Dean, College of Education

Texas Tech University (http://www.ttu.edu/) invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Education.  The University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, state-assisted institution with an enrollment of more than 38,000 students.  Texas Tech University and its sister institution, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, are located on 1,850 acres in Lubbock, a city with a population of nearly 250,000 in West Texas.  Known as the “Hub City” because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the region known as the South Plains, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land.  Lubbock is proud of its diversity and strives to create a more inclusive atmosphere in order to embrace its increasingly multicultural and international community.  As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, a School of Law, and a Graduate School.

The University’s strategic plan, A Foundation for the Next Century – A Pathway to 2025, charts a course for Texas Tech to continue to expand its national and international prominence, focusing on three strategic priorities:  1) Educate and empower a diverse student body;  2) Enable innovative research and creative activities;  and 3) Transform lives and communities through strategic outreach and engaged scholarship.  More details on the strategic plan are available at:  https://www.ttu.edu/stratplan/.  The College of Education is a major contributor to all three of the university’s strategic priorities.

The Dean of the College of Education (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/education) oversees three departments: 

Curriculum and Instruction

  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
  • Language Diversity and Literacy Studies
  • Curriculum Studies in Teacher Education

Educational Psychology and Leadership

  • Instructional Technology
  • Counselor Education
  • Higher Education
  • Educational Leadership
  • Educational Psychology
  • Special Education

Teacher Education

  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Science

In addition, there are six research centers and institutes in the College:  the Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Researchthe Center for the Integration of STEM Education and Research (CISER)the Virginia Murray Sowell Center for Research and Education in Sensory Disabilities;  the Institute for Measurement, Methodology, Analysis and Policy (IMMAP);  the Center for Research in Leadership and Education (CRLE); the University-School Partnership for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP) National Center;  and the Center for Innovation in E-Learning (CIEL).  The College has a significant presence at numerous locations around the State of Texas through its online elementary and middle level education TechTeach Across Texas program.  For the 2018 Fall semester, the College had 775 undergraduates and 1,407 graduate students, with approximately 136 faculty FTE.  The majority of the College’s graduate programs are delivered through online instruction.  In fiscal year 2018, the College received over $7 million in research awards.

The successful applicant will have an earned doctorate in education or a closely related discipline and a record of experience and scholarly accomplishments that merit appointment as a tenured professor in one of the college’s departments.  Priority qualifications include a strong background and knowledge of the various fields of study in the College;  an understanding and appreciation of the academic, research, and outreach missions of the College;  and an ability to articulate the strengths of the College and its future direction. 

More specifically, applicants will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  • A commitment to shared governance and seeking and responding to input from the College’s faculty in academic and resources decisions;
  • A demonstrated ability to strategically develop and implement a shared vision through open dialogue and transparency, as well as build and empower teams to accomplish objectives with measurable outcomes;
  • Excellent people and  interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to build effective and productive relationships;
  • Superb communication skills with the ability to articulate and promote the mission of the College, while successfully advocating for the College internationally, nationally, regionally, and within TTU;
  • Substantial administrative experience in fiscal and personnel management;
  • Extensive teaching experience, at both the undergraduate and graduate level;
  • An understanding of successful fundraising and a willingness to engage in development activities to advance the College’s vision and mission;
  • A record of promoting diversity in the broadest sense;
  • An entrepreneurial spirit with a demonstrated ability to stimulate the educational and research enterprise of the College;
  • Interest and ability to serve as a highly strategic partner to faculty and staff in supporting distance and online learning initiatives;
  • A demonstrated record of being active in national professional organizations relative to one’s academic field of interest;
  • The ability to build partnerships with campus, state, federal, and private entities and the educational community in the State of Texas and nationally;
  • Advocacy for economic development and community outreach, including the scholarship of engagement.

The Dean reports to the Provost and works closely with the President and other senior officers to implement the University Strategic Plan.  The specific responsibilities of the Dean include:

  • Developing and implementing the college’s strategic plan;
  • Advising the Office of the Provost on teacher certification requirements for the State of Texas;
  • Managing national and regional accreditation processes;
  • Providing leadership and innovation in teaching, research, and service – including fostering relationships with the community and with state and national educational agencies;
  • Effectively representing the College in the broader university community, alumni relations, fund raising, and in state, federal, and private sector academic and research issues;
  • Managing graduate and undergraduate enrollment;
  • Promoting diversity in recruitment and retention of faculty, staff, and students;
  • Effectively managing the college’s human, financial, and physical resources;
  • Lead the College in a manner that supports the University’s R1 status, while articulating in a supportive way the expectations this development brings for faculty and their scholarship;
  • Being an advocate for every academic program in the college.

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

For information about the position, please contact:  Martin Baker, Managing Partner, Buffkin/Baker

email:  martin@buffkinbaker.com  phone:   336-721-9100.

 

As an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, Texas Tech University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. We actively encourage applications from all those who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community at Texas Tech University. The university welcomes applications from minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and dual-career couples.