Stephen F. Austin State University - Chair Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business

Stephen

F. Austin State University
Nelson Rusche College of Business
Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business

The Nelson Rusche College of Business at Stephen

F. Austin State University is investing in its future. Building on sustained enrollment growth, expanded faculty investment, and renewed institutional support, the College is strengthening its leadership team to advance academic excellence and student success. Recent retirements and promotions, together with the appointment of Dean Jason Reese, provide a unique opportunity to assemble a leadership team that will help shape the College's next chapter.

A loyal donor base, dedicated development support, and funding for strategic initiatives give the next Chair of the Department of Economics & Finance the resources to innovate, pursue new opportunities, and move priorities forward.

Collaboration is central to this vision. Faculty and administrators are working across departments to advance shared priorities while leveraging the unique strengths of each academic unit. The next Chair will play a significant role in that work, leading the Department while contributing to the broader direction of the College.

The Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business serves approximately 767 students and, when fully staffed, includes 18 faculty and one staff member. Its interdisciplinary portfolio spans entrepreneurship, applied business, hospitality, sports business, and business communication. Entrepreneurship is an area of particular momentum at SFA: in 2026, the University's entrepreneurship academic program and Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship were named the nation's top emerging entrepreneurship program by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

The University is investing further in this growing entrepreneurship ecosystem through the new $40 million Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship, a state-of-the-art facility designed to support innovation, collaboration, experiential learning, and engagement with the business community. The next Chair will have a distinctive opportunity to help shape the Department's direction and identity, strengthen connections across its academic areas, and expand experiential learning and external partnerships.

Reporting to the Dean, the Department Chair serves as the academic and administrative leader of the department while maintaining faculty responsibilities in teaching, scholarship, and service. This full-time, twelve-month faculty appointment provides strategic leadership for academic programs, faculty development, student success, budgeting, assessment, and external engagement while advancing the mission of the University.

As a member of The University of Texas System, SFA offers a highly competitive benefits package, including fully paid employee-only medical coverage, robust retirement options, and tuition assistance for employees and eligible family members.

• Provide strategic leadership for the department consistent with the mission of the College and University.
• Foster excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Lead academic program development, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, mentor, evaluate, and support faculty.
• Develop course schedules and manage faculty workload.
• Oversee departmental budgets and resources.
• Promote collaboration among faculty, students, and university partners.
• Represent and advocate for the department internally and externally.
• Support student success while building relationships with alumni, employers, and community partners.
• Promote a collaborative, collegial, and inclusive academic culture.

• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and other constituents.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Sound judgment and effective decision-making skills.
• Ability to establish objectives, assess needs, and evaluate effectiveness.
• Ability to manage departmental budgets and resources effectively.
• Ability to effectively supervise and support faculty and staff.

• Terminal degree in a discipline represented within the department, allowing the individual to teach within the department.
• Sufficient experience to warrant a tenured appointment in one of the disciplines within the department.
• Strong record of research and other scholarly achievements.

• Prior…