School Chair D.W. Johnston School of Business - UT Southern

School Chair D.W. Johnston School of Business - UT Southern

Pulaski, TN, United States

The Opportunity

The University of Tennessee Southern enthusiastically invites applications for the position of School Chair, D.W. Johnston School of Business. The Chair will serve as the academic and administrative leader of the school, providing visionary leadership to advance its mission and strategic goals. The Chair will oversee all aspects of the school’s operations, including academic programs, faculty development, student success, research initiatives, and external partnerships.

This position requires a dynamic and collaborative leader with a commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service. This is a full-time, in-person position beginning in August 2026.

The University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern) is a small public university established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, founded in 1870. Located in Pulaski, UT Southern stands as the fourth undergraduate campus in the UT System. It is the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis, and situated along Tennessee’s southern border. The campus is conveniently located about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama.

The over 1,000 students enrolled at UT Southern enjoy a private, small-college experience at an affordable, public-university cost. Low student‑teacher ratios, high classroom personalization, and the resources of a land‑grant university system are among the many advantages students experience. Nearly 30 academic programs are available through the schools of business, education, arts and humanities, mathematics and sciences, nursing, and social sciences.

The UT Southern Firehawks, competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference, have 19 nationally competitive athletic teams. Both the woman’s and clay target programs have recently won national championships.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees recently approved UT Southern’s inaugural five‑year strategic plan:
Igniting Excellence
. The strategic plan is built on three foundational pillars designed to guide UT Southern through its next phase of growth and development: enhance academic excellence and promote innovation; create transformational student experiences and foster student success; and establish greater connectedness and facilitate campus and community engagement.

The University of Tennessee Southern’s vision is to be the epicenter for education, community leadership, and workforce development in south‑central Tennessee and a national model for higher education in rural America.

• Provide undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs grounded in the liberal arts and sciences that are designed to prepare students for careers and lives of continued learning
• Promote a diverse and globally conscious learning community that nurtures intellectual, social, and personal growth
• Serve the region through educational, social, and cultural programs and through community outreach and development

Duties and Responsibilities

• Academic Leadership
  • Develop and implement a strategic vision for the school in alignment with the university’s mission and goals
  • Oversee the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of undergraduate and graduate programs
  • Foster an environment that supports innovative teaching methods and curriculum development
  • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration within the school and across other departments
• Faculty Development
  • Recruit, mentor, and retain high‑quality faculty members
  • Support faculty in achieving excellence in teaching, research, and service
  • Conduct annual performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to faculty
  • Facilitate opportunities for professional development and research funding
• Student Success
  • Enhance student recruitment, retention, and graduation rates
  • Foster a supportive learning environment that promotes student engagement and achievement
  • Collaborate with faculty to ensure high‑quality advising and mentorship for students
• Administrative Oversight
  • Manage the school’s budget effectively…