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Position Overview
Rider University invites nominations and applications for the position of Inaugural Dean, Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts, an extraordinary leadership opportunity to shape the future of one of the nation’s most respected traditions in choral and performing arts education while advancing interdisciplinary programs in media, communications and creative industries.
Rider University seeks a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as the Inaugural Dean of the Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts. The successful candidate will be responsible for articulating a comprehensive unifying vision for the new college and developing strategies to address the challenges faced, particularly in programs in the performing arts and media, by higher education in the 21st century. This full-time position requires an experienced leader with expertise in music, performing arts and/or media.
The Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts will house two academic units: the School of Communications, Media & Performing Arts and the world-renowned Westminster Choir College. While this is a newly created college, its constituent programs are long-standing and well-established. The new college structure affirms the University’s recognition that communication, media, and the performing arts represent some of the University’s greatest strengths and vibrant areas for growth.
Programs housed within the School of Communications, Media & Performing Arts include Film & Television, Game & Interactive Media Design, Music Production, Journalism, Graphic Design, Sports Media, Musical Theatre, Arts & Entertainment Industries Management, and more. These programs are known for hands-on learning, high-quality student productions, and a new Student Media Center, which brings together Rider’s news, television, and award-winning radio programs.
Founded in 1926 by visionary conductor John Finley Williamson, Westminster Choir College has long been synonymous with artistic rigor, choral excellence, and professional preparation at the highest level. From its early years in Dayton, Ohio to its present home within Rider University, Westminster has cultivated generations of musicians, educators, composers, conductors, and arts leaders whose influence extends nationally and internationally. Programs include Voice Performance, Music Education, Choral Conducting, Sacred Music, Voice Pedagogy, and more.
Opportunities
The newly formed Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts stands at a defining institutional moment as Rider University builds upon its success in educating first generation college students through high-quality experiential learning opportunities. The inaugural Dean has the rare opportunity to shape the academic, artistic, and strategic identity of this newly configured college.
Key opportunities include:
- Articulating and implementing a bold, integrated vision that unifies music, media, communications, and the performing arts under a coherent academic and professional framework
- Positioning the new college as a distinctive national model for interdisciplinary arts education within a comprehensive university
- Strengthening and expanding relationships with alumni, arts organizations, media partners, donors, and foundations
- Developing and rejuvenating innovative undergraduate and graduate programs aligned with evolving creative industries
- Enhancing national visibility and brand recognition through artistic excellence, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurial initiatives
- Advancing a culture of equity, belonging, and student success across all programs
- Building philanthropic capacity and securing external funding to support scholarships, endowed positions, facilities, and programmatic growth
This role offers a visionary and experienced leader the chance to translate Westminster Choir College’s historic excellence into a contemporary platform for distinction and growth.
Reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, it is expected that the inaugural dean of the Westminster College of Media & Performing Arts will join a collaborative team of academic deans who work with the provost and leadership team in supporting the mission and goals of the University.
Specific duties will include:
Academic Leadership
- Provide strategic direction for all academic programs
- Lead new program development and interdisciplinary curricular innovation
Faculty and Staff Leadership
- Recruit, develop, evaluate, and support faculty and staff
- Provide direct oversight of administrative and support staff
- Promote effective shared governance practices
Student Advocacy and Success
- Serve as a visible advocate for students
- Advance initiatives that support recruitment, retention, completion, and career readiness
Budget and Resource Management
- Develop and manage the College budget
- Align financial planning with strategic goals
- Oversee responsible and equitable distribution of resources
Advancement and External Relations
- Partner with University Advancement on fundraising initiatives
- Cultivate alumni relationships and expand alumni engagement
- Serve as an ambassador for Westminster at local, national, and international levels
To apply for this position please visit RiderHires at https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/rideru/jobs/5286221/dean-westminster-college-of-media-performing-arts?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs
Please submit your CV and a cover letter that addressed how you meet the following qualifications and characteristics.
A Unifier and Visionary
- • Demonstrated ability to bring diverse constituencies together around a shared strategic vision
- • Capacity to integrate conservatory traditions with emerging interdisciplinary and media focused approaches
- • A strategic thinker who can translate ideas into measurable outcomes
A Leader with National Profile and Network
- • Established national reputation and professional network within relevant artistic, academic, and industry communities
- • Ability to leverage relationships to advance partnerships, visibility, and philanthropic support
An Experienced Academic Administrator
- • Proven success in academic affairs, including faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and promotion
- • Experience with interdisciplinary curriculum design and new program development
- • Knowledge of accreditation processes and standards
- • Familiarity with leadership in a unionized environment preferred
A Skilled Fundraiser and Relationship Builder
- • Demonstrated success in fundraising, donor cultivation, and grant development
- • Commitment to strengthening alumni engagement and external partnerships
A Strong Financial and Operational Leader
- • Significant budgeting and resource allocation experience
- • Commitment to equity-based decision making and transparent resource distribution
- • Ability to align financial stewardship with strategic priorities
A Values Driven Leader
- • Outstanding moral and ethical decision maker
- • Commitment to shared governance, collaboration, and inclusive excellence
- • Strong advocate for student success, faculty development, and staff engagement
Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience
The inaugural Dean will be a collaborative team player who honors Westminster’s historic legacy while advancing innovative, interdisciplinary approaches that position the College for sustained distinction and growth. The successful candidate will be an accomplished academic leader with a record of visionary leadership, administrative effectiveness, and national engagement in music, the performing arts, media, communications, and/or related disciplines. The ideal candidate holds a doctoral degree in their area of specialty and has a demonstrated record of scholarly accomplishment, ideally at the rank of Full Professor. Candidates holding a master’s degree with significant senior-level leadership experience and a record of distinction in relevant creative or media industries will also be considered. A minimum of five years of administrative experience is required, preferably 10 or more.
NOTE: The successful candidate for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Rider University is committed to fostering an inclusive, vibrant living and learning community that embraces students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and enables them to achieve success. Rider University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
