WwwÖØ¿Ú50¶È»Ò is conducting an open national search for a new Dean of the College throughout the 2025-26 academic year to start during Summer 2026. This website will serve as the central hub for all information related to the search, so please check back frequently for updates.
The Role of the Dean of the College
The Dean of the College is the chief academic officer of WwwÖØ¿Ú50¶È»Ò, responsible for championing the intellectual life of the institution and supporting the success of faculty and students alike. This role provides strategic leadership for the curriculum, advances excellence in teaching and scholarship, and fosters an inclusive academic community that reflects the College’s mission and values. As the vice president for Academic Affairs, the Dean plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic vision of WwwÖØ¿Ú50¶È»Ò and ensuring that the College continues to thrive as a place of rigorous inquiry, creativity, and collaboration.
Search Advisory Committee
ÖØ¿Ú50¶È»Ò has convened a Search Advisory Committee to guide the selection of the next Dean of the College. Chaired by Faculty Council President Sasha Day and President Tom Stritikus, the committee plays a central role in ensuring a thoughtful, inclusive, and thorough search process.
Members of the committee will:
- Collaborate with our search consultants to shape the leadership profile, interview questions, and candidate evaluation rubrics
- Review and screen applications
- Select and interview semi-finalist candidates
- Recommend finalists for on-campus interviews
- Provide a balanced analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each finalist
Committee Members
- Liz Boyd, Director of Budget & Planning
- Jamila Chambers, Executive Director, Hameetman Career Center
- Lan Chu, Professor, Diplomacy & World Affairs
- Alison de Fren, Professor, Media Arts & Culture
- Sharla Fett, Robert Glass Cleland Professor in American History
- Darren Larsen, Chair and Associate Professor, Geology
- Carmel Levitan, Department Chair, Cognitive Science, Food Studies, and Neuroscience; Professor, Cognitive Science; Interim Director of the Office of Sponsored Research
- Malek Moazzam-Doulat, Resident Associate Professor, Critical Theory & Social Justice
- Clair Morrissey, Professor, Philosophy; Faculty Director for Partnerships with Los Angeles
- Sabrina Stierwalt, Assistant Professor, Physics; Faculty Council member
- Woody Studenmund, Trustee, Laurence de Rycke Professor of Economics Emeritus (Retired)
- Grahm Tapp ‘28, Diversity & Equity Board, Academic Affairs Liaison
- Kristi Upson-Saia, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs; David B. and Mary H. Gamble Professor of Religious Studies
Search Consultants
The committee aims to complete its work by March 2026. To support the process, the College has engaged the executive search firm , which will assist in recruiting candidates and managing the search. Virginia Lora will provide administrative and logistical support to the committee.
About Isaacson, Miller
Isaacson, Miller is a national executive search firm devoted to recruiting exceptional leaders for mission-driven organizations. Since our founding in 1982, we have built our business placing outstanding leaders who strengthen organizations that advance the public good. As one of the country's premier search firms, we have nearly four decades of experience in recruiting senior executives for leading colleges and universities, academic medical centers, arts and cultural groups, conservation and environmental organizations, economic development enterprises, foundations, human service agencies, preK-12 education organizations, research institutes, and social justice and other national advocacy organizations. Almost all of our clients are not-for-profit organizations meeting demands of both mission and market. Our belief in the power of exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to service excellence, integrity, and impact animate our firm. We identify and recruit exceptional candidates from a broad range of backgrounds across nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors, and contribute to increasingly diverse leadership in our client organizations – in 2023, 54% of our placements were women and 35% people of color.
Oxy’s IM Team
Lindsay Gold, Partner (415) 655-4909 / lgold@imsearch.com
Lindsay recruits senior leaders for public and private higher education institutions and has been with Isaacson, Miller for over a decade. She has led searches across the academic enterprise and recently led the VPAA and dean of faculty searches for Pitzer College, Scripps College, Whitman College, and facilitated an internal search for Claremont McKenna College, among other similar searches. She has also conducted searches for presidents, vice presidents, and numerous searches in finance, administrative services, research, student affairs, enrollment management, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. Lindsay brings a background in higher education recruiting and retention to her practice. Prior to joining Isaacson, Miller, she held positions in admissions and student services at the University of San Francisco; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; and the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Lindsay has a master’s degree in higher education management and is deeply interested in how transformational leadership impacts an organization and has a ripple effect into the organization’s greater community.
Evan Layne, Senior Associate (415) 655-4934 / elayne@imsearch.com
Evan Layne joined Isaacson, Miller as an Associate in 2021 and partnered with Lindsay Gold on the dean of faculty searches for Pitzer College, Scripps College, and Whitman College. Prior to joining the firm, Evan worked at Northeastern University, as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions. At Northeastern, Evan conducted intensive international recruitment and expanded the multicultural recruitment practice within the department. His work brought him to New York City, Texas, India, South America, and sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier, he worked in Supplier Management in the Vice President for Finance Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Julia Hochner, Senior Search Coordinator (310) 943-7008 / jhochner@imsearch.com
Julia Hochner joined Isaacson, Miller as a Search Coordinator in 2022 and provides administrative and logistical support for searches led by Lindsay Gold. Julia has deep experience supporting searches across higher education and is known for her high touch and meticulous approach. Julia is located in the Los Angeles area. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a Practice Assistant at Pathways to Learning, which provides educational and behavioral assessment services. Julia previously worked as a professional actor, with a focus on theater and voice over.
Opportunities for Engagement
Community Engagement Sessions
Isaacson, Miller will host community engagement sessions with trustees, college leadership, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders. Feedback from these sessions will help shape the leadership profile and ensure that diverse perspectives are reflected in the search. These scheduled sessions include:
Thursday, September 18, 2025
- 9 a.m., Faculty Council Listening Session
- 11:40 a.m., Faculty Open Forum, Choi Auditorium
- 3 p.m., Academic Affairs Listening Session
- 4 p.m., Senior Leadership Team Listening Session
Friday, September 19, 2025
- 9 a.m., Board of Trustees Listening Session
- 10:30 a.m., Staff Open Forum, Choi Auditorium
- 11:45 a.m., Faculty Open Forum, Choi Auditorium
- 1 p.m., Student Open Forum, Choi Auditorium
- 2:30 p.m., Search Committee Session
RSVPs are not required for attendance at an open forum.
Survey
Campus community members are also encouraged to provide input via this , which will remain open until Friday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m., whether or not they attend a forum.
Committee Chair Office Hours
In addition, we will hold committee chair office hours in the faculty lounge during September and/or October to answer questions and take additional input from our community.
Applications and Nominations
Applications and nominations can be submitted at .
Moving Forward
The search advisory committee looks forward to input at this important initial stage of the process. In the spring, the campus community will have the opportunity to meet with finalists that have been selected by the committee in a campus visit. Please continue to check this site regularly for updates on this search.