and attributes to serve as the next Dean of HASS:

• An earned doctorate and status as both a scholar and researcher requisite with achieving appointment as a tenured faculty member at RPI.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership responsibility as an administrator within an academic setting, ideally with a demonstrated track record of both expanding research funding and improving an academic unit’s rankings and reputation.
• Prior experience managing faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure processes, demonstrating the intellectual breadth to engage with scholars and researchers across a broad range of disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience managing curriculum and degree programs and standards.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the proven ability to achieve buy-in and ownership of change and the ability to effectively communicate, interact, and present information to both internal and external groups and audiences.
• A track record of success leading professional staff with a clear demonstration of financial and operational acumen.  

Expected hiring range: $350,000 - $400,000.

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education, and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is assisted in this process by Spencer Stuart. The search committee welcomes comments, nominations, or expressions of interest; to contact the committee, please send an email with any supporting materials to the confidential email address: RPIHASSDean@SpencerStuart.com.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Rensselaer is committed to providing a safe and healthy living, learning, and working environment for its faculty, staff and students.  As such, we strongly recommend that faculty, staff and students obtain a COVID-19 vaccination and remain current with available boosters to protect themselves, as well as to protect vulnerable members of the community.

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Rensselaer is recognized locally and nationally for the depth and breadth of its compensation and benefits program. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).

We welcome candidates who will bring diverse cultural, ethnic, national and international perspectives to Rensselaer’s work and campus communities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Race/Gender/Veterans/Disability Employer.