Dean; Sanders College of Business & Technology

Dean Of The Sanders College Of Business And Technology

The University of North Alabama seeks a strategic, collaborative, and forward-looking leader to serve as Dean of the Sanders College of Business and Technology (AACSB-accredited). This is an exciting opportunity to lead a college positioned at the intersection of business, technology, workforce development, innovation, and regional economic growth. The dean is the principal administrator and primary advocate for the college and reports directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The successful candidate will preserve and strengthen the college's positive culture while advancing academic quality, technology integration, workforce relevance, and student success. The successful candidate will listen carefully, build trust, communicate clearly, support faculty and staff, and help the Sanders College develop a distinctive academic identity rooted in academic excellence and strong career outcomes. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Appointment is expected to begin in January of 2027 or a mutually agreed upon date. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

The dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the college, providing strategic direction, managing resources effectively, strengthening academic programs, and advancing the college's role in student success, workforce development, and regional engagement. The dean will be expected to:

• Provide strategic leadership for the college while strengthening its culture, academic quality, AACSB accreditation, and commitment to faculty, staff, and student success.
• Advance enrollment, retention, career readiness, technology integration, responsible program growth, and workforce alignment.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with alumni, donors, employers, advisory boards, and regional industry leaders while responsibly stewarding college resources.
• Expand fundraising and regional engagement by cultivating relationships throughout North Alabama, including the Shoals and surrounding communities, with leaders and organizations in the defense, technology, analytics, and advanced manufacturing sectors to create new opportunities for students, faculty, the college, and the University.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities The successful candidate should demonstrate strong communication and trust-building leadership skills; knowledge of and successful experience with strategic planning, budgeting, personnel management, accreditation, and continuous improvement; and the ability to demonstrate commitments to academic excellence, faculty and staff support, student success, workforce alignment, and shared governance; as well as knowledge of and successful experience with building external partnerships.

An earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree in a discipline represented within the college or a closely related field is required. Candidates must also have teaching, scholarly, professional, or applied achievements commensurate with appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure, as well as successful administrative leadership experience in higher education. Preferred qualifications include experience in an AACSB-accredited college or school of business;

leadership of business or technology-related academic programs; fundraising, alumni, donor, or industry partnership experience; and success with enrollment growth, retention, internships, career placement, regional economic development, or related workforce initiatives.

Applicants must upload a cover letter and resume/CV at the time of application and provide contact information – including email addresses – for at least three professional/academic references. Transcripts are also required. The cover letter should address the applicant's qualifications for the position, including leadership experience, academic and administrative accomplishments, vision for the college of business and technology, experience with accreditation or continuous improvement activities,…