Dean, School of Education and Human Resources

University of St. Thomas•Houston, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of St. Thomas (UST) seeks a Dean to lead its School of Education and Human Services (SEHS), with employment beginning July 1, 2027. The Dean will develop and administer high-quality programs and instruction, foster mission-focused faculty development, and guide strategic growth in support of UST’s Catholic mission. The school encompasses Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Criminology, Law and Society, with undergraduate and graduate offerings. The Dean will lead the school’s strategic vision and academic planning; guide program development and evaluation; build partnerships with regional Catholic schools and other mission-aligned organizations; and advance enrollment, particularly in graduate programs. The role also includes supporting faculty and academic leaders, overseeing academic quality and student success, strengthening community and experiential-learning opportunities, and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. Administrative responsibilities include managing the school’s budget and resources, ensuring compliance with university and regulatory requirements, and supporting accreditation and approval processes, including CACREP and Texas Education Agency requirements. The Dean will serve as the designated EPP Legal Authority Address. The successful candidate will promote the Catholic intellectual tradition, the dialogue between faith and reason, the principles of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and the Basilian charisms of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Practicing Catholics are strongly preferred; qualified candidates of other faith traditions who can credibly promote the University’s Catholic identity are also encouraged to apply. UST is an independent, coeducational private university in Houston, Texas, enrolling nearly 4,000 students. Its campus is in Houston’s Museum District/Innovation Corridor, near the Texas Medical Center. Applications should include a comprehensive letter addressing the responsibilities and qualifications, a current CV, a 1-to-2-page letter explaining how Ex Corde Ecclesiae will guide the candidate’s leadership, and contact information for five professional references. Review begins December 1, 2026, and continues until the position is filled.

Requirements

Terminal degree in a field represented in Education, Counseling, Criminology/Criminal Justice, or a related field, with a solid reputation for excellence and scholarly achievement.
Demonstrated commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, the dialogue between faith and reason, the principles of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and the Basilian charisms of goodness, discipline, and knowledge.
Ability and willingness to promote the University’s Catholic identity in the daily life of the school.
Strong collaborative, respectful, transparent leadership and communication skills.
Ability to value diverse perspectives, build trust and consensus, navigate conflict and competing priorities, and encourage faculty and staff engagement, creativity, and innovation.
Strong organizational and administrative leadership, reliability, clear communication, follow-through, and accountability.
Knowledge of academic governance, accreditation, regulations and policies, fiscal management, faculty recruitment and development, and school administration.
Commitment to teaching, learning, academic excellence, and student success, with a forward-looking vision for higher education.
Seven years of full-time higher education teaching experience and at least five years of previous administrative experience are preferred.

Nice To Haves

Practicing Catholic; the University actively seeks and strongly prefers practicing Catholics for this role.
Seven years of full-time higher education teaching experience.
At least five years of prior administrative experience as a department chair, associate dean, dean, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead a strategic vision for SEHS aligned with the University’s strategic plan and Catholic mission, and integrate it into academic planning and operations.
Guide the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of academic programs to ensure quality, relevance, and market competitiveness.
Develop strategies for collaboration with and response to regional Catholic schools and the classical and liberal arts K-12 movement.
Build and maintain relationships with mission-aligned partners, including the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Education Department.
Lead enrollment growth across the school, with emphasis on graduate offerings, and align academic offerings with Houston workforce needs.
Foster creativity, innovation, and learning communities among faculty and students.
Expand donor-funded scholarship opportunities and celebrate student achievements.
Promote faculty excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and professional development, and support faculty recruitment, retention, evaluation, and advancement.
Provide leadership, mentorship, and administrative support to department chairs and program directors.
Promote shared governance, transparent communication, faculty participation in academic decisions, equitable resource allocation, collegiality, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Provide strategic oversight of undergraduate and graduate programs and collaborate with university leaders to evaluate, strengthen, and expand offerings, including traditional, online, and hybrid programs.
Promote student recruitment, retention, progression, and degree completion in collaboration with Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, and other departments.
Strengthen community partnerships, field experiences, clinical placements, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration among Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Criminology, Law and Society.
Support sustainable program growth through new offerings, partnerships, sponsored research, grants, and other initiatives.
Oversee school resource allocation, resource acquisition, and responsible budget management.
Ensure compliance with university, state, federal, and institutional requirements and reporting obligations, including those of CCU, formerly SACSCOC.
Lead maintenance of CACREP accreditation for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, including compliance, assessment, reporting, and review.
Lead pursuit of Texas Education Agency accreditation/approval and ensure ongoing compliance once obtained; serve as the designated EPP Legal Authority Address and ensure required curriculum documentation.
Support compliance with applicable professional, licensure, certification, and regulatory standards across programs.
Ensure timely and accurate institutional, accreditation, and regulatory reports and support documentation and continuous improvement.
Ensure consistent and equitable application of University policies and procedures relevant to the school.