Academic Department Head

Department Head of Kinesiology

Department Contact: Christopher Aiken, aiken,

• Position Title: Academic Department Head
• College/Division: College of Health, Education & Social Transformation
• Department: Department of Kinesiology
• Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
• Salary: $135,000 - $150,000, plus $21,000 department head differential
• Appointment: Full‑time, 1.0 FTE
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Work Schedule: Standard (Mon‑Fri, 8‑5)

• Articulate and implement a strategic vision for the department.
• Support faculty success across teaching, scholarship, creative activity, and service.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain outstanding faculty and staff.
• Promote interdisciplinary research and external funding.
• Strengthen undergraduate and graduate education.
• Oversee budgeting, personnel, and departmental operations.
• Maintain accreditation and continuous program improvement.
• Cultivate partnerships across campus and throughout the Borderland.
• Foster a culture grounded in collaboration, innovation, transparency, accountability, and shared governance.

• An earned doctorate in kinesiology or a closely related discipline.
• Qualification sufficient for appointment as an associate professor or professor at NMSU.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience at a higher‑education institution.
• Evidence of excellence in research, teaching, and service suitable for tenure.
• Experience supporting faculty development and student success.
• Demonstrated administrative experience (budgeting, personnel management, accreditation, assessment, curriculum development, strategic planning).
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary academic units.
• Experience supporting doctoral education.
• Mentoring faculty through promotion and tenure.
• Securing external funding.
• Leading accredited academic programs.
• Fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations.
• Supporting enrollment growth and academic innovation.
• Experience at a Research‑1 university, Hispanic‑Serving Institution, land‑grant university, or institution serving diverse communities.

• Interior office environment; light physical effort, no more than two hours per day; lifting up to 10 pounds.
• No or very limited physical risk.

New Mexico State University does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military service, or other non‑merit factor.