Dean of the Honors College

Texas Tech University invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Honors College. The University seeks an accomplished leader who exhibits passion and understanding of the convergent disciplines in the Honors College.  The Dean should be a visible leader, an active listener and have a vested interest in the success and wellbeing of the students, faculty, and staff within the College.  The Dean should have a strong commitment to supporting the overall mission of the University, ensuring that honors education continues to serve as a vital resource and component of Texas Tech and the community. The Dean should share the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse students, staff, and faculty.

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution with an enrollment of more than 40,000 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 in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School.

The Honors College empowers students to face tomorrow’s global grand challenges as future physicians, lawyers, teachers, writers, artists, scholars, engineers, and leaders, pushing them to think beyond the four walls of the classroom and embrace the entirety of the educational experience.  The Honors College strives to improve human life through its constant effort to do good in the world. 

The Honors College was founded in 1998 and has experienced continual growth, with enrollment increasing 69% the last ten years. With a current student enrollment of some 1,700, Honors College students benefit from learning alongside peers with comparable levels of intellectual preparation and commitment while enjoying the advantages of a major research university actively engaged in exploring all areas of human interest and concern.  Honors faculty encourage students to be incisive thinkers, creators, innovators, and problem solvers. All students enrolled in the Honors College may pursue one or more of the 150+ majors and concentrations at Texas Tech, including Honors Sciences & the Humanities (HSH), an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program for the 21st century housed in the Honors College.

The Dean reports to the Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and works closely with the President and other senior officers to implement the University’s strategic plan. Specific opportunities and responsibilities for the Dean include:

  • Assuring the College provides students a broad foundation as well as preparation for employment or for graduate and professional schools
  • Articulating and achieving standards for accomplishment through strategic vision and action
  • Managing and increasing the assets of the school: human, financial, and physical

The successful candidate will have an earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree, with a distinguished record of achievement in teaching, research or creative activity, and service that meets qualifications for appointment at the rank of professor with tenure in an academic discipline offered at Texas Tech University; meaningful experience in academic leadership and honors teaching; a proven record of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; and the ability to work and communicate effectively with all stakeholders of the College. Especially important is the ability to engage and interact with students across programs within the College in order to promote academic excellence and a positive student experience.

Specifically, candidates must demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications:

  • regularly engage and interact with students;
  • clearly articulate the College’s vision, goals, and accomplishments to its many constituencies;
  • promote a culturally aware and inclusive environment with a strong commitment to recruiting, retaining and supporting diverse faculty, staff, and students;
  • further community engagement efforts for the purpose of linking students with the  region;
  • motivate students to strive toward excellence in academics, research, and scholarship;
  • provide leadership, guidance, and counsel to College faculty and staff;
  • lead fundraising initiatives and promote alumni engagement to meet current and future        College priorities;
  • increase awareness of the College and enhance enrollment strategy in order to recruit
  • top  students;
  • manage, allocate, and monitor College budgets;
  • develop a shared vision through open communication and transparency; and
  • cultivate a climate of academic cohesiveness in the College and across campus,  including excellent listening, decision-making, and consensus-building skills.

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 minoritized candidates, women, protected veterans, persons with disabilities, and dual-career couples.

Application materials should include a letter of interest addressing how the candidate’s experience matches the position description, a current curriculum vitae, and a statement explaining how their previous and potential contributions enhance a culture of diversity and inclusion through administration, teaching, research, creative activity and/or service.

To receive the full position profile, as well as to submit applications and nominations, please contact the University’s executive recruitment consultants:

Martin M. Baker, Managing Partner

Chelsie Whitelock, Principal

Buffkin/Baker

ttuhonorsdean@buffkinbaker.com