SUNY Geneseo
Dean for the Ella Cline Shear School of Education
Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist SUNY Geneseo in its search for Dean for the Ella Cline Shear School of Education.
For full consideration, please apply by October 6, 2025.
This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader to shape the future of the Ella Cline Shear (ECS) School of Education and build upon SUNY Geneseo’s distinguished legacy of academic excellence in the liberal arts and teacher preparation. As New York State’s only public liberal arts honors college, SUNY Geneseo offers a distinctive environment where teacher education is deeply integrated with the liberal arts, supported by the dedicated faculty and staff, and reflected in an impressive 87% student retention rate. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will join the Provost’s Executive Leadership Team and work closely with the Provost to advance the College’s Strategic Plan, championing Geneseo’s mission to deliver a distinctive, equity-centered, public liberal arts honors experience.
SUNY Geneseo consistently ranks among the nation’s top public undergraduate institutions, with one of the highest four-year graduation rates in the SUNY system and a top 15 national ranking for six-year graduation rates among Pell Grant recipients. The College is a leader in producing alumni with doctorates in STEM, Fulbright awardees, and Peace Corps volunteers.
The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the ECS School of Education, leading the School through a period of transformational change and growth. This action-oriented leader will foster innovation in curriculum design, expand online and hybrid program offerings, and explore strategic new academic pathways, including potential development in health science–related fields such as school psychology.
The Dean will champion the School’s mission to prepare educators who improve society through teaching grounded in liberal arts and sciences, scholarship, and strong school–community partnerships. This includes modernizing curricula, enhancing field supervision, and developing interdisciplinary opportunities that respond to evolving educational and workforce needs. The Dean will provide strategic leadership for curriculum innovation in the School in collaboration with the deans of business, arts and sciences, and workforce development to explore new opportunities in graduate education, certificates, and online learning. The Dean is responsible for ensuring the quality and compliance of all teacher education and graduate programs with accreditation and state licensure standards. This includes overseeing program assessment, continuous improvement efforts, and responsiveness to regulatory requirements.
The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and supervises department chairs (beginning in Spring 2026), professional staff, and administrative staff.
SUNY Geneseo offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including retiree health benefits after 10 years of service.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Leadership:
- Promote innovative and responsive programming that meets regional workforce needs in teaching and specialist roles. Lead efforts in curriculum development, interdisciplinary program design, and online education.
Partnership Development:
- Strengthen collaborations with K–12 districts, community organizations, education agencies, and potential health systems to support field experiences, internships, and program growth.
Faculty and Staff Support:
- Recruit, mentor, and support faculty and staff in scholarship, innovative pedagogy, and online teaching practices.
Resource Management:
- Oversee School budgets, grant funding, and resource allocation. Collaborate with institutional offices to support curricular and program expansion.
External Engagement:
- Represent the School at local, regional, and state meetings, conferences, higher education forums, and with regional stakeholders. Serve as a visible advocate for the School’s mission and initiatives.
Strategic Involvement:
- Engage in campus-wide planning and governance related to strategic planning, online education initiatives, and interdisciplinary program development.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Terminal degree in a relevant field of study, such as education or a related discipline
- Record of teaching, scholarship, and service commensurate with tenure in an academic field of study offered at SUNY Geneseo
- Experience leading curriculum innovation, including online program development
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Track record of strong K–12 or community partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration
- Knowledge of accreditation processes and educator preparation standards (NYSED, CAEP)
- Experience developing or administering programs in school psychology or health science education
- Demonstrated success in securing external funding and grants
- Background in designing and managing hybrid or fully online learning programs
About the SUNY System
SUNY Geneseo is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) and plays an important role in the system with access to resources in areas such as international programs and research support beyond those of a typical small campus. SUNY is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive state university system, consisting of 64 campuses that include major research universities, health sciences centers, comprehensive and technical colleges, and community colleges committed to providing a broad range of outstanding academic programs for students within New York and from around the world.
SUNY enrolls more than 376,534 students (44% in community colleges), has more than 90,000 employees, and has a projected all-funds budget in excess of $14 billion. The system annually receives upwards of $1 billion in sponsored research funds. SUNY is a significant force in higher education nationally with increasing global impact as well as a vital economic, social, and cultural engine for the State of New York. John B. King, Jr. is the 15th Chancellor of the SUNY System. Chancellor King served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the 10th US Secretary of Education. His service in Washington, DC, followed his tenure as New York State’s first African American and first Puerto Rican Education Commissioner, a role in which he oversaw all elementary and secondary schools, as well as public, independent, and proprietary colleges and universities, professional licensure, libraries, museums, and numerous other educational institutions.
About the Institution
Founded in 1871 as the Geneseo Normal and Training School, SUNY Geneseo is one of the original campuses of the SUNY system, established in 1948. It has evolved into a nationally recognized, selective public liberal arts college with undergraduate and graduate programs of study. SUNY Geneseo is proud of its status as New York State’s sole member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).
As part of its liberal arts mission, Geneseo prepares students to become responsible and engaged citizens who can assist the communities in which they live to become more diverse and inclusive, more globally aware, and more sustainable. As an indication of its success, for the twelfth consecutive year, Geneseo was included in Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings top five US master’s institutions for its contributions to the public good. The Princeton Review named SUNY Geneseo in their The Best 391 Colleges book for 2026 and as a Best Value College for 2025. Because of its mission and the quality of its educational programs, Geneseo attracts bright, inquisitive, highly motivated, and socially responsible students who make the most of the opportunities that college affords them. With a mean high school grade-point average of 92.38, Geneseo is the most selective of the SUNY comprehensive universities.
Living in the Area
SUNY Geneseo is set in the historic village of Geneseo, with approximately 7,700 residents, on land that originally belonged to the peoples who are now the Seneca Nation of Indians and Tonawanda Seneca Nation. The Genesee Valley is considered the jewel of Geneseo, with stunning landscapes of rolling hills, expansive vistas and lush farmlands. Located in the picturesque Finger Lakes region of Western NY, the scenic beauty offers a variety of year-round outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, fishing and other sports enjoyed in the surrounding lakes region.
In addition to local cafés, farmers’ markets, and unique shops, Geneseo’s location offers easy day trips to Niagara Falls; Toronto, Ontario; Buffalo, NY; and Rochester, NY. Beautiful Letchworth State Park, a top ranked nation’s Best State Parks, is within 10 miles of campus. Geneseo’s cost of living is 14.4% lower than the US average, and there are excellent, highly rated schools in the area, making it an ideal place for raising a family.
To Apply
For full consideration, please apply by October 6, 2025.
To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjyaotuc
Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.
Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.
Inquiries and questions: Please send to SUNYGeneseoDeanEducation@acesrch.com
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.
Institutional Information
SUNY Geneseo is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding students, faculty, staff, and administration. We recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all positions and ensure that all other personnel actions are conducted without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.
Applicants, students, employees, and other members of the College community (including vendors, visitors, and guests) are protected from illegal forms of harassment or retaliation based upon a protected characteristic.
To request accommodation or assistance for job-related duties or the employment application process, please contact the Office of Diversity and Equity at (585) 245-5020.
