Recruit
Dean, Division of Undergraduate Education
Position overview
Position title: Dean, Division of Undergraduate EducationApplication Window
Open date: September 2, 2026
Next review date: Friday, Oct 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Sep 1, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) seeks an experienced, strategic, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). The Dean will play a pivotal role in leading an innovative teaching and learning community where undergraduate students, regardless of background, fully achieve their academic goals. The Dean will join the Division at a time primed for strategic integration and alignment to foster a supportive and enriching academic experience for students.
The Dean of Undergraduate Education reports directly to the Executive Vice Chancellor and provides campuswide leadership to advance excellence, equity, and innovation in undergraduate education. The Dean is responsible for shaping and implementing initiatives that enhance the quality, effectiveness, and accessibility of undergraduate learning across colleges, divisions, schools, and disciplines.
To be successful, the Dean will address the following opportunities and challenges, outlined in greater detail below:
Academic Leadership & Program Development
Provide academic leadership in the development, enhancement, and delivery of undergraduate academic programs—including new interdisciplinary programs, across colleges, divisions, schools, and disciplines. Promote curriculum innovation and reform and strengthen academic support services for undergraduate students.
Accreditation & Academic Policy
Serve as the campus Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and lead the campus through reaffirmation of accreditation reviews. Serve as the undergraduate liaison with the Academic Senate’s Education Policy, Undergraduate Council, and other committees to promote academic excellence by assessing existing academic programs and services and initiating new ones and advising on implications of academic policy changes.
Governance & Collaboration
Lead and/or serve on task forces and committees to develop, plan, and coordinate short and long-range academic planning initiatives that enhance undergraduate education.
• Convene and engage with department vice chairs for education, college provosts, and faculty to identify and implement strategies that improve undergraduate education.
• Collaborate with the Teaching + Learning Commons, academic advisors, and Career Services to ensure students receive holistic and effective advising.
• Partner with the Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs & Campus Life (VCSA-CL) and Organizational Transformation (VC-OT) and other campus leaders on enrollment management, registrar services, and student success initiatives.
Oversight of Colleges, Teaching + Learning Commons & Programs
Oversee the operation of the undergraduate colleges, including the College Business Office, supervision of the College Provosts and decanal reviewer and/or approver of academic appointments associated with the College Writing Programs and College Core Courses; and working collaboratively to resolve Student Code of Conduct, staff human resources, financial and other issues that may arise in the colleges.
Convene the academic department vice chairs for education to discuss strategies for improving undergraduate education.
Provide counsel and guidance to academic advisors across colleges, divisions, schools, and programs. Coordinate with Career Services to provide students with a holistic advising experience.
Oversee undergraduate instruction in the state-funded Summer Session and coordinate the Summer Graduate Teaching Scholars program.
Provide oversight to the UC San Diego faculty directors of the Educational Abroad Program (EAP), the UC Washington program, and the UC Center Sacramento.
Ensure compliance with legal obligations associated with the Office for Students with Disabilities.
Oversee the Academic Integrity Office function, ensuring appropriate collaboration with VCSA-CL/Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education (SAGE).
Oversee the Teaching + Learning Commons, and its faculty director, to provide instructional development and support for educators and comprehensive academic support for students.
Campus & Systemwide Representation
Serve as a liaison with departments, academic programs, Associated Students, UC San Diego committees, UC San Diego administrators, and with administrators at the Office of the President, other universities both within and outside UC, and university associations on undergraduate education matters. Represent the campus systemwide Council of Vice Provosts and Deans for Undergraduate Education.
Collaborate with AVC Enrollment Management to advise registrar services. Chair or serve on the Strategic Classroom Advisory Committee, ensuring that classroom needs (technology, refurbishment, etc.) are elevated and addressed.
Collaborate with EVC Office colleagues on undergraduate education innovation and program assessment.
Collaborate with VCSA-CL and VC-OT units, the Teaching + Learning Commons, and academic departments and programs to track progress and ensure the academic success of undergraduate students.
Participate in the deliberation of enrollment management issues in collaboration with the EVC, Academic Senate, and AVC Enrollment Management.
The Dean is responsible for ensuring an inclusive community of scholars and a diverse teaching and learning environment, in alignment with UC Regents Policy 4400, where all members of our community can fully participate and thrive.
This search is being managed by Isaacson, Miller; nominations, referrals and inquires can be directed to Luciano Zuniga, lzuniga@imsearch.com. Applications must be submitted to the search firm site at Isaacson, Miller. Applicants must also apply and provide the required materials via this posting by November 13, 2026 for maximum consideration.
Qualifications
• Possess an earned doctorate or terminal degree.
• A distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service appropriate for an appointment as a tenured full professor in one of the university’s schools, which span the disciplines of the arts and humanities; the social, natural, marine, and data sciences; engineering, management, medicine, pharmacy, public policy, and public health.
• Proven experience as a senior academic administrator.
While no one person will likely embody all of the professional qualifications, skills, experiences and personal qualities desired for this role, the successful candidate will bring many of the following:
• Demonstrated leadership in fostering academic excellence and advancing undergraduate education, including curriculum development, program assessment, and student success initiatives.
• A strong commitment to the vision for the future of undergraduate education at UC San Diego; and capability to stimulate new directions, to promote existing resources to the best advantage, and to build for the future.
• The demonstrated commitment to enhance and elevate infrastructure and processes that support student success and academic achievement across the undergraduate student population.
• Proven administrative experience in managing academic operations, personnel, and budgets.
• Excellent communication skills, including strong skills in written communication, report preparation, and data-informed decision-making.
• The demonstrated ability to expand collaboration within and beyond UC San Diego.
• The demonstrated ability to lead an agile, collaborative, and mission-driven team of high-performing professionals.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and innovative educational environment.
• Possess a comprehensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and governance of UC San Diego and the University of California.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Letter of Interest/Cover Letter
The search firm will contact applicants selected to be interviewed to collect their reference information. Results of the findings will be shared privately with the EVC.
Help contact: cegrant@ucsd.edu
About UC San Diego
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
As a university employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.
The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at: https://www.police.ucsd.edu/docs/annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
Click for more information on Assembly Bill-810
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• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH]
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties: [https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination]