Assc Dean, Exe Dir, & Professor

MSU Jobs•Starkville, MS

About The Position

The Executive Director, Associate Dean serves as the chief administrator and strategic leader of the Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence, a comprehensive teaching and learning support center at Mississippi State University. This person will provide visionary and strategic leadership for campus-wide initiatives related to teaching excellence, curriculum development, and instructional innovation. This position is responsible for fostering a culture that values outstanding and engaged teaching across all disciplines, ensuring that CITE initiatives are aligned with the university’s strategic goals for student success. This newly formed center integrates the Center for Teaching and Learning and the instructional design team from the Center for Distance Education to provide holistic support for teaching excellence across all modalities including face-to-face, online, hybrid, clinical, and continuing education. The Executive Director role includes championing innovation in pedagogy, educational technology, and faculty development to meet the evolving needs of modern learners. Additionally, the Associate Dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies position provides leadership that supports faculty in program development, assessment, and continuous improvement / research initiatives, grant development, and scholarly productivity. This position will also hold a faculty appointment within the College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Requirements

Earned Doctorate with a focus in Education, Organizational Leadership, Instructional Design, Higher Education Administration, or related field
Five years of progressive leadership experience in faculty development, instructional design, teaching and learning centers, or related areas in higher education.
Faculty appointment title and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The successful candidate must hold a terminal degree and meet the minimum qualifications to be hired as a tenure-track or non-tenure track faculty member.

Nice To Haves

Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience in teaching and learning, faculty development, or instructional design in higher education
Experience leading organizational change and integrating multiple units or teams
Demonstrated success in strategic planning and program development
Record of scholarly publication or presentations in areas related to teaching and learning, instructional design, or educational innovation
Experience with grant writing and securing external funding
Academic administrative experience (department chair, associate dean, or similar)
Strong background in multiple instructional modalities (face-to-face, online, hybrid, clinical)
Experience in using AI in pedagogy
Demonstrated commitment to innovation and ability to envision and implement transformative approaches to teaching and learning support
Knowledge of educational technology, learning management systems, and emerging technologies that enhance teaching and learning
Strong leadership, management, and organizational skills with ability to build and lead high-performing teams
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills with ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders
Proven ability to develop and manage budgets and allocate resources strategically
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to use data to inform decision-making and assess program effectiveness
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment in complex situations
Understanding of accreditation standards, academic policy, and curriculum development processes
Experience in teaching at the post-secondary level
Ability to represent the university professionally in various settings and build productive partnerships

Responsibilities

Provide strategic vision and leadership for the Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence, establishing priorities, goals, and initiatives that advance teaching excellence across all instructional modalities.
Lead the development and implementation of innovative programs, workshops, and resources that support faculty in adopting evidence-based teaching practices, emerging educational technologies, and active learning strategies.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in teaching and learning, staying current with trends in higher education pedagogy, learning science, and educational technology.
Oversee the development and delivery of professional development opportunities for faculty across all career stages and disciplines, including new faculty orientation, and ongoing learning communities.
Manage center operations, including budget development and oversight, staff supervision and development, resource allocation, and assessment of center programs and services.
Collaborate with academic units, information technology services, libraries, and other campus partners to provide coordinated support for teaching and learning initiatives.
Serve as Associate Dean for the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, providing leadership and supporting faculty in curriculum development, program assessment, research and scholarly activities.
Represent the university at regional and national conferences and professional organizations related to teaching and learning, instructional design, and educational innovation.
Lead assessment efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of center programs and services, using data to inform continuous improvement and demonstrate impact.
Develop and maintain partnerships with external organizations and funding agencies to support teaching and learning initiatives and secure grant funding where appropriate.
Serve on university committees related to teaching, learning, faculty development, and academic policy as appropriate.