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The University of Texas at Austin (UT) seeks a renowned scholar and skilled administrator to serve as the next dean of the Jackson School of Geosciences. By virtue of its public mission, culture of innovation, location, size and rich history, UT is one of the highest-impact universities in the world. As the top public university in Texas and the flagship of The University of Texas System, UT is an influential catalyst for scientific, economic, and societal progress. As the chief academic and administrative officer of the largest geosciences program in the nation, the dean will provide strategic vision and operational leadership for all aspects of the Jackson School's academic enterprise, support and encourage excellence in research and scholarship and undergraduate and graduate education, and maintain a collaborative environment and community that supports the school's students, researchers, staff, faculty, and alumni.

Founded in 1883, the University's main campus spans 431 acres with a community of almost 54,000 students, 3,500 faculty, and more than 15,000 staff. The university's J.J. Pickle Research Campus is home to major research institutes and centers that include two of three units composing the Jackson School of Geosciences. In addition to its main and J.J. Pickle Research campuses, UT extends to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the McDonald Observatory in west Texas, the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, and several cultural and historic sites across the state.

The Jackson School of Geosciences at UT is among the most highly-regarded Earth science organizations in the world, with top-ranked programs in geology, geophysics, and paleontology, as well as leading programs in energy, water, and planetary science, among others. In addition, the school oversees large curated collections at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus and off-campus resources such as the White Family Outdoor Learning Center. The school consists of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, one of the country's oldest geoscience departments, and two world-renowned research units: the Institute for Geophysics and the Bureau of Economic Geology. The school has significant depth and breadth, with more than 5,000 alumni, 550 graduate and undergraduate students, 120 tenure-track and research faculty members, 110 research staff and postdoctoral scientists, and 140 staff members.

The Jackson School is both old and new. It traces its origins to a Department of Geology founded in 1888 but became a separate unit at the level of a college on September 1, 2005. The school's formation resulted from one of the most generous gifts in the history of higher education when the late John A. and Katherine G. Jackson bequeathed endowments and assets to the University presently valued at over $300 million.

In addition to providing financial and operational oversight to the school, the new dean will advance academic excellence and an inspiring vision for the future, deepen relationships across the University, and elevate the school's reputation globally. The successful candidate will also bring exceptional political savvy and financial acumen, be a passionate advocate for the school both inside UT and externally, and continue to foster a collegial and collaborative environment for the pursuit of an ambitious science agenda.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile.

For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by April 28, 2025.

Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search: Melody Rose, Ph.D., Suzanne Teer, and Randi Miller at UTAustinGeoSciDean@wittkieffer.com.

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