The College of Arts and Sciences has opened a national search for the next director of the Renée Crown University Honors Program. The College is actively seeking expressions of interest and nominations for this position.

An all-University program administered by the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), the Honors Program provides intellectual challenge and curricular enrichment through seminars, courses (including an intensive Capstone Project), special cultural events and close contact with faculty and students.

The Honors Program is a catalyst for intellectual discovery across the campus through innovative teaching, community engagement and high-quality scholarship. Its curriculum emphasizes intellectual depth and breadth, and reinforces the University’s commitment to preparing engaged citizens, scholars and leaders for participation in a changing global society. 

The program also houses the Center for Fellowship and Scholarship Advising (CFSA), which informs students, alumni and faculty of nationally competitive fellowship and scholarship opportunities. CSFA helps students and alumni identify scholarship opportunities relative to their interests and backgrounds and assists them through all stages of the application process.

The director is responsible for all aspects of the Honors Program, including advancing the program’s core values and mission, representing the program to internal and external constituencies, building positive and productive cross-campus relationships, chairing the program’s core faculty, overseeing staff and budgets and teaching in the program.

“The Honors Program is poised to help the University advance its academic goals, particularly with improving the student experience and advancing discovery,” says A&S Dean Karin Ruhlandt, adding that Honors is integral to the Fast Forward Syracuse initiative, which includes the Academic Strategic Plan.

Candidates must have a strong administrative background, including curriculum and program development, budgetary, supervisory and fundraising experience; a distinguished record of academic achievement; experience developing programs that ensure high-quality undergraduate engagement; the ability to build an equitable and diverse scholarly environment; wide-ranging curiosity and interest in building connections across disciplines; and a talent for communicating excitement about a wide array of artistic and intellectual endeavors.

The initial term of appointment is five years, with a formal review at three years. Candidates from all areas of scholarship are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will be hired at the rank of advanced associate or full professor with tenure, and may be appointed to one of the University’s schools and colleges. Special consideration will be given to candidates who strengthen existing programs and initiatives. Nominations and expressions of interest are strongly encouraged and may be sent to Honors Director Search, 300 Hall of Languages, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, or by email at honorssearch@syr.edu.

The search committee is comprised of representatives from the faculty, University administration and Honors staff and students. The committee is chaired by David Seaman, dean of libraries and University librarian.  

Committee members include Rick Burton, David B. Falk Endowed Professor in the Falk College and an Honors core faculty member; Kate Hanson, deputy director of the Honors Program; Sharon Hollenback, professor of television, radio and film in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; Erin Mackie, professor and chair of English in A&S; Sinead Mac Namara, associate professor in the School of Architecture and the College of Engineering and Computer Science and an Honors core faculty member; Ramesh Raina, professor and chair of biology in A&S; James Steinberg, University Professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Dulce Morales, a senior majoring in policy studies and citizenship and civic engagement in A&S and the Maxwell School.

For a position description and online application instructions, interested candidates are encouraged to visit https://www.sujobopps.com. For full consideration, a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy and a history of involvement with Honors or other creative involvement with undergraduate enrichment programs should be submitted. Review of candidates will begin at the end of September 2017 and continue until the position is filled.

The Honors Program is named for Renée Schine Crown '50, H'84, a civic leader and philanthropist who is a member of A&S’ Board of Visitors and a member emerita of the University’s Board of Trustees.