Dean, College of Education and Human Services

Lindenwood University • St. Charles, IL

1d

About The Position

Lindenwood University seeks a collaborative, strategic, and engaged leader to serve as Dean of the College of Education and Human Services. The Dean provides academic and strategic leadership, administration, direction, planning, and evaluation for the College’s academic activities and faculty affairs. The role calls for a visible campus presence and a commitment to academic excellence, student success, and faculty and staff development. The Dean is expected to build relationships with students, faculty, and staff; foster trust through consistency, transparency, shared decision-making, and clear communication; and understand the College’s history, programs, and strengths.

The Dean will apply an understanding of teaching and learning, the evolving K–12 landscape, graduate education, and human services to strengthen partnerships with local school districts and community organizations, assess program effectiveness using data, and encourage thoughtful innovation. As an advocate for the College within the University and the broader community, the Dean will provide leadership to advance academic, operational, and financial goals.

The position oversees the College’s academic, personnel, financial, and administrative affairs; supports student learning and success; manages faculty affairs and resources; ensures compliance with institutional and external requirements; and develops partnerships and initiatives aligned with workforce needs. The role reports to the Provost/SVP, Academic Affairs. Positions supervised vary.

Requirements

• Terminal degree.
• Prior administrative experience in higher education with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Ability to collaborate across colleges and other units.
• Solution-oriented mindset.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures.
• Strong leadership, collegial, and collaborative skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the community, faculty, students, staff, and board of directors.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and creative skills.
• Strong initiative and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of emerging technologies and their effective application to enhance student learning.
• Understanding of contemporary issues in higher education.
• Understanding of high-impact academic practices that support student success.
• Ability to sit at a computer for extended periods daily and communicate effectively through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• Regular attendance.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with CAEP, CACREP, CSWE, ASHA, or DESE.
• Relationships with state agencies or licensure organizations.
• Relationships with regional high schools or administrators.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor initiatives to improve student learning, including connecting skills with potential employer needs and developing students’ adaptive thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Guide the use of emerging and instructional technologies and high-impact academic practices to support student learning and success.
• Oversee clinical placements, field experiences, and field supervision, and use licensure pass rates, graduate placement outcomes, and other program data to evaluate effectiveness and guide improvement.
• Establish short- and long-term College goals, align its mission and work environment with the University, assess performance, and respond to changes and trends in higher education.
• Oversee the College’s academic, personnel, financial, and administrative affairs, including performance metrics for retention, persistence, and graduation.
• Manage the College’s financial performance, budget, revenue contribution, costs, and strategic allocation of resources; collaborate on multiyear financial planning and budget development.
• Lead College fundraising strategy and efforts in collaboration with University Advancement, and participate in donor relations, grant development, sponsorships, and other fundraising opportunities.
• Represent the College on the deans’ council and faculty committees.
• Develop strategies to grow educator preparation and human services programs in line with workforce needs, including alternative certification pathways and educator residency models.
• Hold final authority for faculty performance evaluations and employment recommendations, informed by department leadership; participate in performance conversations and support faculty selection, improvement, and promotion.
• Oversee new faculty orientation and professional growth for specified faculty and staff; manage teaching loads and course offerings; observe classes and provide faculty feedback.
• Approve hiring and deployment of adjunct instructors, review student evaluations, and coach faculty on areas for improvement.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, accreditor, state, and federal requirements, including assessment and continuous improvement expectations.
• Prepare the College’s annual budget, review course substitutions, allocate resources, approve course schedules, and follow adjunct pay schedules.
• Meet with prospective students, oversee recruitment efforts, and monitor enrollment and retention data.
• Develop and support initiatives to improve student success outcomes; lead meetings, set agendas, and hold regular all-College meetings.
• Oversee academic program portfolio review, including program quality, market demand, enrollment performance, and recommendations for growth, revision, or discontinuation.
• Oversee professional accreditation and compliance with applicable state approval, certification, and licensure requirements; monitor policy changes affecting educator preparation and human services programs and guide program adjustments.
• Communicate College and University priorities to faculty and staff, and collaborate with marketing on programming, promotion, and enrollment-related efforts.
• Support University advancement, alumni affairs, and advocacy; attend and participate in required institutional events and activities.
• Build and sustain relationships with external partners, employers, community organizations, and professional organizations to advance academic, enrollment, and workforce objectives.
• Partner with enrollment management and student affairs to support recruitment, retention, persistence, graduation, and post-graduation outcomes.
• Build partnerships with school districts and community organizations to strengthen recruitment pipelines, clinical placements, educator residencies, and graduate employment opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s programs for the employee, spouse, and dependents, and master’s programs for the employee and spouse.
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs for the employee.
• Comprehensive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays, including MLK Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break, and winter break.
• Free Friday lunch at Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall, including Chick-fil-A and Qdoba.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree