Professor, Director of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs

About the role

The Director of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) at Indiana University Northwest is sought. The position requires a leader with expertise in criminal justice, public administration, public health, health policy, non-profit management, or environmental policy. The Director will provide strategic leadership, steward resources, build partnerships, and foster academic excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, fostering a culture of academic excellence, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Steward resources in a transparent environment.
• Build strategic relationships and partnerships with the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
• Develop, manage, and oversee the school's budget, including preparation of annual budget requests, regular monitoring of revenue and expenditures, and ensuring effective allocation of resources to support academic priorities.
• Cultivate revenue-generating opportunities, including but not limited to grants & donor relationships.
• Foster the development, evaluation, and retention of staff.
• Ensure academic excellence of programs, lead assessment and accreditation efforts within the school.
• Support high-quality teaching, research, and service.
• Manage faculty personnel processes within the school, as well as oversee management of personnel issues to include recruitment, performance management, development, and advancement, in support of teaching, research, and service.
• Direct, manage, and guide NASPAA accreditation processes to ensure the continued accreditation of the MPA program.
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate curriculum development, class scheduling, program evaluations, and the implementation of academic policies; ensure curricula and the program portfolio align with regional needs and strategic priorities of the institution.
• Establish vision, guidance, and expectations for the enrollment management work of the unit, including but not limited to program marketing, student recruitment, and retention.
• Guide and participate in student recruitment, retention, and success initiatives, including supervision of student services and support programs.

Qualifications

• An earned doctorate in public administration, management or policy, criminal justice, public health, health policy, health administration, non-profit management, environmental affairs, or related fields.
• A distinguished record of teaching and scholarship, sufficient for tenure at a rank of Full Professor.
• Leadership and administrative experience in an academic setting.
• Familiarity with the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) accreditation process.
• A commitment to an educational philosophy that is student-centered and combines theory and practice.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Ellen Szarleta, Chair of the Search and Screen Committee, Indiana University Northwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN 46408, eszarlet@iu.edu

Salary and Rank

Salary is commensurate with experience and education.

Additional Qualifications

All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States as of the position start date. The department is unable to sponsor visas for this position. For questions about work eligibility, the search committee can connect you with the IU Office of International Services.

For Best Consideration Date

Review date begins March 1, 2026: (Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee).

Expected Start Date

07/01/2026

Posting Number

IU-101482-2026