Expressive Therapies Department Chair at Lesley University – Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lesley University is seeking an Expressive Therapies Department Chair, who will report to an Associate Provost of Mental Health & Wellbeing. The Department Chair is a member of the University’s academic administrative team and provides leadership for departmental curricula while shepherding an academic vision in alignment with the University’s goals and objectives. This position plays a key role in mentoring faculty on successful pedagogical strategies, while also guiding faculty to promote the University’s strategic framework and policies at the departmental level. The Department Chair is responsible for the management and coordination of curriculum to ensure programs are consistently delivered with regard to content, timing, modality, and quality.

In collaboration with the Associate Provost, the Department Chair manages course scheduling and rotations, faculty assignments, departmental and student issues, and institutional initiatives. Working closely with Advising, the Department Chair ensures that consistent and accurate program information is communicated to students, while providing guidance on course registration and/or course substitutions as needed. The Department Chair also advises the Associate Provost on matters related to faculty evaluation, leads department meetings, participates in faculty recruitment activities, and partners with Marketing to support targeted outreach initiatives to prospective students.

The Department Chair is charged with ensuring that academic programs are compelling in the marketplace and meet defined standards of academic quality. They will lead and oversee the departmental plan for continuous assessment of program outcomes, including those related to accreditation, while modeling leadership behaviors that promote inclusion, belonging, and respect for all. Throughout their work, the Department Chair maintains a climate of professionalism, responsibility, creativity, and innovation in support of the Expressive Therapies departmental goals and student outcomes.

A successful candidate will have:

• A minimum of a Master's degree in Expressive Therapies or a related field (required); PhD or terminal degree (preferred).

• Comprehension of relevant state and national professional licensure and certification requirements and processes.

• Demonstrated expertise and experience in assessing the pedagogical quality of academic programs, including academic planning, curriculum review, evaluation and development, and professional accreditation or certification, as applicable.

• Ability to diplomatically tackle difficult topics and conventional thinking in a respectful and productive manner.

• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a culture of continuous improvement, experimentation, measurement, and learning.

• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work with diverse community.

• Excellent analytical, communication, problem solving and organizational skills

Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in the human arts of education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 6,400 students and 90,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance. In addition, we offer significant paid time off, a generous retirement plan, and tuition programs that enable employees and their dependents to expand their knowledge and skills.

Lesley is committed to the ongoing pursuit of strategic diversity initiatives that help to position diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental to institutional and academic excellence at Lesley. In doing so, Lesley strives for a campus culture and community that fosters a true sense of belonging for all, provides opportunity for everyone to participate equally and fully in the Lesley experience, and helps to develop each individual's capacity to confidently and competently engage within and across difference. Given an evolving national context and the rapid change in the demographic profile of our country, the University has made a significant commitment to addressing and enhancing its campus climate and diversity capabilities as an institution.

A letter of interest, CV/resume, and a statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, professional activity, and/or service must be included for full consideration.

At Lesley University we strive for a supportive and equitable environment where people -- regardless of race, ethnicity, color, sex, physical ability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in uniformed services, and all other categories protected by applicable state and federal laws -- can participate equally and fully as their true selves in all aspects of university life. Accordingly, the University prohibits discrimination based on these protected categories in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admission and in employment. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of our institution. Individuals may submit concerns or questions related to discrimination to the University's Director of Equal Opportunity. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity's webpage for the University's entire notice of nondiscrimination and for additional information.

Lesley University Core Faculty positions are governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). To view our compensation targets for this position, please visit this link.