Dean, Honors College

Texas State University•San Marcos, TX

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About The Position

Texas State University invites applications for a visionary, student-centered, and collaborative leader to serve as the next Dean of the Honors College. The Dean will provide strategic leadership to an innovative Honors College and the university-wide IDEA Center supporting undergraduate research. This role presents a unique opportunity to reimagine honors education in ways that fosters experiential learning and community engagement, broadens access and enables student success, and aligns with emerging national trends and Texas State's R1 aspirations. About the Honors College and IDEA Center: The Honors College at Texas State is a vibrant, interdisciplinary community that serves approximately 2,000 students. It offers a flexible curriculum that includes core and departmental honors courses, upper-division seminars, independent studies, and capstone experiences. Students may graduate from the Honors College or earn a minor in Honors Studies. Guided by the principles of project-based learning, transdisciplinary collaboration, and civic engagement, the Honors College positions itself as a hub of creative inquiry and public impact. It is committed to broadening access and participation in honors education for all students through recruitment, flexible pathways for transfer students, and the removal of barriers to entry and completion. The Honors College includes the IDEA Center (Innovation - Discovery - Exploration - Analysis), a university-wide initiative housed in the Alkek Library that enhances undergraduate engagement in research and scholarly activity. Through structured research courses, faculty-directed research projects, and fellowship advising for national awards, the IDEA Center encourages discovery and academic achievement.

Requirements

Earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution.
Academic credentials and scholarly achievements consistent with a tenured appointment at the rank of professor in an academic unit.
Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, with a record of innovation in honors education and undergraduate research, or academic student success initiatives.
Successful experience managing and mentoring staff and faculty members.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing externally funded programs or centers.
Proven success attracting competitive funding from foundations, agencies, and donors.
Evidence of successful faculty mentorship and student engagement in high-impact practices.
Strong knowledge of national honors education trends, experiential learning models, and strategies to broaden student access and participation.
Experience implementing and operationalizing change that impacts a range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Provide academic, strategic, and administrative leadership to advance the mission of the Honors College and IDEA Center.
Promote experiential, project-based, and community-engaged learning opportunities aligned with institutional student success goals for retention, graduation, and post-graduation success.
Foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to honors curriculum and undergraduate research, consistent with national best practices.
Develop pathways and practices for all students to expand honors participation by working closely with academic departments and colleges.
Support recruitment activities in collaboration with University Admissions.
Support faculty in developing innovative, collaborative honors courses and research experiences.
Manage program budgets, staff, and facilities, including spaces in Lampasas Hall (Honors College) and the Alkek Library (IDEA Center).
Collaborate with academic departments and colleges and the Offices of Academic Innovation, Student Success, Education Abroad, EXC2EL, and Academic Success, to implement high-impact student success initiatives.
Represent the Honors College in strategic university planning, development, and external partnerships.
Communicate the vision of Honors College effectively to internal and external stakeholders and engage with University Advancement in fund raising activities.