Dean—School of Business and Management

University of Arkansas System•Pine Bluff, AR

31d

About The Position

Reporting to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the School of Business and Management serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School. The Dean provides visionary leadership to ensure academic excellence, operational effectiveness, and external engagement while advancing UAPB’s mission. This individual will champion innovation in curriculum and pedagogy, cultivate industry and alumni partnerships, and position the School as a hub for research, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. Key Responsibilities The successful candidate will perform the following key duties and responsibilities within the academic department. Visionary and Strategic Leadership • Articulate a bold and future-focused vision that positions the School of Business and Management as a national leader in the academic discipline. • Lead the development, innovation, and continuous improvement of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs. • Champion interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and with industry, government, and community partners. • Ensure the School meets or exceeds accreditation standards, positioning it for national recognition. • Serve as the School’s advocate within UAPB and in the broader business and academic communities. Student Success and Experiential Learning • Promote a student-centered culture emphasizing mentorship, leadership development, and ethical decision-making. • Expand high-impact experiential learning opportunities, including undergraduate and graduate research, fieldwork, internships, international exchanges, entrepreneurial opportunities, and community-engaged learning. • Utilize data and analytics to strengthen student persistence, retention, four-year degree completion, and postgraduation outcomes. • Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Career Services, University College, and departmental leadership to enhance student advising, student onboarding, and student success interventions. Academic and Operational Leadership • Provide strategic academic oversight for all degree programs across the academic departments, including new program development aligned with labor market demand and land-grant mission. • Lead a shared governance culture by reviewing, revising, and developing internal policies and procedures that align with federal, state, and university regulations. • Develop and expand cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs that respond to local, national, and global challenges. • Ensure curricular relevance by incorporating emerging technologies (e.g., AI, data science). • Recruit, support, and retain high-performing faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. • Promote shared governance, collaborative decision-making, and inclusive excellence. Budgetary Management and Employee Development • Strong record in budget management, fiscal accountability, and resource allocation aligned with strategic priorities. • Ability to build high-performing faculty and staff teams, emphasizing professional growth and performance accountability. • Allocate funding to expand sponsored research, grow externally funded initiatives, and strengthen core operations. • Develop systems for performance accountability and data-informed decision-making. • Demonstrated ability to leverage data-informed decision-making to improve programs, student outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and institutional reputation. • Secure and steward external funding through grants, corporate partnerships, and philanthropy. • Advance alumni engagement to strengthen the School’s visibility and financial sustainability. Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship • Promote a culture of research excellence and scholarly productivity consistent with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), peer R2 benchmarks, and support faculty development to increase publication and grant activity. • Champion applied and interdisciplinary research aligned with industry and societal needs. • Expand research productivity, secure competitive federal and state grants, and grow industry-sponsored research partnerships. • Encourage entrepreneurial thinking among faculty and students, positioning the School as a driver of innovation. • Promote opportunities for student research, case studies, and applied projects that engage regional and national businesses. • Build strategic partnerships to strengthen UAPB’s role in economic development and business innovation. External Engagement and Visibility • Cultivate strong relationships with businesses, industries, community partners, and public agencies to promote workforce development and public engagement. • Partner with University Advancement and alumni networks to pursue fundraising, endowments, and sponsored program opportunities in support of the School’s mission. • Elevate the School of Business and Management’s visibility across Arkansas, nationally, and globally through strategic communication, media engagement, professional association participation, and public testimony. • Approach external relationships as a custodian of opportunity, advocating for transformative partnerships that turn concepts into practice and ideas into measurable impact. • Represent the School in international, national, regional, and state forums to articulate its value, communicate impact, and expand its influence as a leader in agricultural and human sciences education.

Requirements

An earned doctorate in Business, Management, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
Minimum of three years in senior leadership experience (e.g., dean, associate dean, department chairperson, director, or similarly ranked position) preferably at a four-year land-grant institution of higher education.
A distinguished record of teaching, research, and scholarly achievement meriting appointment as a tenured full professor.
Demonstrated leadership experience in higher education, preferably within a school or college of business.
Experience in strategic planning, accreditation processes, and budgetary oversight.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of five years of academic administration experience at a four-year institution of higher education.
Evidence of the ability to leverage institutional assets and capabilities to advance the vision and mission of an academic School, College, or department.
Experience with Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), or other business school accreditation processes.
A proven record of cultivating external partnerships and securing philanthropic or grant support.
Entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated success in driving innovation in curriculum, research, or industry engagement.
Familiarity with online, hybrid, and experiential learning models.

Responsibilities

Articulate a bold and future-focused vision that positions the School of Business and Management as a national leader in the academic discipline.
Lead the development, innovation, and continuous improvement of undergraduate, graduate, and executive education programs.
Champion interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and with industry, government, and community partners.
Ensure the School meets or exceeds accreditation standards, positioning it for national recognition.
Serve as the School’s advocate within UAPB and in the broader business and academic communities.
Promote a student-centered culture emphasizing mentorship, leadership development, and ethical decision-making.
Expand high-impact experiential learning opportunities, including undergraduate and graduate research, fieldwork, internships, international exchanges, entrepreneurial opportunities, and community-engaged learning.
Utilize data and analytics to strengthen student persistence, retention, four-year degree completion, and postgraduation outcomes.
Collaborate with Enrollment Management, Career Services, University College, and departmental leadership to enhance student advising, student onboarding, and student success interventions.
Provide strategic academic oversight for all degree programs across the academic departments, including new program development aligned with labor market demand and land-grant mission.
Lead a shared governance culture by reviewing, revising, and developing internal policies and procedures that align with federal, state, and university regulations.
Develop and expand cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs that respond to local, national, and global challenges.
Ensure curricular relevance by incorporating emerging technologies (e.g., AI, data science).
Recruit, support, and retain high-performing faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.
Promote shared governance, collaborative decision-making, and inclusive excellence.
Strong record in budget management, fiscal accountability, and resource allocation aligned with strategic priorities.
Ability to build high-performing faculty and staff teams, emphasizing professional growth and performance accountability.
Allocate funding to expand sponsored research, grow externally funded initiatives, and strengthen core operations.
Develop systems for performance accountability and data-informed decision-making.
Demonstrated ability to leverage data-informed decision-making to improve programs, student outcomes, fiscal responsibility, and institutional reputation.
Secure and steward external funding through grants, corporate partnerships, and philanthropy.
Advance alumni engagement to strengthen the School’s visibility and financial sustainability.
Promote a culture of research excellence and scholarly productivity consistent with the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), peer R2 benchmarks, and support faculty development to increase publication and grant activity.
Champion applied and interdisciplinary research aligned with industry and societal needs.
Expand research productivity, secure competitive federal and state grants, and grow industry-sponsored research partnerships.
Encourage entrepreneurial thinking among faculty and students, positioning the School as a driver of innovation.
Promote opportunities for student research, case studies, and applied projects that engage regional and national businesses.
Build strategic partnerships to strengthen UAPB’s role in economic development and business innovation.
Cultivate strong relationships with businesses, industries, community partners, and public agencies to promote workforce development and public engagement.
Partner with University Advancement and alumni networks to pursue fundraising, endowments, and sponsored program opportunities in support of the School’s mission.
Elevate the School of Business and Management’s visibility across Arkansas, nationally, and globally through strategic communication, media engagement, professional association participation, and public testimony.
Approach external relationships as a custodian of opportunity, advocating for transformative partnerships that turn concepts into practice and ideas into measurable impact.
Represent the School in international, national, regional, and state forums to articulate its value, communicate impact, and expand its influence as a leader in agricultural and human sciences education.