DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Jackson State University (JSU) seeks applications and nominations for a visionary and strategic leader as dean of the College of Education and Human Development (dean) with a proven commitment to academic excellence and shared decision-making. The dean fosters excellence in teaching, research, and service. 

Reporting to the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, the dean is responsible for providing visionary leadership, strategic direction, and administrative oversight for the college. The dean ensures the academic, research, and community engagement missions of the college are achieved, and that the college is well-positioned to address contemporary and emerging issues facing the field of education. The dean will be responsible for expanding the research agenda to support JSU’s designation as an R2 institution. The dean will also work with other colleges and community posters to support basic and applied research efforts in the college.

Among other duties, the dean serves as chief academic, administrative, and budget officer for the college and:

• Ensures that the college maintains accreditation and meets other regulatory requirements.
• Oversees academic personnel matters involving hiring, development, promotion, tenure, and evaluation of departmental chairpersons.
• Manages the college’s budget and financial resources, including allocating funds for research, scholarships, and other initiatives.
• Manages the personnel functions of the college with a commitment to collegial governance, cultural diversity, and equal opportunity.
• Supports the faculty in teaching, research, service, and professional development.
• Provides leadership in academic program reviews, program changes, and program development within the college.
• Calls and conducts faculty, staff, student, and other meetings in order to remain visible, collegial and transparent.
• Serves as the liaison for the college within the university.
• Develops and implements strategic plans for the college, including academic program development, student recruitment, faculty and staff recruitment, and fundraising.
• Builds relationships with external stakeholders, including alumni, community organizations, and other academic institutions.
• Advocates for the college and promotes its mission and values to internal and external audiences.

Qualifications:

• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution in education.
• Seven to ten (7 to 10) years of significant work experience in higher education that would qualify one for the academic rank of associate or full professor.
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful managerial/administrative experience as a department chair or higher.
• Documented evidence of successful college-level teaching in one’s area of expertise as it relates to programs specific to the college.
• Documented evidence of the ability to generate external and internal funding.
• A record of current and past scholarly/creative and professional activities.
• A demonstrated record of strong and consistent teamwork and collaboration with faculty, administrators, staff, and students.
• Experience as a K-12 educator or school teacher a plus.

The largest program in the college is the Elementary and Early Childhood Education Program.  Recently (Fall 2023) recognized and awarded the Inaugural Science of Reading and Excellence Award by the Mississippi Department of Education. JSU was the only institution in Mississippi to receive this designation. 

The College of Education piloted an Innovative Schools Initiative with Jackson Public School District and the Mississippi Department of Education Summer 2023-- "Count Me In: Future Teachers of Mathematics," which is a dual enrollment program for students who will attend JSU to major in Mathematics Education.

Several fully online undergraduate and graduate programs offered through JSUOnline.

The College of Education's School of Lifelong Learning is home to the  Southwest Mississippi Education Consortium (SMEC)/ Regional Education Service Center --the entity that provides professional development to K-12 teachers, school counselors, instructional coaches, and school leaders in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education. 

The College of Education and Human Development, established in 1877, is the oldest and largest academic college at Jackson State University. The College provides academic and professional practice in the areas of teacher preparation, K-12 leadership, counseling, psychometry, higher education and lifelong learning through the utilization of problem solving in collaboration with the University and community.

The College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and designated as a provider institution and partner with the U.S. PREP National Center for Education Preparation Transformation.  Led by responsive educators with adaptive expertise, the College provides exceptional leadership, in both research and professional practice, that impacts the lives of students from pre-kindergarten to life-long learners.

Jackson State University, a coeducational institution, is supported by the State of Mississippi. The University is supported by legislative appropriations supplemented by student fees and federal and private grants. The location of the University in the densely populated section of Central Mississippi is such that nearly one-half of the students come from within a 50-mile radius of the institution; however, the population includes students from every county in the state. A significant number of students also come from outside the state and from foreign countries. The campus is a scenic 245-acre tract situated one mile west of the main business district of the city and is easily accessible from area U.S. Highways and Interstates. A modern airport with direct connections to major cities–north, south, east, and west–is about 15 minutes away.

From a private church school in Natchez, Mississippi, with 20 newly freed slaves to a Carnegie-designated higher research institution with a student enrollment approaching 6,000, Jackson State University’s transformation is a testament to courage, vision, and leadership. Washington Monthly magazine has annually ranked JSU among the nation’s top colleges for social mobility, research, and service, and it also is considered one of the top “Military Friendly Schools.” Accredited by the Commission of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the University offers 47 bachelor’s degrees, 37 master’s degrees, three specialist-in-education degrees, and 11 doctoral degrees.

Known as "The City With Soul,” Jackson is Mississippi’s capital and largest city. The metropolitan area consists of a growing population presently estimated at 568,000. The John R. Lynch Corridor near JSU holds significant historical and cultural importance. This corridor has witnessed a rich tapestry of events, serving as a vital hub for the African American community’s social, economic, and educational life for many generations. It was a focal point of the Civil Rights Movement, with JSU at its heart, playing a pivotal role in advancing racial equality and justice in the 1960s. The West Jackson neighborhood is an expansive area of almost a dozen different communities, multiple schools, hundreds of businesses and nearly two centuries of history. The Jackson Zoo, JJSU, and the Mynelle Gardens Botanical Center are found here.

Jackson, chosen by AAA Southern Traveler Magazine as the Best City in Mississippi, is noted for its beautiful architecture – from the magnificent Capitol building to the modest home of Medgar Evers, a slain civil rights worker. Convention South Magazine editors also selected Jackson among the top 10 “Ministry-Minded Cities” in the South. Life in Jackson pulses with music – gospel, blues, rock, jazz, classical and everything in between – born from a tradition steeped in the arts.

Scores of unique museums and outdoor attractions, hundreds of events and festivals, three historic cultural districts, innumerable visual and performing arts, hot sports action, and cool nightlife await you in Jackson. The local cuisine is classic Southern, ranging from satisfying Soul Food to creative Southern Fusion, to international fare with a Southern flair.

The Search Committee invites letters of interest and nominations to be submitted directly to the search firm, Anthem Executive. Correspondence should include a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Submit materials to Michael Ballew, Scott Watson, JR Wheless, or Florene Stawowy at:

JSUDeanofED@AnthemExecutive.com

While applications and nominations may be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible to assure consideration. Anthem and JSU reserve the right to end or extend the application and nomination process at any time. Expressing interest is the first step in receiving consideration and does not make one an applicant for the position.

SU is an EEO employer. All applications are considered without regard to race, color, national origin, disability (whether actual or perceived by others), religion, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.