Dean, Eriksson College of Education

Dean, Eriksson College of Education

Austin Peay State University invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations for the role of Dean of the Eriksson College of Education. The University seeks a forward-thinking educator and administrator who is passionate about preparing the next generation of teachers, leaders, and change agents across Tennessee’s education landscape and beyond. The new Dean will join Tennessee’s fastest-growing public university and have the opportunity to build upon Austin Peay’s positive momentum as a leading institution in the region.

Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, Austin Peay State University (APSU) is a thriving campus serving more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students, marking its largest enrollment year in Fall 2025. APSU is classified as a Master’s Large Research institution by the Carnegie Foundation, offering doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate programs, with many programs offered fully online. Austin Peay also serves as a hallmark institution in its service to first-generation students, making up nearly 40 percent of the University’s enrollment, and its commitment to access and pathways to high-quality education for all.

Austin Peay has a strong relationship with the United States military and is one of only two universities with its own facility on an Army installation – at Fort Campbell – which serves more military-affiliated students than any other university in Tennessee, currently comprising over 30 percent of APSU’s total student body.

Austin Peay is known as a hub for academic excellence in the region, dedicated to fostering intellectual development, civic responsibility, community engagement, and creative expression through its student-centered approach to education, robust academic programs, and an exceptional faculty and staff. The University is composed of seven distinct colleges:
College of Arts and Letters (CoAL), College of Behavioral and Health Sciences (CoBHS), College of Business (CoB), Eriksson College of Education (ECoE), College of Graduate Studies (CoGS), College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CoSTEM), and University College.

Austin Peay lays claim to more than 1,600 faculty and staff. The more than 680 faculty (full- and part-time) are known for their dedication to teaching, student growth and development, mentoring, scholarship, and service. Over 900 (full- and part-time) staff members partner in the academic enterprise and embrace their roles as co-educators. The student‑faculty ratio is 14:1, and the average undergraduate class size is 24 students.

With a population of more than 189,000, Clarksville is Tennessee’s fifth-largest city and is located just 45 minutes from Nashville, along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. It is one of the fastest-growing and youngest cities in the country and has been highlighted for its business-friendly ecosystem with talent attraction, relocation appeal, and an engaged community investment climate. As of 2024, Clarksville has been ranked among the top 4 “Cities Where Millennia ls Are Buying Homes” by , was recognized in “The South’s Best Cities on the Rise” by Southern Living and was named “No.

1 Best Place to Live” in 2019 by Money magazine.

The Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education (ECoE) is a nationally recognized educator‑preparation college at Austin Peay, serving more than 800 undergraduate and graduate students seeking undergraduate educator concentrations and teaching licensure, master’s, and doctoral degrees across education and leadership disciplines. The College prepares dynamic teachers and educational leaders to positively impact communities and schools in the 21st century by modeling reflective practices and connecting theory to student-centered learning.

Across two departments, the ECoE offers comprehensive preparation for aspiring students seeking teaching and educational leadership careers, the Department of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Educational Specialties. ECoE has seen strong enrollment growth, with graduate enrollment up over 44 percent across the past two years and undergraduate teacher‑certificate…