Dean​/Professor Belcher College of Fine & Performing Arts

Dean/Professor of the Belcher College of Fine & Performing Arts #002287 Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include a cover letter, current resume and a list of four professional references with complete contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact search committee chair, Jill Nelson Granger,  or via email at jngranger

Working Title Dean/Professor of the Belcher College of Fine & Performing Arts #002287

Department

Department Office, Dean, Fine & Performing Art

Anticipated Hiring Range

Anticipated Hiring Range Based On qualifications/experience, Internal equity, and departmental budget restrictions.

About WCU

• 2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes “America’s Best Employers by State” list.
• 2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes “America’s Best Midsize Employers” list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes “America’s Best Midsize Employers” list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes “America’s Best Employers by State” list.
• Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s Westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
• Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan.
  
  Optional disability plans are also available.
• Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year.
  
  Leave earning employees (staff and 12‑month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
• WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.

Position Summary

Western Carolina University seeks a proven and visionary leader who understands the complexities of administering and leading an engaged college of fine and performing arts in the context of shared governance. The Dean of the BCFPA serves as the chief administrative officer and academic leader of the College and is charged with promoting a student‑centered culture of academic excellence and inclusivity in all programs.

The Dean reports to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and, as a member of the Provost’s Council, works collaboratively with other deans and members of the Academic Affairs staff. Candidates should demonstrate success in higher education administration and possess a record of distinction in teaching, service, and scholarship.

The Dean of the BCFPA is responsible for oversight of multiple processes and functions including but not limited to fundraising, strategic planning, policy management, budgeting, faculty recruitment, hiring, and retention, program assessment and review, and management of college resources such as space allocation, scheduling and assignment of courses, infrastructure oversight, and personnel management (including the collegial review process).

Other responsibilities include:

• Providing effective…