Dean of the Honors College

Internal Search

The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) seeks an exceptional leader and scholar to serve as the next Dean of the Honors College. This is an internal search.

The UIC Honors College, founded in 1982, provides opportunities for academic challenge and enrichment to more than 1,800 undergraduates at UIC.  With over 750 affiliated Faculty Fellows and 15 full-time staff, the UIC Honors College provides its students with an interdisciplinary academic experience, including honors-specific coursework, research, and service learning, culminating in an inquiry-based Honors capstone. Recognized as a national leader in accessible honors education which, uniquely, admits both transfer and continuing students in addition to first-year students, the UIC Honors College boasts strong student retention and graduation rates for all students.

The student demographics of the Honors College closely mirror those of the highly diverse UIC undergraduate student body, and the college has achieved equity in student outcomes across demographic lines, with a graduation rate of 92% and a first-year retention rate of 97%. To ensure access to students regardless of socioeconomic status, the college awards over $1.8 million in scholarships and other financial support such as research grants, student engagement seed funds, and Dean’s Emergency grants. Engagement and service are signature components of the Honors College student experience, with 15% of students documenting engagement in a service or leadership activity and 20% documenting engagement in undergraduate research.

Estimated to be at least 80%-time, the position reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, is a member of the UIC Dean’s Council, and the appointment of the Dean of the Honors College is critical to its continuing growth as a national leader in honors education. The Dean will be responsible for articulating and realizing a vision for the future of the college as well as overseeing both the Honors College operating and fellowship budgets, in addition to identifying new sources of revenue and private and federal funding for these areas. Additional responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Serving as academic and fiscal leader of the Honors College in all areas, including curriculum, budget, staff development, student activities, and the Honors experience.
  • Developing a strategic plan to attract, mentor, and retain high-achieving students.
  • Working closely with the other deans and the Provost to develop interdisciplinary undergraduate curriculum designed to maintain excellence; sustain and enhance student access; and increase the retention and graduation of undergraduate students.
  • Overseeing Honors College scholarship and research awards.
  • Working with the other deans and senior administrators to align the college’s activities and goals with the greater interests of UIC.
  • Representing UIC and the Honors College in national organizations such as HERU (Honors Education at Research Universities).

Candidates for Dean must:

  • Possess an outstanding record of scholarly and educational achievement and the commensurate appointment as a tenured full professor at UIC.
  • Possess administrative experience and be able to build strong relationships with faculty and staff across campus.
  • Be dedicated to undergraduate student success, undergraduate student mentoring, and UIC's mission.

The ideal candidate will:

  • Value collegiality, transparency, and shared governance, and will be capable of articulating a vision for the college within a public urban research university.
  • Model quality undergraduate mentoring and instill in faculty and staff its importance.
  • Have experience managing a complex organization, wisely deploying resources, and effectively engaging in fundraising.
  • Bring experience and/or engagement with the Honors College, or honors education at another institution.

For consideration, applications and required materials must be submitted by close of business (5pm) Friday, January 30, 2026. Applications must include a CV, a letter of interest addressed to the search committee chair, Dr. David Eddington, Dean of the Graduate College and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and the names and contact information for three references.

Applications along with required materials should be submitted through the electronic application. Inquiries can be directed to Tyler Nielsen: (312) 413-3456 | pniels2@uic.edu.