Working closely with the Dean, the incoming Chair will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing the School of Dentistry’s strategic vision, driving innovation in education, research, and clinical practice. The successful candidate will be an engaging and forward-thinking professional who combines strategic insight with a commitment to Marquette’s Jesuit mission of service and leadership. With the opportunity to shape curriculum, enhance clinical operations, and broaden the department’s influence both locally and nationally, the Chair will play a key role in sustaining and furthering Marquette’s recognized leadership in dental education and patient care. The Chair will successfully address the following opportunities and challenges:
- Provide visionary leadership to guide the Department of General Dental Sciences in advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the School of Dentistry;
- Attract, mentor, and retain exceptional faculty while fostering a culture of professional growth and academic excellence;
- Drive innovation in a modern, evidence-based curriculum that ensures student success, well-being, and readiness for contemporary dental practice;
- Optimize and elevate clinical operations to deliver outstanding patient care and enhance the educational experience;
- Champion the department’s strategic initiatives through impactful research, collaborative partnerships, and strong external engagement.
Duties and Responsibilities
Undergraduate Curriculum Responsibilities
1. Work with course directors and program directors within the department; facilitate innovation in pre-clinical and clinical education.
2. Work with other department chairs and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to ensure that curriculum development is integrated and coordinated within the Department of General Dental Sciences as well as between the biomedical sciences courses and courses taught under the direction of other departments in the School of Dentistry.
3. In conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs:
a. Develop annual curriculum goals for the school.
b. Periodically reassess and/or modify the school’s competency statements.
c. Identify resources needed for curriculum innovation.
4. Along with program directors, review course content, exams, course objectives and syllabi within the department to ensure uniformity and compliance with university/dental school/accreditation standards.
5. Ensure assessment outcomes requiring implementation are implemented for all aspects of the curriculum within the department.
Graduate Programs
1. Work with the graduate program directors (Biomaterials and Prosthodontics) as appropriate to ensure that the programs have adequate budget for facilities, resident activities, and improvements.
2. Work with the graduate program directors (Biomaterials and Prosthodontics) and the Associate Dean for Research, and the Director of Graduate Studies to ensure that the programs maintain standards for accreditation.
Faculty
1. Regularly monitor, mentor and advise junior tenure-track faculty members.
2. Assess faculty needs and recruit full-time and part-time faculty as appropriate.
3. Establish annual departmental goals in regards to: a. Research b. Teaching c. Service
4. Perform annual evaluation of all full-time faculty, part-time faculty and course directors within the department.
5. In conjunction with program directors, establish a regular program of faculty calibration and standardization.
6. Provide input to the Faculty Development Committee in regards to programming.
Staff
1. Assess and determine staffing needs for the Department.
2. Coordinate and supervise hiring of appropriate staff members.
3. Determine staff performance objectives and assess annually.
Resources and Budget
1. Along with the Associate Dean for Finance & Administration and Director of Academic Business Affairs, a. Develop annual budget for department b. Hold regular meetings to assure budget projections are being met.
2. Determine faculty, administrators and staff raise allocations based on merit.
Other Administrative Responsibilities
1. Collaborate with the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Patient Care on clinical operation issues.
2. Serve as member of Senior Leadership Team, Clinical Affairs Committee, and Research Committee.
3. Work with Chair of the Tenure and Promotion Committee to prepare documentation for all candidates for Promotion and Tenure.
4. Work with Director of Academic Business Affairs to expedite faculty recruitment, hiring, credentialing, orientation, faculty contracts, and other faculty administrative matters.
5. Facilitate communication within the department through regular correspondence and meetings.
6. Implement MUSoD strategic plan.
7. Evaluate and report on faculty and staff workload issues.
8. Ensure faculty and staff compliance with all Marquette and MUSoD policies and procedures.
9. Ensure faculty compliance with grading and graduation issues as directed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
10. Participate in development of accreditation documents as directed by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
11. Provide regular guidance to the General Dental Sciences Program Directors.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- The successful candidate for Chair, Department of General Dental Sciences will be an experienced and accomplished academic leader with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and the drive necessary to achieve ambitious goals. The successful candidate will also bring many of the following professional qualifications, skills, experience, and personal qualities:
- A DDS/DMD degree from a US or Canadian dental school recognized by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation, or a comparable foreign degree.
- Active dental license, whether regular or faculty, (or eligibility for licensure) in the State of Wisconsin
- Academic ranking of Professor or Associate Professor
- Demonstrated experience in faculty development, accreditation compliance, promoting and conducting research and scholarly activities, and leading and developing academic programs.
- Strong working knowledge of clinical operations in academic settings
- Commitment to student success and exceptional patient care
- Exceptional communication skills; the ability to articulate a compelling message to all audiences; clarity, crispness, and effectiveness in written and oral presentation; and excellent listening skills
- Excellent collaboration and consensus building abilities to bring together a diverse group of constituents
- Demonstrated decisive management skills exemplified by a record of excellence in delegation, responsibility, and accountability
- Honesty, integrity, enthusiasm, empathy, resilience, and a strong work ethic.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Department Dental School Posting Date 12/17/2025 Closing Date Special Instructions to Applicants
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Applications (resume and cover letter), inquiries, nominations, and referrals should be sent to the Isaacson, Miller website:
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/marquette-university-school-dentistry/chair-general-dental-sciences
Electronic submission of materials is required.
Julie Filizetti, Jay Torio, Kathy Martinez, Maria Peña
Isaacson, Miller
Phone: 415.655.4900
EOE Statement
It is the policy of Marquette University to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other applicable federal or state-protected classification.
Required Documents
Optional Documents 