Georgia State University is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the Director of the School of Music. Located within the College of the Arts at our vibrant research university in downtown Atlanta, the School of Music offers an exciting opportunity to lead a thriving program dedicated to excellence in music. The next Director will play a central role in contributing to Georgia State’s strategic goals of highlighting the arts and media as vital to the quality of all major cities and demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic and career success at high rates. Our faculty and students take advantage of facilities that include the 833-seat Rialto Center for the Arts, the 400-seat Kopleff Recital Hall, and the Aderhold Learning Center.
Located in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia State University School of Music enrolls more than 450 undergraduate and graduate-level students in numerous concentrations including: performance, music education, music management, music production and audio recording, composition, instrumental and choral conducting, and jazz studies. Its faculty cohort is comprised of more than 70 dedicated performers, teachers, and scholars, and enjoys a strong reputation for high-level research and creative activities.
The School of Music is a part of the College of the Arts, which was established in 2016 and also includes the Welch School of Art & Design, the School of Film, Media & Theatre, The Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Office of Educational Outreach. In addition to offering some of the University’s most popular majors, the College connects faculty and students with Atlanta’s thriving arts scene and booming film and music industries.
Georgia State University is a national leader in using innovation to drive student success and research growth. The University provides its world-class faculty and almost 55,000 students significant research, teaching, and learning opportunities in one of the country’s global cities. In its 2025 edition of Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Georgia State University as the top public university for Undergraduate Teaching for the fifth straight year, and it continues to rank the institution among the Most Innovative. GSU is one of the most diverse campuses in the country boasting a 75% minority enrollment.
The Director of the School of Music, reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts, plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic and operational success of the School. The Director will be an innovative, inspiring, and creative leader who can work within a diverse and dynamic cohort of faculty in creating and implementing a vision for a cutting-edge 21st-century music school in a leading urban university. This leader will not only manage the administrative and financial aspects of the unit but also drive its strategic vision, fostering an inclusive and vibrant musical environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Academic Leadership:
- Oversee course assignments and instructional workload to ensure high-quality education.
- Manage scheduling to optimize faculty resources and student learning experiences.
- Foster faculty mentoring programs, supporting professional development and growth.
- Administrative Excellence:
- Direct the appointments, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review processes—as well as annual reviews—to uphold academic standards and faculty excellence.
- Supervise staff development initiatives, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
- Strategic Planning & Budgeting:
- Develop and implement a strategic plan that aligns with the School’s mission and goals.
- Manage budgeting processes, ensuring responsible allocation of resources and financial sustainability.
- Community Engagement:
- Act as a liaison to other academic units within the College and University, promoting collaboration and interdisciplinary initiatives.
- Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including alumni, academic institutions, policy organizations, foundations, and private donors, to enhance support for the School.
SALARY:
Competitive and commensurate with experience and rank at time of hire
QUALIFICATIONS:
Essential Qualifications
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The successful candidate will have:
- An established record of scholarly and/or artistic distinction, teaching, and service to warrant appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure at Georgia State University.
- Significant successful administrative experience in higher education.
- Experience with promotion and tenure assessment, personnel and budget management, curriculum development, and accreditation in higher education.
Preferred Qualifications
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The ideal candidate will:
- Be a visionary leader who understands the role and possibilities of a 21st-century music program located in a major metropolitan city.
- Demonstrate a commitment to musical excellence, scholarly rigor, shared governance, collegiality, and engagement with faculty in strategic planning and decision-making.
- Have extensive experience in the recruitment, retention, enrollment management, and graduation success of a diverse student body.
- Have a proven track record in recruiting and mentoring a diverse, inclusive, and supportive faculty cohort that excels both in student instruction and within their individual professional endeavors.
- Demonstrate commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, success in community outreach with local and civic arts organizations, and a history of effective fundraising and donor development.
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. To ensure consideration, please submit all materials by December 1, 2024.
To Apply, please submit:
- A cover letter/letter of application addressing qualifications specific to this announcement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Other Document 1: A one-page statement articulating your vision for a School of Music in a large metropolitan area in the 21st century
- Other Document 2: List of five (5) additional references who can be contacted directly. Include name, email address, and phone number. These references should be different fromthe three (3) reference entries in the application.
Questions concerning the search may be directed to the committee chair, Dr. Lara Dahl, Pincipal Lecturer of Applied Oboe and School of Music Graduate Director at [email protected].
Georgia State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or protected veteran status in its programs, services, activities, employment, and/or admissions. Additionally, the University promotes equal employment opportunity for women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans through its affirmative action program.
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at
https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.