Kansas State University - Dean of Graduate School

Kansas State University Dean of Graduate School

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Kansas State University in its search for Dean of Graduate School.

Kansas State University, the nation’s first land-grant university, invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Graduate School. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a dynamic, outward facing, student-focused leader to serve as the Dean of the Graduate School within a public R1, land-grant university.

The Dean of the Graduate School will assume this role during an exciting time as the university advances innovative graduate program and strategic enrollment efforts. K-State’s graduate enterprise serves about 4,200 students across 200 graduate degree and certificate programs, with programs offered across three campuses and more than 70 graduate programs available online. Another 500 DVM students are enrolled in K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Dean will work closely with the president, provost, deans, vice provosts, vice president for research, and other senior leaders to formulate and implement a comprehensive and visionary strategy that engages prospective and current graduate students from Kansas, across the country, and internationally.

As a dynamic leader, the Dean will ensure the growth, development, quality, and continuation of graduate programs and graduate education at K-State, providing strategic leadership and vision to advance graduate education in directions consistent with the Next Gen K-State Strategic Plan.

The Dean will work collaboratively with partners across the three physical campuses and within nine colleges to develop an integrated, analytically informed, and collaborative approach to graduate program enrollment.

This role requires an ability to advance K-State’s graduate programs with a fresh, relevant perspective.

The Dean of the Graduate School provides academic, curricular, policy, research, enrollment, strategic, and administrative leadership on matters related to graduate education at Kansas State University. The Dean cultivates progressive academic and administrative policies related to graduate education, oversees the operations of the Graduate School, and fosters collaborative relationships with faculty, program coordinators, deans, administrators, students, and other Graduate School stakeholders.

The Dean ensures plans, policies, practices, procedures, and programs align with university-wide and college-level strategic directions.

The position reports directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President, Jesse Perez Mendez, and serves as a member of the Academic Leadership Council and Deans Council.

• Conceptualizes a strategic and innovative vision for the Graduate School’s future that will motivate the faculty and inspire students.
• Maintains stewardship over and is a strong advocate for graduate students’ success and excellence, providing direction, support, and oversight for graduate education responsive to the needs of our diverse graduate student body.
• Has primary responsibility for admission and records, program development and evaluation, and strategic leadership for graduate and postgraduate education at K-State.
• Oversees key management functions of the Graduate School, including optimizing financial aid resources, applying new technologies, setting priorities with finite resources, nurturing staff development, setting performance objectives, evaluating outcomes, and maintaining accountability.

• Strengthens existing and nurtures the development of graduate programs, new disciplines, degrees, certificates, other credentials, and interdisciplinary approaches.
• Deve…