Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA)
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA). The university seeks an experienced, committed, and visionary leader. The newly appointed Dean will help realize CUPPA’s mission building on its highly-regarded, cutting-edge research and scholarship, academic programs, public policy development, and community partnerships. The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is the Executive Officer for the College, and is a member of the University Deans Council.
CUPPA, as an essential unit of a multifaceted urban public university, wrestles with society’s most pressing questions and challenges, while striving to prepare the next generation of administrators, leaders, policy makers, and researchers. Propelled by its diverse and interdisciplinary faculty and researchers, who are national and international leaders in their fields, CUPPA has an enduring commitment to promoting just, resilient, and livable communities. The college is in a period of an expansion, with a continuously growing portfolio of external funding, and an increasing scope of its academic programs, having recently added graduate degrees in city design, civic analytics, and public policy to its top ranked programs in public administration and urban planning. CUPPA’s two undergraduate and seven graduate programs are housed in two departments, and enroll more than 350 graduate and 150 undergraduate students every year. The eight research centers and two academic departments in the college are an important part of UIC’s commitment to producing engaged research that benefits Chicago and other urban communities. The College attracts passionate students seeking to create a more just, sustainable and livable society, and prepares them for a range of leadership roles in government, the private sector, philanthropy, advocacy, and community organizations.
UIC is Chicago’s only public Carnegie RU/VH research institution. UIC is nationally and internationally recognized for multidisciplinary academic programs as well as its engagement with civic, corporate, and community partners worldwide. Located near downtown Chicago and within a few miles of the city’s vibrant African American, Asian, Eastern European, Middle-eastern and Latinx communities, UIC is one of the most diverse universities in the nation and has been designated a Minority Serving Institution, an Hispanic Serving Institution, and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution. With a mission to provide “Access to Excellence” for those who would not otherwise, UIC has grown to be the largest university in Chicago, enjoys the strongest enrollment growth in Illinois with a student body of 33,518 and almost 3,000 faculty, and is in the top 5% of the most racially and ethnically diverse universities in the United States. Its commitment to mission is further reflected in articulation agreements with the Chicago City Colleges. UIC is also the recent recipient of a $40 million donation from philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott, which will be used to create a Student Success Fund, reinforcing UIC’s aim to support student experience and success, the university’s top strategic priority.
Successful candidates for this position must have an outstanding record of scholarly and educational achievement; a history of successful leadership experience sufficient to demonstrate ability to manage a multidisciplinary college comprised of academic and research units; an unimpeachable commitment to the college's mission including a demonstrated commitment to access, equity, and diversity; a record of advancing teaching excellence, research, and faculty governance; promoting dynamic community engagement and engaged research; and building external partnerships with a wide range of stakeholder groups including the civic and professional community, the business sector, elected officials, and nonprofit organizations and institutions. The new Dean will collaborate with the 15 other UIC colleges to build internal bridges, as well as, develop external relationships that increase the financial support of the college and its visibility outside of the university. Finally, the new Dean will recognize and support the individual identities of each unit, while articulating and implementing a shared public vision for the future of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. Candidates must be eligible for a tenured position at the rank of full professor.
For fullest consideration, please complete an electronic application, including a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information for a minimum of three references by Monday, September 27th, addressed to the search committee chair, Dr. Rebecca Rugg, Dean and Professor, College of Architecture, Design and the Arts.
Please direct nominations and questions or concerns regarding the search and/or application process to the search coordinator, Faizan Abid, fabid2@uic.edu. Confidentiality will be observed in the academic search process.
The University of Illinois Chicago is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, Veteran or disability status.
The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/One.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=1411899