Dean Applied Trades

Dean for Applied Trades Arkansas State University‑Newport

The Dean for Applied Trades reports to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs/Provost and has responsibility for the coordination, oversight, and assessment of the division’s programs, courses, and faculty for campuses at Newport, Marked Tree, and Jonesboro. This role supports the College’s mission of providing and ensuring quality educational programs for ASUN’s various constituencies. The Dean for Applied Trades must demonstrate strong leadership, management, and development skills to support faculty in teaching, industry partnership, and service within the departments of Culinary Arts, Commercial Driver Training, Diesel Technology, Cosmetology, Automotive Service, Esthetics and Agriculture Technology.

This position will be housed on the Newport campus but will work on all ASUN campus locations as needed.

• Promotes, develops, and assesses quality programs that align with local industry needs.
• Cultivates and maintains strong industry and community partnerships to ensure local support and demand for program graduates.
• Represents the division on the Instructional Council and serves as a conduit for information to and from the other Academic Divisions, faculty, and staff.
• Exercises effective administrative and management skills through collegial communication with other ASUN departments.
• Actively participates in partnerships geared toward resource acquisition, support, and funding to sustain program infrastructure, growth, and sustainability.
• Models effective decision‑making skills through use of the principles of shared leadership through open communication.
• Leads implementation of plans for assessment and improvement of student learning in the academic division, assists in accreditation efforts and oversees regular program reviews.
• Oversees training facilities and coordinate appropriate safety guidelines, training, and equipment in conjunction with faculty.
• Facilitates the student grievance process for issues within the division.
• Coordinates special events related to the division (Ag Day, Skills USA, AST Competition, etc.).
• Serves on college‑wide committees, special project teams, state and local committees, and community service and civic committees as needed, and acts as a professional and positive representative of the College.
• Safeguards the financial health of the division by proactively monitoring, analyzing, and reviewing operating budgets, enrollment‑driven revenue forecasts, and expenditures.
• Exercises prudent stewardship over divisional assets, instructional resources, and capital equipment, actively mitigating financial risk and limiting institutional liability.
• Identifies and pursues alternative revenue streams, including grants, corporate training, partnerships, and external funding, to supplement and maximize divisional resources.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

A bachelor’s degree plus 5 years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred. Demonstrated work with industry partnership capacity building and advisory committee development and leadership, preferably at the two‑year college level. Two years of teaching experience at the two‑year college level and supervisory experience preferred.

Ability to effectively communicate information and respond to questions in person‑to‑person and small group situations with customers, clients, general public and other employees of the organization. Ability to read, analyze, and understand general business/company related articles and professional journals;
Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals;
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Ability to read, analyze, and understand common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents;
Ability to respond to complex or difficult inquiries or complaints from customers,…