Auburn University Dean, College of Agriculture

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Auburn University – – Dean, College of Agriculture

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Auburn University seeks a dynamic and collaborative leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Agriculture and Director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.

Guided by Auburn’s 10-year strategic plan and the College’s newly launched 2026 framework, the next Dean will refine and advance a bold vision that strengthens the College’s impact across Alabama, nationally, and globally. This leader will capitalize on a strong foundation to accelerate strategic priorities and position the College as a leader in agricultural innovation, education, and outreach.

The Dean will oversee a complex and geographically distributed enterprise, requiring a leadership style that fosters alignment, builds trust across stakeholders, and supports a culture of excellence. The Dean will be expected to prioritize faculty and staff development; ensure sustained enrollment and an exceptional student experience; and align academic offerings with workforce needs. The Dean will champion research excellence, building on recent success averaging more than $58 million annually in sponsored funding and leveraging new investments in research facilities.

The role also emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and external engagement. The Dean will expand partnerships across Auburn University while serving as a prominent ambassador to industry leaders, producers, policymakers, and partner institutions. Strengthening these relationships will be critical to securing resources, advancing innovation, and ensuring responsiveness to evolving agricultural challenges and opportunities.

The ideal candidate will bring a distinguished academic background, proven leadership in complex organizations, and a commitment to shared governance, student success, and faculty advancement.

With more than 160 faculty, 285 staff, and over 1,400 students, the College of Agriculture plays a central role in Auburn’s land-grant mission, offering the next Dean a significant opportunity to drive meaningful and lasting impact.

Applications can be submitted through the Witt Kieffer Candidate Portal at  Applicants should submit, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest that addresses the themes outlined in this profile. For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by AUGUST 10, 2026
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Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the Witt Kieffer consultants supporting this search:

Ryan Crawford,

Jessica Herrington,

Jess Cummings,

Auburn University is an EEO/Vet/Disability Employer and committed to building an inclusive and diverse community.

The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU)

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