Dean, College of Business

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University (JWU) is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with nearly 10,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, hospitality, nutrition, and health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics, food innovation, and engineering and design. JWU’s unique model provides students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 127 countries pursuing careers worldwide. 

JWU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association.

The College of Business (COB) offers distinctive opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning in all programs. Students from across campus can take advantage of the Entrepreneurship Center, which sponsors Sharkfest for aspiring entrepreneurs each year. Members of the celebrated Ad Team won the 2017 American Advertising Federation National Student Advertising Competition and have competed in the finals of the competition eight times in the last 10 years. In addition, the Finance Program gives qualified students the opportunity to manage a portion of the university’s endowment as a portfolio manager, director of investment research or sector analyst by participating in a unique internship opportunity called the JWU Wildcat Investment Value Fund. Students can also compete in a student-managed portfolio competition through the Global Asset Management Education Forum.

The college offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science (MS), and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). In addition, COB offers several certificate programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, a minor in Human Resources Management, and a nondegree program for pre-master’s degree students. Students are able to enroll in either traditionally offered programs or business programs offered through the College of Online Education, which has experienced significant growth over the last several years. In the fall of 2021, the College of Business will be launching the first of its kind, Bachelor of Science in Cannabis Entrepreneurship. 

More than 1,600 undergraduate and 900 graduate students are enrolled in COB programs. COB employs 60 full-time faculty members and has a similar number of part-time faculty members. 

The Dean of the College of Business provides visionary leadership and overall direction for the college. The major responsibilities emphasize academic excellence, student enrollment, retention and graduation rates, external relationships that advance the goals of the college, excellence of programs through program accreditation, fundraising, and the development and execution of a college plan. The dean oversees administrative, operational and budgetary affairs, directs the academic programs, and fosters an environment of continuous improvement, innovation and growth.

The dean will be a leader in business education with the professional experience needed to run a highly regarded program during a time of rapid change. A master’s degree is required, and a doctorate or other terminal degree is preferred. Strong candidates will be expected to demonstrate excellence in the following: 

• Experience with AACSB accreditation standards and processes
• Significant leadership experience in an organization in which innovation is emphasized
• Ability to create a vision, execute innovation and promote design thinking
• Experience successfully leading complex projects
• Fundraising track record or interpersonal skills that would suggest high potential in this regard
• Leadership towards building a diverse, equitable and inclusive scholarly environment
• Record of fostering innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial risk-taking
• Advocacy on behalf of an institution, both within a university and to external audiences
• Appreciation for, and support of, faculty, staff and alumni, all of whom contribute immeasurably to student success
• Connections in the business world and an enthusiasm for leveraging those networks 
• A nuanced understanding of the increasingly competitive higher education market

Send nominations, inquiries and expressions of interest to JWUCOB@russellreynolds.com

 Embracing diversity for a richly inclusive community is a Guiding Principle at JWU. Our students, faculty and staff have varied backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that unite us as one community and contribute to our success. We are committed to enhancing the diversity of our workforce teams and we encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.

Johnson & Wales University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.