Dean, College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies

Working Title: Dean, College of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Studies

Classification Title: Administrator IV

Posting Details

Priority Application Date (Posting will remain open until filled): Sunday, September 28, 2025 @ 11:55pm PST

Position Summary

The Dean serves as a key member of the Provost’s academic leadership team and the chief academic and administrative officer and spokesperson for the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies at California State University, Sacramento.

The College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies encompasses multiple departments, centers, and institutes with faculty and students engaged in work addressing societal challenges including social justice, environmental sustainability, community health, economic development, and public policy. The college’s programs operate from both the main campus and downtown location, facilitating connections with state government, community organizations, and regional employers.

The Dean provides strategic academic and administrative leadership for the college’s programs and activities, supports faculty development and student success, and manages personnel and fiscal responsibilities. This includes oversight of programs at the downtown campus and representing the college in partnerships that serve students and the community.

The role requires managing complexity and multiple priorities while maintaining academic quality and supporting the college’s mission within the broader Sacramento region.

FLSA: Exempt (Not eligible for overtime compensation). This position is benefits-eligible.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $17,000 - $20,000 per month; commensurate with the candidate's education, experience, skills, and training.

CSU Classification Salary Range: $10,106 per month - $32,441 per month

Best-in-class Benefits: Click here to learn more

CSU Total Compensation: Click here to learn more

Salary Grade/Range: 1

Recruitment Type: At-Will

Time Base: Full-Time

Pay Plan: 12 months

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Work hours may vary depending on department need. Position is on-site.

Department Information

The College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (SSIS) provides a curriculum that examines human society in all aspects.

Curriculum focuses on such topics as relationships among individuals and groups, the functioning of the political system and economy, the nature and influence of culture, relationships among nations, and the relation of human society to the natural environment.

https://www.csus.edu/college/social-sciences-interdisciplinary-studies/

Required Qualifications

Education/Experience
Possession of an earned doctorate and eligibility for a senior faculty appointment within the College of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies or equivalent relevant experience that demonstrates commitment to academic excellence. Experience with shared faculty governance and collaborative decision-making that values diverse voices and perspectives; Strong teaching experience and record of research or scholarly activity in one or more of the disciplines in the College, with openness to innovative approaches to education; Experience with personnel and fiscal resource management with ability to think strategically and implement new initiatives; Experience with assessment of program learning outcomes and interest in implementing improvements that enhance student success; Experience with and commitment to interdisciplinary programs and scholarship that connects different fields of knowledge; Five years of administrative experience in a university setting, including experience as a department chair or equivalent leadership role.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
Leadership ability to articulate and support the mission of the College while advocating for programs and initiatives; Commitment to fostering inclusive environments where diverse faculty, staff, and students can thrive, with willingness to learn and implement equity-minded practices; Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to engage multiple stakeholder groups effectively; Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with ability to work collegially and collaboratively across differences; Ability and commitment to generate external funds through grants, partnerships, and other revenue streams, with willingness to develop expertise in this area; Commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, with interest in undergraduate and graduate education approaches that prepare students for success; Knowledge and experience with accreditation processes including disciplinary accrediting agencies; Evidence of community involvement and leadership in areas such as student recruitment, alumni relations, and fundraising; Commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents including faculty, students, staff, and members of the community.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

- Ability to pass background check

Preferred Qualifications

Entrepreneurial mindset with understanding of and enthusiasm for supporting the varied goals of college faculty and innovative academic programs; Champion of undergraduate and graduate research with experience developing robust student support programs and mentorship initiatives; Passion for Liberal Arts education and its transformative power in developing critical thinking and engaged citizenship; Knowledge of federal and state laws pertaining to the preservation or implementation of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Experience leading in unionized environments with expertise in collaborative approaches to collective bargaining and employee relations; Strategic visionary with ability to build on existing strengths while creating bold, forward-thinking plans for the College’s future; Experience in Community Engagement, Service Learning, and/or Global Education with innovative approaches to connecting academic work with real-world impact; Technology leadership with demonstrated understanding how to leverage emerging technologies to enhance instruction, research, and student engagement in meaningful ways.

Documents Needed to Apply (2)

• CV
• Cover Letter

Failure to upload required documentation may result in disqualification.

About Sacramento State

Sacramento State is located in the heart of California’s capital city, five miles from State Capitol. The lush, 300-acre campus is situated along the American River, close to numerous bike trails and other recreational areas. Sacramento, also known as the “Farm-to-Fork Capital,” is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in the country, with a population of half of a million. Sacramento State is a Hispanic and AANAPISI serving institution with about 31,000 students coming not only from the Greater Sacramento Region, but also from across the state, country, and world. Our 1,800 faculty and 1,500 staff are committed to meeting our mission:

“As California’s capital university, we transform lives by preparing students to lead, serve, and succeed. Sacramento State will be a welcoming, caring, and inclusive leader in education, innovation, and engagement.” As the regional hub of higher education, Sacramento State is dedicated to learning and student success ; teaching, research, scholarship and creative activity ; justice, diversity, equity and inclusion ; resource development and sustainability ; dedicated community engagement , and wellness and safety .

As evidenced by the values embedded in our Hornet Honor Code , Sacramento State is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all faculty, staff, students, and guests are welcome and valued. Our commitment is more than simply ensuring that our campus is free from bias and discrimination, but is one devoted to celebrating many diverse identities, life experiences, and perspectives that enrich our community, teaching and learning.

To learn more about why you should join the Hornet Family, please visit the Why Sac State? page.

Equal Employment Opportunity
California State University, Sacramento is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Sacramento State hires only those individuals who are lawfully authorized to accept employment in the United States.

It is the policy of California State University, Sacramento to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. If you need a disability related reasonable accommodation as part of the application and/or interviewing process, visit https://www.csus.edu/administration-business-affairs/human-resources/benefits/reasonable-accomodation.html .

The University is committed to creating an education and working environment free from discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. For more information on mandatory training for new employees, visit https://www.csus.edu/administration-business-affairs/human-resources/learning-development/support/csu-learn.html .

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Fire Safety Right-To-know Act Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act), the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at https://www.csus.edu/clery . The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Sacramento State for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request from the Office of Clery Compliance & Training by emailing clery@csus.edu .

Under the Clery Act, this position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) depending upon the role on campus and/or job duties. If this position is identified by the Director of Clery Compliance & Training as a CSA position, you will be notified via email and will be assigned the appropriate training in CSU Learn.

Background Check Disclaimer

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with California State University, Sacramento. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current California State University, Sacramento employees who apply for the position.

COVID19 Vaccination Policy

Effective May 2023, per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Policy , it is strongly recommended that all California State University, Sacramento employees who are accessing office and campus facilities follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications.

Out of State Employment

Sacramento State University, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees (up)on date of hire to reside in the State of California.

As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Eligibility Verification

Candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. California State University, Sacramento is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (ie. H-1-B Visa).

Note to Applicants:

Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview unless required by collective bargaining agreement.

Advertised: Aug 05 2025 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

• 

• CSU, Sacramento

• (916) 278-6326

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