Dean, Hammons School of Architecture

Drury University invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Hammons School of Architecture. The new Dean will have the primary responsibility for achieving the School’s vision to be a regional and national leader in architectural education with an emphasis on design excellence, while stressing academic rigor, technological innovation, local and global engagement, and an innovative liberal arts foundation.

The Dean of the School must be committed to the broad and interdisciplinary education of design professionals, possess a clear vision for advancing the School’s and University’s mission, have exemplary communication skills, and the ability to lead effectively through collaborative engagement with faculty, students, alumni, and administrators. In addition to providing visionary leadership, the Dean is responsible for:

• Supervising curricular development and teaching
• Overseeing program assessment and reaccreditation
• Managing the School’s budget and personnel
• Teaching within the architecture curriculum
• Articulating the School’s values and interests both within the university and beyond
• Maintaining and enhancing interdisciplinary connections with other university programs
• Cultivating connections with local and regional professional communities
• Coordinating recruitment, marketing, communication, and fundraising efforts with University staff

The Dean will report to the Drury University Provost and Senior Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Hammons School of Architecture offers a NAAB-accredited, first-professional, M.Arch. degree in the context of a small private liberal arts university. The School has a historical and ongoing commitment to providing exemplary professional preparation within a broad and interdisciplinary curriculum. All HSA students study abroad through semester-long or summer experiences. Students also participate in professional internships as well as outreach programs that expose them to communities throughout the region. The new Dean will build on the School’s steady development spanning its 38-year history.

Drury University has a long record of effective engagement and activism in the Ozarks. Founded in 1873, the University is in Springfield, Missouri—the center of a metropolitan area now approaching 500,000 in population. Springfield is home to many universities, including Missouri State University, and has a stable and diverse economy, a distinguished public school system, and a relatively low cost of living. Additional information about Drury University, the Hammons School of Architecture, and the Springfield area can be found at https://www.drury.edu/, https://www.drury.edu/architecture/, and https://www.springfieldmo.org/, respectively.

The successful candidate will have a record of distinguished and innovative teaching and scholarship / professional practice; experience in academic leadership; a professional degree in architecture with a post-professional degree desirable; and other credentials relevant for hiring as a tenured Associate Professor or Professor.

Interested candidates should submit the following materials electronically, as a single PDF, to Search Committee Chair Professor Keith Hedges, AIA, at drurydeansearch@drury.edu: a letter of interest addressing the candidate’s qualifications and vision for architectural education; statement on leadership approach; statement on diversity, equity, and inclusivity; curriculum vitae; portfolio containing samples of the candidate’s work in teaching and scholarship / professional practice; and contact information for three references. The application materials should provide evidence of a commitment to fostering and engaging with a diversity of ideas and experiences in support of an inclusive environment in the School and at the university.

Drury University is fully committed to upholding and advancing the creation of a diverse and inclusive environment where every member of our community will treat each other with dignity and respect. We recognize that diverse experiences enrich our institution and all who pass through it. We honor, welcome, and respect all identities and perspectives.

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.