Director School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies

Director of the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies

Working Title:

Director of the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies

Posting Number: F01774P

Department: SDSU-School of Psych, Soc & Rural Studies

Physical

Location:

Brookings

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at South Dakota State University (SDSU) invites applications for the position of Director of the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies.
This posting is internal to South Dakota State University. Only full-time, permanent employees will be considered. This is a full-time, 12-month, benefit-eligible, tenure-track position with the rank of Professor with an anticipated start date of June 22, 2026. This position is supervised by the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The successful applicant will serve as the leader of a multidisciplinary unit residing within the College.

The School seeks a dynamic leader who will build upon the strengths of the School in psychology, sociology, rural studies, and criminology to chart a course that will elevate social science disciplines dership opportunities include the development and growth of SDSU’s new Ph.D. program in social sciences that includes specializations in rural well‑being and environmental and rural development. The successful candidate will provide forward‑thinking leadership;

facilitate strategic planning and goal setting; actively participate in campus and college‑based student success initiatives; mentor faculty and staff; provide effective scheduling and budgeting; and engage thoughtfully with donors and other external stakeholders. The successful candidate will serve primarily as an administrator but may establish, through consultation with the dean of the college, appropriate workload dedicated to research and scholarship and/or teaching.

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

• Reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the new Director will build community among faculty, staff, and students and establish a clear agenda for the development of the School that supports program growth; faculty, staff, and student success; and the land‑grant mission of SDSU.
• The Director manages School resources and ensures that they are efficiently utilized to achieve student learning outcomes, enhance student success, facilitate faculty research and scholarship, meet the professional needs of faculty and staff, and foster a collegial working environment.
• The Director serves the School by providing leadership; coordination and administration in the ongoing development, implementation and assessment of academic programs; provides support for faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (RSCA); develops structures to ensure student success and increase enrollment; and sets a clear vision for the growth and success of the School.
• The Director is responsible for general oversight of the faculty, staff, and facilities assigned to the programs housed within the school.

• Serves as primary administrator for the School of Psychology, Sociology and Rural Studies.
• Collaborates with the dean, associate dean, and other school directors within the college to elevate the overall standing of the college and its schools.
• Provides leadership throughout the School to ensure that programs and degrees align and meet the School’s mission, vision and goals.
• Collaborates with the dean, the college’s development director, and foundation personnel to cultivate and steward relationships with alumni, donors and other external partners in pursuit of the college’s and the university’s fundraising priorities.
• Strengthens existing programs and ensures their success, including strategic management of financial resources; careful oversight of course schedules, course topics, instructor assignments, methods of instruction and locations; attention to the assessment of student learning as well as the evaluation of program effectiveness; and regular review of the curriculum for currency with disciplinary standards and best practices and…