Kent State University School of Library and Information Science
Director of the School of Library and Information Science
Kent State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the School of Library and Information Science. The successful candidate will be a dynamic leader and a creative, entrepreneurial visionary realizing the School’s current initiatives and fostering an innovative and productive school of library and information science that educates professionals, leaders, scholars and active participants for the knowledge economy.
Qualifications
The successful candidate should have:
* a PhD in Library and Information Science, or other related field;
* a research and teaching record appropriate to appointment at the rank of professor;
* demonstrated leadership skills related to management of academic or related programs, including an understanding of business models, financial management, and distance learning through a variety of formats and platforms;
* a collaborative management style, with effectiveness in change management;
* creative, entrepreneurial, and inclusive leadership abilities;
* a commitment to academic excellence and student success;
* an ability to recruit, sustain, and retain faculty and staff;
* an ability to effectively represent the School within the College and University, to prospective and current students, to alumni, and to external organizations, agencies, and other stakeholders;
* a commitment to diversity.
The School of Library and Information Science:
* is one of the largest professional library and information science programs in North America, with 650 graduate students across 5 program sites in Ohio and thriving online and distance components;
* is recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the nation’s top 20 graduate schools in the field, and the youth librarianship program is ranked 13th;
* offers the only American Library Association accredited Master’s degree program (MLIS) in Ohio, with strengths ranging from traditional library careers such as public librarianship, children's & young adult, K-12 school libraries, and organization of information to digital libraries, digital preservation and museum studies;
* is the home of two degrees: the Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) (http://www.slis.kent.edu) and the multidisciplinary Master of Science (MS) in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (http://iakm.kent.edu);
* offers the MLIS program at two campuses, Kent and Columbus (housed in the State Library of Ohio), with facilities that are newly renovated and expanding, and throughout the State with the 1212-12 Distance Learning program and many online offerings;
* offers concentrations in Health Informatics, Knowledge Management and User Experience Design through the IAKM program, with many online offerings;
* engages in entrepreneurial activities such as state-wide availability of the MLIS program and the development of ScanPath, a usability lab that supports Ohio businesses by helping them establish an effective web presence;
* is characterized by a creative, innovative, diverse, collegial, collaborative and highly productive faculty, with an excellent record in scholarship and grantsmanship;
* is a member of a dynamic, unique college, the College of Communication and Information (CCI), whose other schools are Communication Studies (Comm Studies), Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC), and Visual Communication Design (VCD), with demonstrated success in collaboration and inter-disciplinary research;
* offers doctoral studies through the CCI interdisciplinary doctoral program;
* is a leader on campus in the use of information technologies for pedagogical innovations and online course delivery, having its own instructional support staff as well as student services staff.
Kent State University:
* is a comprehensive graduate and undergraduate University;
* is in the top 200 best universities worldwide (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/worlduniversity-rankings/);
* is located in Kent, Ohio, within 45 minutes of Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown;
* is the second largest university in Ohio, with an enrollment of more than 41,000 students on its eight campuses.
Kent State University is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community. This is one of several core values we embrace as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of Ohio, the nation, and our world. Our diverse community reflects the unique strengths and abilities, which contribute to our pursuit of Inclusive Excellence in Action.
Salary is competitive and benefits are excellent (KSU offers a full range of benefits: http://www.kent.edu/hr/forms/benefits/upload/bene-brief-ft-2010-revision.pdf). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but the preferred starting date is July 1, 2011.
A letter of interest and vitae should be submitted online at https://jobs.kent.edu/. Names of at least three references should be provided with the application. Preliminary interviews will be held at ALISE in January 2011.
For additional information, questions or nominations, interested parties should contact:
School of Library and Information Science
Kent State University
P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001
330-672-0012
OR
Professor Jeff Fruit, Chair, SLIS Director Search Committee Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Kent State University
P.O. Box 5190 Kent OH 44242-0001
330-672-2572