Associate Dean, Academic Affairs

New Mexico State University•Las Cruces, NM

29d•$175,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

New Mexico State University's College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation (HEST) invites applications for the position of Associate Dean for Academics (ADA) to help lead one of the region's most dynamic and impactful academic communities. Serving nearly 3,000 undergraduate and more than 1,200 graduate students, and supporting close to 200 faculty and 200 staff across nine academic units, HEST is committed to pursuing social transformation through education, research, and outreach. The ADA will provide strategic leadership and oversight for HEST's academic units, instructional programs, and student success initiatives. Joining an engaged and collaborative leadership team, the Associate Dean will play a vital role in advancing HEST's mission and realizing its vision to foster innovative solutions in health, education, and the social sciences that create meaningful change in New Mexico and beyond. HEST's diverse academic portfolio includes six departments and three schools-Borderlands and Ethnic Studies; Counseling & Educational Psychology; Communication Disorders; Kinesiology; Public Health Sciences; Sociology; the School of Nursing; the School of Social Work; and the School of Teacher Preparation, Administration & Leadership-collectively offering more than 80 degree pathways and extensive experiential learning opportunities. This is an exceptional opportunity for an academic leader passionate about student success, interdisciplinary collaboration, and expanding the impact of higher education.

Requirements

Earned terminal degree in a directly related discipline and tenured or tenurable at the rank of professor.
Knowledge and understanding of principles, procedures, regulations, and standards applicable to the job.
Understanding of the University's mission, vision and goals.
Short- and long-term planning
Problem analysis and resolution
Report preparation and presentation
Interpersonal and organizational communication, both oral and written.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships
Maintain accurate and orderly records
Use independent judgment and initiative
Organize and direct activities.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in an area related to the degree programs in the College of HEST
Tenured faculty appointment at the rank of full professor in an area related to the academic units in the College of HEST. Candidates in the process of promotion to full professor or who are eligible to pursue promotion to full professor rank by the time of appointment are encouraged to apply.
Experience coordinating or administering academic programs that require utilizing data-driven decision making
Background in leading academic programs that prepare students for entry into the professional workforce
Proven record of developing new academic programs and guiding them through accreditation review processes
Demonstrated success in fostering collaboration across departments, programs, and university units
Skilled in using academic analytics and decision-support systems (e.g., Ad Astra, Gray Decision Intelligence, Steppingblocks) to inform strategic enrollment management, curriculum planning, and academic program optimization
Knowledge of the relationships between land grant universities and state legislative bodies and experience in helping those relationships flourish
Demonstrated teaching excellence and evidence of student success, curricular innovation, and academic program leadership.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for and oversee administration of the academic mission of the college in accordance with established guidelines, university policies, and/or regulatory bodies
Provide leadership for the development of new standard practices and procedures related to the college's academic mission
Coordinate updates of the university catalog, scheduling of courses, course offerings, establishment of new degrees and programs, program changes, and academic policies
Facilitate program sustainability, growth, and development by assisting departments in marketing, benchmarking, and establishing new degrees, concentrations, minors, etc.
Monitor compliance of college programs with accreditation standards and support programs through the accreditation process
Serve as the HEST Higher Learning Commission (HLC) liaison and coordinate the college's contributions to the HLC accreditation process
Oversee student recruitment, success, and retention efforts in alignment with NMSU's land-grant mission
Inform and strategize with departments about student success outcomes including enrollment trends, retention rates, graduation rates, and other academic outcomes
Develop and support initiatives that promote access, persistence, and success for first-generation and other underserved student populations through culturally responsive programming, mentoring, and academic support strategies
Coordinate the process for student grievances and appeals at the college level
Provide direction to the college scholarship committee and oversee the college scholarship award processes
Supervise professional/technical/support staff and student workers
Oversee HEST student organizations
Collaborate with NMSU Global Campus to expand and enhance program offerings
Collaborate with the Graduate School, Student Success, Honors College, the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity, and HEST Diversity Council on college and university-wide projects and initiatives
Assist the Dean with strategic and long-range planning, recruitment of faculty, fundraising, and other college-wide initiatives
Serve on the NMSU Associate Deans Academic Council and other university bodies
Perform duties as assigned by the Dean
Ensure compliance with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) rules and federal regulations, including FERPA, American with Disabilities Act, and Title IX
Serve as liaison between the college and the university administration, community partners, state legislature, and other stakeholders
Serve as the college's liaison to university's Office of Government Relations and coordinate the college's responses during the state legislative session
Coordinate college academic reports to university administration, as well as state and federal agencies