Dear Colleagues,

As announced to campus on March 18, Nancy Mathews has been appointed Central Michigan University’s (CMU) Provost and Executive Vice President. While it is always difficult to lose a colleague, this is an exciting professional opportunity for Nancy, and I hope you will join me in thanking her for her service to our community and wishing her well as she joins CMU. Nancy will step down from her role as Dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) on July 31, 2022. I am writing to initiate the process of identifying interim leadership for the School.

The interim dean’s responsibilities include student recruitment and retention; fostering an environment for student, staff, and faculty success; curriculum development and oversight; advancing the School’s research enterprise; furthering the School’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; fundraising and donor relations; and personnel, financial, facilities, and other resource management. The interim dean appointment (12-month position at 1.0 FTE) begins August 1, 2022 and is expected to be a one-year appointment. Once announced, the interim dean will begin working with the School’s leadership to effect a smooth transition.

Self-nominations and nominations of colleagues are invited at this time. All application materials must be submitted to Kerry Castano, the Provost’s Chief of Staff, by April 15, 2022. Self-nominations should include a statement of interest that also highlights qualifications, and an updated CV. Nominations of others should include a brief statement of their qualifications to serve as interim dean. Those nominated by others will be alerted of their nomination and asked to provide a statement of interest and CV if they wish to be considered. Nominations must be received in time to allow for a candidate’s complete submission by the April 15, 2022 application deadline.

I will appoint a committee to advise me on the candidates’ qualifications and suitability to serve as interim dean. Conversations about the scope and timing of identifying permanent leadership for the School will begin in the fall. The interim dean is not precluded from candidacy for the permanent leadership position.

The following list of desired qualifications has been established for the interim dean:

  • Tenured faculty member at the University of Vermont
  • Leadership experience at the level of director, department chair, or higher
  • Distinguished record of teaching, research/scholarship, and both professional and University service
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Broad understanding of the School and its place in our University and the national context
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, communicate, and make decisions
  • Ability to generate broad support and engagement among faculty and staff
  • Financial acumen, experience with budgets, and an appetite for fundraising and alumni engagement
  • Excitement for the leadership role, enthusiasm for the goals and priorities of the University and its leadership, and commitment to the University of Vermont

Thank you for considering this important leadership opportunity and for encouraging your colleagues to do the same.

Warm regards,
Patty