Call for Nominations - Interim Dean, Division of Data Science

January 9, 2017

Dear Colleagues,

The University of California, Berkeley, invites nominations and applications for the full-time position of Interim Dean of the newly created Division of Data Science. The term of office commences upon appointment, which may be as early as February 15, 2017. The end date may depend on the appointment of a permanent Dean, but will occur no later than June 30, 2018. This is an internal search restricted to those who have attained the rank of Professor at UC Berkeley.

The new Division is the next step in a campus-wide initiative in data science, broadly construed, as detailed in the December 19, 2016 announcement of Chancellor Dirks et al. (https://calmessages.berkeley.edu/archives/message/45066). At this time, the Division of Data Science cuts across the entire campus, with its ultimate structure yet to be determined.

Top candidates for this position will present records of academic distinction in fields constituting or related to Data Science. The ideal candidate will have an appreciation of the breadth and directions of research and education in Data Science. She or he will also possess skills and experiences relevant to overseeing the development of a new unit and curriculum; in particular, she or he must be able to work with faculty, students, staff, administrators, and external constituencies to develop a vision and a strategy for the future and possess a record of strong administrative skills. She or he will have a record of supporting diversity and a commitment to promoting equity and inclusion for faculty, students, and staff.

The Interim Dean’s responsibilities include fostering a cooperative atmosphere among the relevant faculties; working with the administration to form an advisory board with representation of key external constituencies; and recruiting a team of faculty members who will work with her or him to develop the new initiative. Such development includes designing an undergraduate curriculum, including a major, minors, and concentrations; designing a faculty recruitment plan (in consultation with other deans) that can be considered in the current FTE allocation cycle; and initiating consideration of possible graduate-level offerings. The Interim Dean will work with the administration on a search for a dedicated development officer and on fund-raising efforts in concert with broader campus fund-raising objectives. The Interim Dean attends Council of Deans meetings and reports directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost.

Nominations must be received by January 23, 2017. An individual may self-nominate by sending a letter of intent to apply by that date; the search committee welcomes applications from all interested parties. All nominations and applications will be kept confidential. To be considered as candidates, nominees and applicants must submit statements of interest and CVs by the closing date of February 8, 2017.

Nominations or applications should be sent to:

Chair, Data Science Interim Dean Search Committee
Office of the Vice Provost for the Faculty

Electronic submissions should be sent to:
datascience.deansearch@berkeley.edu

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This position is a sensitive position and is subject to a criminal background check. Questions may be referred to Carolyn Capps at (510) 642-6474 or capps@berkeley.edu.

Sincerely,

Carol T. Christ
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost