School: School of Music

Position: Director

Rank: Advanced Associate Professor or Professor

The Ohio State University seeks a director who will provide ambitious and innovative leadership for its School of Music. Anticipated start date is July 1, 2022. The director will serve as the administrative head of the school, with oversight of faculty, staff, curriculum, budget, and strategic direction. The new director will lead the way in defining and implementing a vision for the school to thrive in a changing climate for creative activity and research about music. The successful candidate will provide transparent leadership for the programs the school offers to undergraduate and graduate music majors and minors, nonmajors, and the community. The ideal candidate will be committed to fostering a distinctive vision for the future of the school, be skilled in leading change, and help the school develop programs that serve a broad variety of constituents. 

The new director will lead the faculty and staff in curriculum development, outreach, engagement, operations, and governance. The director will be an advocate for the School, its faculty and students, promoting and providing support and mentorship for creative and scholarly activity. The director should be poised to engage with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to build collaborations with arts and humanities departments and interdisciplinary initiatives across the College of Arts and Sciences and the broader university community, Ohio State’s five regional campuses, as well as with other organizations in Ohio and beyond. The director will work with university and arts leaders to finalize the school’s integration into Ohio State’s emerging, vibrant Arts District, which includes a new state-of-the art building for the School of Music, and to maximize the advantages offered by the new general education program. 

The successful candidate will be a dedicated educator and recognized scholar and/or practitioner with expertise in one or more areas of teaching, scholarship, performance, and practice. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated a firm commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and have experience with research, educational, and community engagement programs that meet the needs of minoritized or underserved populations. 

• PhD or DMA, preferred  

• National/international record of scholarly or artistic achievement commensurate with the position  of an advanced Associate Professor or Professor at The Ohio State University, including a distinguished record of creative and/or scholarly achievement, teaching excellence at the post-secondary level, and professional service; and evidence of continued excellence in creative and/or scholarly achievement.

• Demonstrated and effective leadership and administrative experience in academia, with desired experience in fundraising, budgeting, and management.

• Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and demonstrated ability to cultivate positive work relationships with diverse students, colleagues, and staff. 

• Experience in leading change and the ability to work successfully across disciplines within a diverse and complex organization. 

• Experience in graduate education and the ability to support and further develop the School’s existing PhD, DMA, MM, and MA programs.

• Experience with successful collaborations, for example those with other academic units, community partners, and professional arts organizations.  

The Ohio State University has demonstrated a commitment to the arts through the creation of a new Arts District that links the historic Oval to bustling High Street. The Arts District includes the new Timashev Family Music Building, slated for opening in Autumn 2022, as well as a new adjacent facility for the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts. By bringing the various Arts units into an attractive, coherent, and accessible space, the District will facilitate interdisciplinary creative and scholarly work, curricular innovation, and community engagement. 

The Ohio State University is committed to establishing a culturally and intellectually diverse environment, encouraging all members of our learning community to reach their full potential. Over the next few years, The Ohio State University is committed to welcoming 350 new faculty hires, many of which will contribute to growing our role as a premier research university equipped to answer and interrogate the critical domestic and global societal challenges that deter equality and inclusion. We are responsive to dual-career families and strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. The university is a member of the Ohio/Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC).

The School of Music is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, the academic heart of the university. The College includes 38 departments, 20+ world-class research centers and more than 2,000 faculty and staff members. The University has recently undertaken a revision of its General Education requirements, which aim to develop students’ capacities as engaged, resilient, and adaptable citizens and leaders, and the School of Music has proposed several new or revised courses to support this effort. 

The School of Music is located on Ohio State University’s main campus in Columbus, the capital city of Ohio. Columbus is the Midwest’s fastest-growing city and the nation’s 14th largest city. Columbus offers a diverse array of welcoming neighborhoods and a vibrant arts and culture scene. Additional information about all that the Columbus area has to offer is available at https://visit.osu.edu/experience.

A complete application consists of a cover letter; curriculum vitae; a statement of up to 1 page that describes the applicant’s research/creative work and teaching and mentoring practices; a statement of up to 1 page describing the applicant’s achievements in enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; and contact information for 5 references who can speak to the applicant’s work as a musician, scholar, teacher, mentor, or leader. Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries may be directed to Barry Shank, chair of the search committee, at shank.46@osu.edu.

The Ohio State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status. Appointment is contingent on the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to a criminal background check.