The State University of New York State College of Optometry invites nominations and applications for the position of Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs.  The Dean is responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and development of all academic programs, college research activities, policies, personnel, facilities, planning, and budgets. The Dean oversees the curriculum development and implementation of the optometry and graduate degree programs, course, program, and faculty assessment, and faculty and staff hiring and development. 

The successful candidate must be an effective leader and communicator who works well with faculty, staff, and students.  Applicants should have substantial experience in teaching, research, scholarship, and administration.  A professional optometry degree is required (OD/PhD preferred). The Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs reports to the President.

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Leads the development of the college's academic vision and mission.
• Establishes goals and objectives of all academic programs.
• Leads efforts to assess and enhance all academic programs.
• Maximizes available resources to create, maintain, and promote an environment of academic excellence. Leads efforts to obtain grant funding to enhance programming.
• Oversees recruitment, development, assessment and retention of high-quality faculty and academic staff.
• Oversees the administration and supervision of the Library, Residency Program, Continuing Professional Education, Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Upstate Optometry Extension Program.
• Reports directly to the President and is a member of President’s Council, Clinic Council, and Clinical Education Council.
• Works with the Office of Diversity to establish a vision and plan to infuse the principles of inclusion and equity into the academic functions of the college.
• Works with the Office of Advancement to foster community and industry partnerships to support academic and research programs.
• Works with the Chief Medical Officer on clinical faculty and optometry student clinical scheduling in the University Eye Center.
• Maintains all ACOE and Middle States accreditation standards and assures compliance with NYSED and SUNY standards and regulations.
• Serves as the chief administrative officer for the College in the President's absence.
• Participates in the development of the College’s strategic vision, short- and long-range plans, goals and objectives.
• Assists the President with the development and implementation of various programs, campus initiatives, community engagements, and other duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications

• Must hold a professional optometry degree.
• OD/PhD
• Experienced working in academic administration.
• Experienced working with externally funded research programs.
• Has a strong record of experience in optometric education. 
• Experienced working with budget creation, allocation, and related decision making.
• Experienced working with institutional data analysis to support decision making.
• Experienced working with accreditation agencies and compliance.
• Possesses strong written, oral, and interpersonal communications skills.
• Possesses proven leadership and conflict resolution skills.
• Possesses a record of innovative program development and team building.
• Nationally recognized for educational, or research experience, or both.
• Experienced working with national optometric associations preferred.
• Experienced working with student recruitment and admissions preferred.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent describing relevant experience and goals for the position, include a statement affirming DEIB principals and how they will be implemented, a CV, and the names and contact information of three references. References will only be contacted in the final phase of the interviews with permission of the applicant. All applications will remain confidential until the public interview phase of the process.

Complete applications must be submitted by February 1, 2025 to:

https://sunyopt.peopleadmin.com/postings/2147

For confidential inquiries, contact:

Ms. Elaine Wells, MA, MLS, AHIP(D)

SUNY Distinguished Librarian

Search Committee Chair

ewells@sunyopt.edu

The State University of New York College of Optometry, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act employer. The College actively seeks applications from women, veterans, individuals with disability, members of underrepresented groups, or anyone that would enrich the diversity of the College.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.
 

About SUNY Optometry

Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites. SUNY Optometry is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools; its four-year professional degree program and residency programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association. All classrooms, research facilities and the University Eye Center, which is one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in midtown Manhattan.

Connections working at SUNY Optometry