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The University of California, Irvine (“UC Irvine” or “UCI”) seeks a collaborative and forward-looking academic leader to serve as Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate Division (Vice Provost and Graduate Dean).

UCI is among the nation’s top public research universities and a member of the world-renowned University of California system. As part of UCI’s strategic plan, “Bright Past, Brilliant Future,” the University has a goal of growing the strength of their nationally recognized graduate programs and helping more of them gain recognition among the best in the country. As UCI considers how best to strengthen and sustain its graduate enterprise amid a changing higher education landscape, the Vice Provost and Graduate Dean will play a vital role in leading the development and implementation of a shared vision for graduate education across UCI, reinforcing its standing as an innovative and world-class research university committed to academic excellence and student success. Central to this vision is a strong commitment to graduate students and to ensuring that their perspectives help shape the future of graduate education at UCI.

UC Irvine serves approximately 30,000 undergraduate students, 5,800 graduate students on the general campus, and 2,100 graduate students in Health Sciences. Founded as an interdisciplinary campus, it boasts excellence across the physical, biological, and social sciences, engineering, arts, and humanities, and in its professional schools. The New York Times named UCI the top university for “doing the most for the American dream,” highlighting its commitment to access and student success, and in U.S. News & World Report’s Best National University 2025 rankings, UCI ranked ninth among all public universities and 33rd out of all universities. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), UCI combines the strengths of a major research institution with the dynamism and agility of a younger campus that embraces innovation. In addition, its mission as a public and land grant institution plays a significant role in contributing to the advancement of local, state, national and global communities.

This is a rare and defining moment to join UCI and help shape the future of graduate education within both the campus and the broader University of California (UC) system. The next Vice Provost and Graduate Dean will have the opportunity to leverage UCI’s ambition and openness to innovation as part of the UC system’s broader commitment to advancing graduate education by piloting new ideas, stabilizing long-term enrollment plans, strengthening collaboration across disciplines, and engaging in systemwide and national conversations about the future of graduate education. While higher education is evolving in complex ways, UCI is ready to think creatively about how graduate education can evolve to meet this moment. As such, the Vice Provost and Graduate Dean will help UCI chart a clear path forward, guiding efforts to sustain academic rigor, enhancing the graduate student experience, and developing innovative models that respond to today’s realities. As the campus’s central advocate for graduate education, the Vice Provost and Graduate Dean will partner closely with UCI’s Provost, deans, faculty, staff, and students to foster collaboration, align resources, strengthen its vibrant community of scholars, and champion the value of graduate education as crucial to the university’s mission and impact.

The Vice Provost and Graduate Dean is the senior academic official responsible for graduate education at UCI. The Vice Provost and Graduate Dean will be responsible for both graduate education and postdoctoral scholar professional development, with a forward-looking vision of the future of graduate education and 21st century graduate careers. The ideal candidate will be a tenured professor and an accomplished scholar with demonstrated expertise in administering graduate education programs, as well as experience working with colleagues across a wide range of scholarly disciplines, and a strong commitment to the principles of shared governance.

To review the position profile and to submit suggestions and full applications (CVs with cover letters), please visit the Isaacson, Miller website. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For best consideration, please apply by January 14, 2026.

The anticipated annual compensation range for this position is $332,500-$350,000, commensurate with related experience and qualifications. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment.
  

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.