Dean of the School of Social Welfare (2024)

Dean Searches - Frequently Asked Questions

The University of California, Berkeley seeks a visionary, inspirational, and community-oriented leader to serve as the next Dean of Berkeley Social Welfare. 

Berkeley Social Welfare strives to counter the systems that perpetuate poverty and social disadvantage. The school develops effective leaders and scholars committed to solving complex social problems; produces, disseminates, and utilizes research to improve social-service delivery and policy through critical thinking and evidence-based knowledge; and prepares the next generation of culturally competent social workers, researchers, and teachers dedicated to serving the most vulnerable members of our society.

Established in 1944, with inaugural degrees in case work, medical social work, psychiatric social work, and public welfare administration, the school now confers undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees which prepare its students for careers in social work and social welfare. Berkeley Social Welfare alumni are abundant in the field and well-known for their professional readiness and success. Students have more than 200 local opportunities for field placements as well as summer service-learning experiences that are out-of-region or international. A strong partner and contributor to the field and the community, the school is home to ten distinguished centers, institutes, projects, and labs in which researchers and practitioners leverage their intellect and skills to benefit its students and the people in the surrounding Berkeley community. In addition, the school is deeply connected to many communities in non-profit, scholastic, and governmental agencies, shaping the field in important ways.

Reporting directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and sitting on the Council of Deans, the next Dean of Berkeley Social Welfare will join a strong, energetic faculty who are national leaders in research, teaching, and praxis. Joining the school at a pivotal moment, the next dean has the opportunity to elevate the school's influence and impact by developing an ambitious and exciting strategic vision and plan that advances it across multiple sectors: community partnerships, research, teaching, and preparing its graduates to become agents of social change. The new dean will re-energize philanthropic efforts, advocate for the unique needs of the school, strengthen the social fabric of the community, and ensure support for all faculty, students, and staff. 

The ideal candidate for this position should have a strong understanding of both research and praxis, experience in building internal partnerships and external collaborative coalitions with non-profit, community, and/or governmental agencies, and proven success in garnering resources and administering at an institution with complexities similar to the University of California, Berkeley. They will have a proven record of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. Candidates must possess the academic credentials and experience that qualify them for appointment as a full professor with tenure in the school.

For the full position profile, please visit: https://wittkieffer.com/positions/200026

To be considered as candidates, applicants must have an earned doctoral degree or equivalent international degree by the time of application and submit, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting the University of California, Berkeley in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by September 20, 2024.

Application materials should be sent to WittKieffer via email: BerkeleySocialWelfareDean@wittkieffer.com.  Applicants must also apply directly to UC Berkeley at https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04468

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Suzanne Teer, Robin Mamlet, Sandra Chu, and Kim Migoya

BerkeleySocialWelfareDean@wittkieffer.com

The posted University of California Deans’ Salary Bands (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/deans-sala...) set the pay ranges for deans. UC Berkeley’s Dean of the School of Social Welfare position is in Band 1: $199,700 - $509,900. The minimum salary that UC Berkeley expects to pay for this position is $360,000.

UC Berkeley offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, vision and retirement plans as well as moving, relocation, and housing assistance.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at UC Berkeley. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and academic and non-academic staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our academic positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

This position is a sensitive position and is subject to a criminal background check. 

Questions may be referred to Dana Jantz at jantz@berkeley.edu.

Dean of the School of Social Welfare Search Committee Roster 2024

  • David Wilson, Dean, Goldman School of Public Policy (committee chair)
  • Alagia Cirolia, MSW/PhD Student, Berkeley Social Welfare
  • Joyce Dorado, Teaching Professor & Associate Dean for Research-Practice Partnerships, Berkeley Social Welfare
  • Allison Harvey, Professor, Department of Psychology
  • Brandi Howard, President & CEO, East Bay Community Foundation
  • Dana Kowalski, Assistant Dean for Administration & Finance, Berkeley Social Welfare
  • Kurt Organista, Professor, Berkeley Social Welfare
  • Tina Sacks, Associate Professor, Berkeley Social Welfare
  • Carl Wayne, Executive Director of the Office of Gift Planning, University Development & Alumni Relations

Please direct questions about the search to Dana Jantz (jantz@berkeley.edu) or the WittKieffer consultant team BerkeleySocialWelfareDean@wittkieffer.com.