Dean of Fine Arts

Posting Details

Posting Details

Logo Institution Northern State University Working Title Dean of Fine Arts Posting Number NFE03215P Department NSU-Provost Physical Location of Position (City) Aberdeen Posting Text

Northern State University seeks a collaborative, strategic, and student-centered leader to serve as Dean of the School of Fine Arts. This full-time administrative appointment provides academic, artistic, administrative, and external leadership for a vibrant regional center for the arts, including programs and opportunities in music, art, opera theatre, performance, art and music education, and community engagement.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will possess a terminal degree in a fine arts discipline (art or music), education, educational leadership or school administration, or a closely related field; significant leadership experience in education, higher education, fine arts administration, music education, or professional performing arts operations; and demonstrated success leading people, programs, budgets, schedules, events, and complex priorities. The successful candidate will have strong public speaking, written communication, presentation, advocacy, and relationship-building skills, as well as experience working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, governing boards, artists, musicians, educators, donors, and community stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will be a proven and innovative leader who can bridge K-12 music education, higher education instruction, executive administration, and professional performing arts operations. The successful candidate will be committed to student-centered leadership, academic excellence, artistic growth, community engagement, and the value of the fine arts in public life.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Administrative leadership experience at the dean, director, chair, superintendent, or comparable executive level;
• Experience with artistic operations, concert production, season planning, rehearsal and performance logistics, guest artists, venue coordination, or public arts programming;
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, advancement, stewardship, donor cultivation, alumni engagement, and external relations.

Responsibilities: The Dean will report to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs with the following responsibilities:

• Provide vision, leadership, and direction for the School of Fine Arts and its academic, artistic, performance-based, and community-centered programs.
• Support faculty and staff in advancing curriculum, student learning, creative activity, performance opportunities, accreditation-related goals, and overall program quality.
• Support faculty in their professional growth and development, including advancing exceptional teaching, across all faculty ranks.
• Advance fundraising and external relations through donor cultivation, alumni engagement, stewardship, arts advocacy, community networking, and mission-focused communication.
• Lead strategic planning, scheduling, resource allocation, personnel coordination, budget-conscious decision making, and operational follow-through for the School.
• Strengthen a collaborative culture focused on student success, faculty engagement, artistic excellence, accountability, innovation, and service to the University and region.
• Represent the School of Fine Arts to University leadership, the South Dakota Board of Regents system, alumni, donors, patrons, civic leaders, school partners, and regional arts organizations.
• Provide leadership for enrollment and program growth through recruitment, scholarships, retention, strategic partnerships, public performances, exhibitions, outreach events, and other opportunities to connect prospective students with the School of Fine Arts.
• Use enrollment, student success, program, financial, and other relevant data to identify opportunities, assess effectiveness, inform decisions, and guide the continued development of the School's academic programs.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with K-12 schools, arts educators, alumni, foundations, donors, patrons, boards, civic organizations, and regional arts communities.
• Coordinate effectively across academic departments, production teams, guest artists, venues, musicians, educators, students, and community stakeholders.
• Support artistic operations and public-facing arts experiences, including performances, exhibitions, events, and other opportunities that enhance student learning and community engagement.
• Lead individuals and teams in responding to student, University, and community needs, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, shared responsibility, and problem-solving across the University.
• Steward budgets and resources responsibly, advancing the needs and priorities of the School of Fine Arts within the context of Northern's broader priorities and the needs of students across the University.
• Serve as a collaborative member of the University's academic leadership team, working with fellow deans and the Provost to identify challenges, develop solutions, share resources and expertise, and provide thoughtful counsel to inform the Provost's decisions on behalf of Northern as a whole; take shared responsibility for implementing and communicating decisions once made.
• Advance policies, practices, partnerships, and initiatives that support Northern State University's mission and strategic direction while strengthening the contributions, visibility, and impact of the School of Fine Arts.

Posting Date 10/07/2026 Closing Date Open Until Filled Yes First Consideration Date 10/23/2026 Advertised Salary Duration of the Term 12 months If Other, describe duration Appointment Percent 100 Work Hours

Varies

Typical Hours Worked Per Week 40 Appointment Type Regular Faculty Status No Scope of Search External (includes Internal) If internal, define scope of search This position requires Travel, Overnight stays, Valid Drivers License If other, please indicate Department Description and Cultural Expectations

About the School of Fine Arts: The NSU School of Fine Arts is a vibrant and growing regional center for the arts. Students and faculty are focused on creating, performing, teaching, interpreting, and thinking critically about the arts. The School includes opportunities in art, music, opera theatre, performances, galleries, scholarships, internships, student organizations, and community engagement. The Dean will help sustain and expand collaborative cultural and academic opportunities for students, faculty, alumni, arts educators, and the public.

Values: Northern State University is committed to building a welcoming culture of belonging and collegiality that respects diversity in knowledge, culture, and worldview. Northern seeks people who will engage with individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives to increase awareness, understanding, respect, and opportunity for all.

Setting: Northern State University is a premier regional comprehensive university characterized by outstanding instruction, strong community relations, and excellent co-curricular opportunities. NSU is located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, a vibrant community in northeastern South Dakota and a cultural, retail, banking, agribusiness, and healthcare hub for the region. The University enjoys a positive relationship with the city and surrounding region and continues to experience transformative momentum through investment in academic programs, facilities, and student opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Northern State University is committed to building a welcoming culture of belonging and collegiality that respects diversity in knowledge, culture and world view. Northern seeks faculty and staff who will engage with individuals of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives to increase awareness, understanding, respect and opportunity for all.

Contact Information

Application: Applicants should submit a letter of interest addressing the principal qualifications for the position, a curriculum vitae or resume, contact information for professional references, and any additional materials requested by Northern State University. Review of applications will begin as posted and continue until the position is filled. Priority deadline for application consideration is October 23, 2026. All applicants are subject to a background check. Northern State University is committed to equal opportunity in employment, admissions, and services. Apply today at www.northern.edu/careers

Working Conditions

Cognitive Requirements

Please check the appropriate response that describe the cognitive requirements for this position. Analyzing, Comprehend, Frequent Change, Intense Customer Interaction, Logic, Memory, Multiple Priorities, Multiple Stimuli, Pace-fast, Perform calculations, Reading, Reasoning, Verbal Communication, Written Communication

Protective Clothing/Equipment

Please check the appropriate response for this position's use of the following protective clothing or equipment. If other protection is used please identify

Physical Requirements

Please designate the physical requirements of this position Driving, Fine Finger Manipulation (keyboarding, pipefitting, bench work, etc), Lifting light, Repetitive Motion, Sitting for sustained periods of time, Standing for sustained periods of time, Use Both Hands, Use of Either Hand, Independently, Walking, Wrist Movement (twisting or rotating) Describe any of the conditions selected

Sensory Requirements

Please check the appropriate response that describe the sensory requirements for this position. Color Vision, Hearing, Near Vision, Speaking, Vision (With and without corrective lenses)

Working Conditions & Exposures

Working Conditions or Exposures (or potential exposures) that this position may encounter during the course of the work day. Vaccination recommended due to potential occupational exposure, Walking/Standing on wood, metal or concrete Please describe, in more detail, any of the conditions checked above

Working Environment

Check the appropriate box(es) that best describes the environment in which the primary function of the position is performed. Classroom Environment, Office Environment If you have indicated Other Environment, if work tasks involve one or more of the above, or if further explanation is necessary, please use the space provided.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Reference List

Optional Documents