Syracuse University seeks an exceptional faculty leader to become Faculty Director of the Renée Crown Honors Program as it transitions to a fully university-wide model. Reporting to the Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives, the Director will build a program whose reach matches its ambition of recruiting faculty and engaging outstanding students from every school and college. This is a rare opportunity for a distinguished, entrepreneurial scholar-educator to reimagine what honors education means at a major research university, when the institution has committed the mandate and resources to make that possible.
Key Responsibilities
Vision & Strategy
- Define and advance a compelling, university-wide vision for Honors — communicated to faculty, deans, students, and families across every school and college.
- Build new initiatives that raise the Program’s standing among the nation’s leading honors programs.
- Use evidence and Faculty Advisory Council input to set priorities as the Program grows.
Curriculum & Faculty Engagement
- Shape a distinctive, intellectually ambitious curriculum that draws on every discipline at the University.
- Recruit and sustain faculty participation from every school and college, establishing durable teaching rotations rather than one-time asks.
- Advocate for incentives that make teaching in Honors attractive and professionally meaningful university wide.
Governance & Community
- Convene the Honors Faculty Advisory Council and Student Advisory Council, ensuring both shape Program direction.
- Lead Honors staff and build an inclusive, intellectually vibrant faculty community at university scale.
- Partner with deans and academic leaders to keep every college invested in the Program’s success.
Resources
- Set resource priorities aligned with the Program’s expanded, university-wide mission.
- Partner with Advancement to grow the philanthropic base supporting Honors.
Qualifications
We seek a distinguished, tenured full professor, ideally with a national reputation and a strong record in undergraduate education, ready to lead a program of significantly expanded scope and visibility. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- A distinguished scholarly and teaching record commanding respect across every school and college.
- A compelling, ambitious vision for undergraduate education at university-wide scale.
- A demonstrated ability to build consensus and lead across diverse disciplines and units.
- Experience with curriculum development, governance, or program leadership — including leading through change.
- Exceptional communication skills, able to make the case for Honors to audiences from faculty to prospective families.
- Sound judgment in setting priorities and allocating resources for a growing, complex program.
Compensation and Appointment
Compensation and appointment terms will reflect the scope, visibility, and responsibility of a university-wide leadership role.
To apply or nominate someone for the position, email provost@syr.edu.