Associate Dean of Research, College of Design, Architecture, Art Planning

Position: Associate Dean of Research, College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning

Associate Dean of Research, College of Design, Architecture, Art, & Planning

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About the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation's best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,000 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 350,000 living alumni, UC is a Carnegie 1 institution that combines research prowess with a dynamic urban setting. The College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) invites applications for the position of Associate Dean of Research and Creative Activity.

This role advances the college’s mission of fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and impactful scholarship across the fields of design, architecture, art, planning, and related disciplines.

Job Overview

The Associate Dean will serve as the chief strategist and advocate for research and creative activity within DAAP, leading efforts to build on our dynamic culture of inquiry, experimentation, and scholarly excellence. This includes developing and implementing a strategic vision for research and creative work that aligns with the college’s academic priorities and the broader goals of the university. This is a 12‑month faculty position.

Essential

Functions Teaching & Scholarship

• Teach at least 2 graduate and/or undergraduate courses related to the candidate’s area of expertise
• Engage in research, scholarship, and/or creative work in the area of expertise

Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Build upon and expand existing DAAP research initiatives and the structure and activities of our Collaborative for DAAP Research and Innovation (CDRI)
• Develop and implement new initiatives that expand the reach of the DAAP Research Office to include more faculty engaged in creative activity and independent scholarship
• Conceptualize and lead a strategic vision for research and creative activity that aligns with DAAP’s mission and the University of Cincinnati’s priorities
• Maintain policies, practices, and protocols that promote research excellence and creative innovation

Research & Funding

• Provide leadership and actively promote external research opportunities for faculty, supporting the continued advancement of individual and collective research agendas within the college
• Continue and expand the DAAP grant accelerator program, while developing new supports for creative and non‑traditional work that may not fit traditionally funded research grant models
• Collaborate with the Office of Sponsored Research and other units to identify funding sources and support proposal development

Faculty Development & Mentorship

• Provide individualized mentoring to tenure‑track faculty, with a focus on early career development in research and creative activity
• Design and implement strategies to support associate professors in preparing for promotion to full professor, including milestone planning and mentoring
• Offer tailored support for artists and creative practitioners in identifying and applying for fellowships, residencies, and grants

Awards & Recognition

• Create and sustain prestigious award pipelines by identifying faculty with potential for national and international recognition (e.g., Guggenheim, Loeb, Getty, FAIA, Fulbright, career awards) and supporting their application development
• Partner with campus units to offer professional development workshops on topics such as book proposals, grant writing, CV development, and career advancement

Collaboration & Outreach

• Facilitate interdisciplinary and inter‑institutional research partnerships, including collaborations with other UC colleges, national/international scholars, and community stakeholders
• Engage in strategic outreach to foster research networks and collaborative initiatives

Evaluation & Reporting

• Establish, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for research and creative activity across DAAP
• Develop mechanisms to monitor research productivity and benchmark performance against peer institutions

Visibility & Impact

• Partner with the DAAP Communications and Marketing team to…