PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by St. Mary’s University for Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Search

(August 20, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at St. Mary’s University.  Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

The next Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) will be a visible, engaged and collaborative leader who values the breadth of the College, builds strong relationships with faculty and staff, and brings the judgment and practical leadership needed to turn priorities into sustained progress. As an effective voice for CAHSS, the Dean will strengthen the College’s visibility and impact within St. Mary’s and across the region. With the University’s Momentum 2032 strategic plan and the College’s recently adopted Impact 2032 setting a clear direction, the next Dean will lead the College in bringing these plans to life. The Dean will advance a relevant and sustainable academic portfolio, grow enrollment and support student success, invest in faculty development and scholarship, and expand philanthropic and external support.

 

Home to more than 70 full-time faculty and approximately 1,230 undergraduate and graduate students, the College offers a broad portfolio of programs, with more than 20 undergraduate degrees, 10 graduate degrees and one doctoral program. As part of a Hispanic-Serving Institution, CAHSS serves a diverse student population with a high percentage of first-generation students. Recent curricular growth includes new programs in Social Work, Public Health and Medical Humanities, reflecting the College’s continued responsiveness to evolving student and regional needs. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean serves as the College’s chief academic and administrative leader, providing leadership for academic programs, faculty and staff, enrollment, resource management and strategic implementation. To learn more about this opportunity, view the full Leadership Profile.

St. Mary’s University, founded in 1852, is the oldest Catholic university in the Southwest and a Hispanic-Serving Institution grounded in the Catholic and Marianist traditions. The University enrolls approximately 3,500 students across four schools, offering more than 40 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including doctoral and professional degrees. Guided by the five Characteristics of Marianist Universities, St. Mary’s integrates rigorous academics with faith, service, leadership, and community, creating an educational experience that prepares graduates to lead lives of purpose and impact. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, undergraduate and graduate research opportunities, experiential learning, and a vibrant campus community that extends to a global network of more than 36,000 alumni. Nationally recognized for academic quality and value, St. Mary’s is ranked the No. 1 Best Value School in the West and has been recognized among the region’s top universities by U.S. News & World Report for more than three decades.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.