Dean of College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences

The University of Maine (UMaine) seeks a new Dean of the College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences. The dean is the chief executive officer of the college and reports to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. UMaine is the state’s flagship public university, designated a Carnegie R1 top-tier research university and recognized globally for its pioneering work in climate change, marine sciences, forestry, and sustainable ecosystems. Operating in a state defined by its vast natural resources, intricate coastlines, and evolving rural and urban healthcare landscapes, UMaine offers an unparalleled living laboratory where transformative research directly impacts the ecological, economic, and physical well-being of communities across Maine and around the globe. The college, which integrates earth, life, and health science disciplines to advance exceptional teaching, research, and service programs, is a cornerstone of UMaine's R1 engine and land, sea, and space grant missions.

The College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences stands at the center of that mission. Serving more than 2,700 students, including over 2,000 undergraduates and nearly 650 graduate students, ELH is one of the university's largest and most interdisciplinary academic units. The college comprises the Schools of Biology and Ecology, Earth and Climate Sciences, Economics, Food and Agriculture, Forest Resources, Marine Sciences, Nursing, and Social Work; the Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, and Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology; and the interdisciplinary Ecology and Environmental Sciences program. Together, these units offer 24 undergraduate, 24 master's, and 16 doctoral programs supported by more than 160 faculty members and over $25 million in annual research activity.

The next Dean will build upon a strong foundation of research excellence, public engagement, and student success while helping position ELH to address some of the defining challenges of our time, including environmental sustainability, climate resilience, public health, food systems, and natural resource stewardship.

The successful candidate will be a visible, collaborative, and transparent leader who can bring together diverse disciplines and constituencies around a shared direction. They will champion excellence in research, teaching, and service while serving as a compelling advocate for the college across the university, throughout the state of Maine, and among federal, industry, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners. As ELH looks ahead, the college's future success depends on attracting, developing, and retaining talented faculty and staff. The Dean will be expected to strengthen organizational capacity, support employee well-being, and succession-planning challenges, and ensure that faculty and staff have the resources needed to advance the college's mission and strategic priorities. The next Dean will have the opportunity to build trust, strengthen the college's long-term sustainability, and unite the community around a shared vision of one of the nation's most distinctive interdisciplinary colleges while advancing UMaine's Strategic Re-Envisioning goals and reinforce the university's role as Maine's premier public research institution. The salary range for the position is anticipated to be $250,000 to $275,000. The final compensation package will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and leadership accomplishments. 

The dean will:

• Oversee the college’s administrative and physical portfolio, including schools, departments, research centers, and facilities, fostering excellence in teaching, research, and service
• Manage the college’s financial and human resources to optimize alignment with UMaine’s strategic initiatives and to strengthen the college's financial sustainability
• Foster a supportive working culture for faculty, staff, and students
• Ensure sustainable, relevant, and impactful academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students
• Ensure sustainable, relevant, and impactful research programs that include undergraduate and graduate students
• Partner with other UMaine units to increase programmatic impact, particularly in state priority areas
• Represent the college within UMaine and to our numerous and valuable governmental and non-governmental external stakeholders, leveraging fundraising and engagement opportunities to strengthen our value to and catalyze partnerships with our stakeholders
   

Depending on the qualifications of the successful candidate, the President may appoint the dean to also serve as director of the Maine Agriculture and Forest Experiment Station (MAFES). As required by state law, the appointment of the MAFES director will be completed in consultation with the Maine Board of Agriculture.

About the University of Maine
Founded in 1865, the University of Maine is the state’s land, sea, and space grant institution. The University of Maine, which is part of the seven-member University of Maine System created in 1968, proudly holds the distinction of serving as the flagship institution within the system, responsible for providing high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, basic and applied research, and outreach services to extend the University of Maine’s expertise and resources statewide and beyond.

About the College
The College of Earth, Life, and Health Sciences stands at the center of that mission. Serving more than 2,600 students, including over 2,000 undergraduates and nearly 650 graduate students, ELH is one of the university's largest and most interdisciplinary academic units. The college comprises the Schools of Biology and Ecology, Earth and Climate Sciences, Economics, Food and Agriculture, Forest Resources, Marine Sciences, Nursing, and Social Work; the Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, and Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology; and the interdisciplinary Ecology and Environmental Sciences program. Together, these units offer 24 undergraduate, 24 master's, and 16 doctoral programs supported by more than 160 faculty members and over $25 million in annual research activity.

ELH's impact extends throughout Maine and beyond. The college's statewide footprint includes the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, the Darling Marine Center, the Lobster Institute, the Conley Speech, Language and Hearing Center, university farms and forests, and numerous laboratories, clinics, and field sites that advance research, education, workforce development, and public engagement. The college is a place defined by dedicated people, meaningful impact, and a deep commitment to the land-grant mission. New college leadership represents an opportunity to further strengthen cross-disciplinary collaboration, enhance the visibility of the college's accomplishments, invest strategically in its future, and unite the community around a shared vision.

Qualifications: 
Required:

• Doctorate related to the disciplines represented in the college, with credentials and experience to qualify for the rank of professor with tenure in a discipline within the college
• Ability to work effectively with a range of constituencies, including from academic, business, health care, biomedical, agricultural, environmental science, natural resource, and tourism fields
• Experience with inter- and transdisciplinary research and programming
• Record of effective administrative leadership, including personnel and budget management
• Demonstrated commitment to staff and student support
• Demonstrated effectiveness in the acquisition of public and private resources to develop and expand strong programs
• Experience with federal agencies, such as NSF, NIH, USDA, USEPA, USGS, NOAA, NASA

Preferred:

• Major accomplishments in teaching, research, professional service, and public service
• Knowledge of mission and responsibilities of a land, sea, and space grant institution 
• Documented ability to work effectively with both state and federal congressional delegations
• Experience in marketing academic programs and recruiting students
   

Other Information: 

To be considered for this position you will need to “Apply” and upload the documentation listed below:

1.) a cover letter addressing the themes in the Leadership Profile
2.) a resume/curriculum vitae

Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references.

For additional information about the college and dean position, including specific qualifications and application instructions, please view the official position announcement, including the Leadership Profile.

Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University.

For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. EST on January 4, 2027.

Nominations and inquiries should be addressed to [email protected].

The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening.