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 who can realize the school’s current initiatives and foster 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 will have the following:

• a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science or 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 demonstrated commitment to diversity.

Salary and Benefits

Kent State offers competitive salaries and excellent benefits. See benefit

details at

http://www.kent.edu/hr/forms/benefits/upload/bene-brief-ft-2012.pdf.

The School of Library and Information Science at Kent State University:

• is one of the largest professional library and information science programs in North America, with 650 graduate students at two 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, with a youth librarianship program that is ranked 13th;

• offers the only American Library Association accredited master’s degree program (M.L.I.S.) in Ohio, with strengths in various disciplines, including, for example, public librarianship, children's and young adult, K-12 school libraries, organization of information, digital libraries, digital preservation and museum studies; • is home to two degree programs: the Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) and the multidisciplinary Master of Science (M.S.) in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management;

• offers the M.L.I.S. program at two locations, Kent and Columbus (housed in the State Library of Ohio), with newly renovated and expanding facilities, and online through eDegree: The Online M.L.I.S.;

• 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 statewide availability of the M.L.I.S. 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, research 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 VisualCommunication Design (VCD), with demonstrated success in collaboration and interdisciplinary 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, with instructional support staff as well as student services staff;

• boasts more than 60 years of continued growth and success.

Read more about SLIS at www.kent.edu/SLIS.

Kent State University:

• is a comprehensive graduate and undergraduate university; • ranks among the

top 200 best universities worldwide, according to Times Higher Education

(http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-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 43,000 students on its eight campuses;

• ranks among the nation's 77 public research universities demonstrating a high level of research activity and among the top 76 colleges and universities in community engagement, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Read more about Kent State University at www.kent.edu.

How to Apply:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but the preferred starting date is July 1, 2012.

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 2012.

Contact Information:

For additional information, questions or nominations, contact:

Athena Salaba, Ph.D., Associate Professor School of Library and Information

Science Kent State University P.O. Box 5190 Kent, OH 44242-0001

330-672-0023

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OR

Jeff Fruit, Chair, SLIS Director Search Committee Director, School of

Journalism and Mass Communication Kent State University P.O. Box 5190 Kent OH

44242-0001

330-672-2572

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Kent State University supports equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity in education and employment.  Applications from minoritygroup members and women are strongly encouraged.