Professor and Dean, College of Sciences

The Opportunity

The University of Central Florida (UCF), one of the nation’s most innovative and dynamic public research universities, invites applications, and nominations for the position of 12 month, tenured Professor and Dean of the College of Sciences. The next Dean will lead the university’s largest academic college—an enterprise spanning the natural, mathematical, behavioral, and social sciences—and will play a pivotal role in advancing UCF’s mission as a next-generation metropolitan research university committed to excellence, access, and impact.

The Dean will join UCF at a moment of extraordinary momentum. As a Carnegie R1 institution with nearly 70,000 students, UCF is recognized for its bold commitment to student success, interdisciplinary research, and regional partnerships that shape the future of Central Florida and beyond. The College of Sciences sits at the heart of that vision, contributing to cutting-edge discovery, innovation, and the preparation of the next generation of scientific leaders.

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Sciences (COS). The Dean provides strategic vision and operational leadership for all aspects of the college’s activities—academic programs, research enterprises, faculty and staff development, budgeting, and advancement. The Dean will lead a vibrant community of scholars committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service, ensuring that COS continues to play a central role in UCF’s ascent as a national model for student success and research impact.

The next Dean of the COS will find a college rich with opportunity, poised to deepen its research strength and broaden its influence in science, technology, and society. The University of Central Florida’s College of Sciences is at the forefront of discovery, innovation, and public impact. The next Dean will have the opportunity to lead a remarkable college in a remarkable place—advancing science, serving society, and shaping the future of one of America’s most ambitious universities.

THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES

THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES (COS) IS THE INTELLECTUAL CORE OF UCF’S RESEARCH AND TEACHING ENTERPRISE. With more than 16,000 students, nearly 400 faculty, and over 150 staff, COS houses the disciplines that drive discovery and inform innovation across the sciences. The college includes 9 distinctive departments and schools: Anthropology; Biology; Chemistry; Nicholson School of Communication and Media; Physics; Psychology; School of Data, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences; School of Politics, Security and International Affairs; and Sociology.

In addition to core departments of the college, COS also hosts several interdisciplinary research centers and institutes that advance scholarship and research, which, for the college, exceeded $33 million in expenditures FY25.

The College of Sciences is committed to discovery that matters, education that transforms, and research that impacts. Faculty are nationally recognized for research in planetary science, environmental systems, neuroscience, big data, and public policy, among many others. Students benefit from experiential learning, undergraduate research, and access to one of the nation’s most dynamic student bodies.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated leadership, academic accomplishment, and a record of fostering excellence in a complex academic environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or other terminal degree from an accredited institution in a discipline represented in the College of Sciences, or a closely related field.

• Distinguished record of accomplishment meriting appointment at the rank of tenured professor.

• Substantial experience in academic leadership in higher education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful leadership and administrative experience in academia with a proven ability to be collaborative and engaged in faculty governance, academic leadership, administrative leadership (e.g., conducting evaluations and supervising faculty and staff) and developing faculty/staff leadership.

• Strong listening skills, keen intellectual curiosity, bold vision for the future of science education, robust interpersonal skills, strong analytical abilities, and transparent communication.

• An ability to lead efforts in strategic enrollment management across broad academic disciplines.

• An ability to create collaborative relationships across academic disciplines and among the deans of the other academic colleges.

• A demonstrated ability to lead programs toward prominence in graduate education, research, scholarship, and creative activity, including growth of research funding.

• Experience in implementing operational efficiencies and leading the development and implementation of a strategic plan.

• The ability to manage complex budgets as well as prioritize resources in alignment with strategic goals across academic units.

• Experience in implementing student success strategies to drive key metrics in college retention and graduation rates.

• Demonstrated success in alumni relations, external fundraising, and philanthropy as well as developing partnerships with business or other community constituencies.

• Proven ability to attract, retain, and develop talented faculty, staff, and students.

• Success in fostering a dynamic community of learners and scholars for students, faculty, and staff throughout the college.

• The ability to be an effective spokesperson, advocate, and relationship builder with a wide variety of audiences.

Additional Application Materials Required:

Confidential nominations and inquiries may be directed to the university’s executive search partner at:

UCF Dean of Sciences Search

Funk Associates

2911 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Ste. 300

Dallas, Texas 75219

Email: Krisha.Creal@funkassociates.com

Fax: 214/523-9067

Applications should include an up-to-date CV and a letter of interest that addresses the candidate’s leadership experience and vision for the arts and sciences at a flagship, research-intensive public university.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be attached at that time. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Sponsorship for employment-based visas will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and is not guaranteed. Preference will be given to candidates who are currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

FOR FULL CONSIDERATION, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 15. Review of materials will continue until the position is filled. The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity employer. All applications and nominations will be handled with the strictest confidentiality until the finalist phase.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program. 

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options. 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions. 

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment. 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.