Dean of the School of Optometry, Indiana University

at  Emergency Medicine of Indiana

POSITION SUMMARY

Indiana University (IU) seeks an eminent and accomplished leader to serve as the next Dean of the IU School of Optometry (IUSO). IUSO is a national leader in optometric education, clinical training, and vision science research. The mission of IUSO is to protect, advance, and promote the vision, eye care, and health of people worldwide by preparing individuals for careers in optometry, the ophthalmic industry, and vision science, while advancing knowledge through teaching, research, and service.
Formed in the 1950’s, IUSO is currently home to 40 faculty, more than 80 staff, and 320 current students, along with an extensive adjunct faculty network within externships and residency programs. IUSO boasts more than 4,000 living alumni, including many prominent individuals in the profession.
The school operates the Atwater Eye Care Center in Bloomington and the Indianapolis Eye Care Center on IU’s Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus, both servicing their immediate areas and several outreach programs in southern Indiana and Indianapolis. The school’s strong professional, research, and graduate programs take advantage of the opportunities for interdisciplinary studies with other units in the University, including the Schools of Public Health, department of Ophthalmology, basic science departments, and the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering’s intelligent systems engineering. IUSO offers the degrees of Doctor of Optometry, Bachelor of Science in Optometry, and master’s and PhD in Vision Science.
The next Dean will provide strategic leadership for the academic and administrative activities of IUSO, further its legacy of intellectual contributions and ongoing impact, and develop new streams of support for IUSO’s diversity of scholarship, depth of student excellence, and service to communities. The new dean will be a compelling public face of IUSO, have a sophisticated understanding of the scholarly enterprise, demonstrate a record of collaborative leadership, bring vigor and passion for the IUSO’s educational, research, and service mission, have significant depth of managerial experience, and be an effective fundraiser. The Dean will also serve on the Bloomington Provost’s leadership team and play an important role in shaping and executing on institutional priorities.
Detailed information on IUSO can be found at the IUSO website.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

For the IU School of Optometry Dean, Indiana University seeks an exceptional leader who is passionate about the IUSO mission, committed to its standards of excellence, and optimistic about its future potential.
The University is open to considering candidates from all parts of the world and who may have been shaped by a variety of experiences, including leadership in the academic, private, professional, military, nonprofit, and government sectors. The position calls above all for a distinguished scholar who possesses vision, breadth, and sound judgment; proven intellectual leadership skills; a deep commitment to academic traditions of scholarship and of shared governance; recognition as a thought leader; an enthusiasm for and experience with fundraising; demonstrated financial and staff management experience; a deep understanding of the mission of an academic research enterprise; and a collaborative leadership style that can motivate all participants within a mission-driven culture.
An O.D. or equivalent degree is required. A Ph.D. degree is preferred. Candidates should have a record of successful scholarship, teaching, and service activities that would qualify them to hold a tenured faculty position at Indiana University.

While no one person will likely embody all the professional qualifications, skills, experiences, and personal qualities desirable in this role, the successful candidate will bring many of the following:

• A record of distinguished scholarship, including a substantial record of academic and professional publication
• A deep commitment to IUSO academic values and its mission to connect pedagogy, scholarship, practice, and public service to prepare students for careers in optometry, vision science, or the ophthalmic profession
• Demonstrated knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education today
• Fundraising enthusiasm and experience
• A leadership style that influences the community to identify and face challenges; that is adaptable, inclusive, and decisive
• Financial acumen and proven abilities in budgetary and financial management
• A track record as an effective manager of people with a management style built upon respect, communication, collaboration, and fairness
• An entrepreneurial and creative spirit
• A reputation for integrity, transparency, accountability, and enthusiasm
• Interpersonal skills that enable effective relationships with all stakeholders, including other University leaders, alumni, advisory boards, professional officials, and leaders in the ophthalmic industry
• Superior written and oral communication skills

The Dean is the School of Optometry’s chief executive officer with core responsibilities including:

• Articulating to faculty, students, staff, and alumni the core values of the school: excellence, diversity, collegiality, integrity, and professionalism
• Generating a vision and strategic plan for moving the school forward, in conjunction with IUSO stakeholders and in alignment with IUB2030, which outlines the institutional goals for the next decade
• Assuring academic excellence in hiring, promotion, and tenure of faculty
• Assuring excellence in teaching programs
• Assuring excellence in research
• Assuring excellence in faculty governance through school and campus committees
• Meeting the standards of optometric education as proscribed by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education
• Financial stewardship of the school and its associated clinics
• Assembling a team of associate deans and professional staff that carry out the principles and policies of the school and university within academic affairs, fiscal affairs, student administration, clinics, graduate studies, and development
• Forging academic connections with other schools and departments within the university
• Serving as a part of the institutional leadership team, promoting the school and integrating campus and university resources to further support the mission of IUSO
• Maintaining productive relationships with alumni and the local, national and global communities of vision scholars, researchers, and practitioners
• Organizing fundraising efforts that support implementation of the strategic plan, in conjunction with the Indiana University Foundation, alumni, and the Dean’s Development Counci

While no one person will likely embody all the professional qualifications, skills, experiences, and personal qualities desirable in this role, the successful candidate will bring many of the following:

• A record of distinguished scholarship, including a substantial record of academic and professional publication
• A deep commitment to IUSO academic values and its mission to connect pedagogy, scholarship, practice, and public service to prepare students for careers in optometry, vision science, or the ophthalmic profession
• Demonstrated knowledge of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education today
• Fundraising enthusiasm and experience
• A leadership style that influences the community to identify and face challenges; that is adaptable, inclusive, and decisive
• Financial acumen and proven abilities in budgetary and financial management
• A track record as an effective manager of people with a management style built upon respect, communication, collaboration, and fairness
• An entrepreneurial and creative spirit
• A reputation for integrity, transparency, accountability, and enthusiasm
• Interpersonal skills that enable effective relationships with all stakeholders, including other University leaders, alumni, advisory boards, professional officials, and leaders in the ophthalmic industry
• Superior written and oral communication skill