Dean Of The College Of Business And Economics

Job Summary

Towson University (TU), Maryland's largest comprehensive university and a recognized leader in student learning, diversity, research, and community service, seeks a visionary, energetic, and innovative leader to serve as its next Dean of the College of Business & Economics (CBE).
Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Melanie Perreault, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College and will join TU at a pivotal juncture in its history, as the University has recently welcomed its 15 th President, Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg, and continues the trajectory of excellence and impact in teaching and scholarship to become a Carnegie R2 institution.


TU placed No.
26 among public institutions nationwide in a recent ranking of the best undergraduate business schools by the online business education publication, "Poets & Quants."
Specifically, the CBE graduates scored high marks in career outcomes, with 85% of students having a business-specific internship prior to graduation, and 96% of graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating.
With accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) for both business and accounting, the CBE provides a culture of world-class business education, transforming thousands of students into professionals each year.
With this hands-on approach to learning, the CBE prepares graduates for success in their professional careers.


Responsibilities and Duties

The CBE Strategic Plan 2020-2025 supports their mission of developing high quality and innovative programs and resources, connecting individuals to opportunities by applying theory to practice in curricular, co-curricular and scholarship activities, and transforming students into professionals who will have a positive societal impact within Maryland and beyond.
With more than 100 full-time faculty, dozens of adjunct faculty, and more than 20 full-time staff, the CBE faculty and staff embrace a culture of striving for excellence, learning, ethical behavior, civility, diversity, inclusion, creativity, and engagement.


TU's role as an anchor institution in Greater Baltimore and close proximity to Washington DC present a unique opportunity to partner with leading businesses in a variety of industries.
With a focus on outreach, the CBE channels its resources in its three centers: the Center for Applied Business and Economic Research; the Maryland Council of Economic Education; and a partnership with the Baltimore Cash Campaign.
In addition, TU's StarTUp at the Armory has served as the front door for start-ups, small businesses, as well as the region's largest corporations.
These partnerships allow the CBE students to connect with the professional community and apply their business knowledge, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills to achieve common goals within diverse teams.


Working in collaboration with the CBE's department chairs, center directors, and faculty in keeping with TU's traditions of shared governance, the Dean will advance a bold vision for the CBE's future that also respects the College's deeply held traditions and core values.
They will develop a long-term strategy to guide the CBE's growth and development, leveraging entrepreneurial opportunities available within its dynamic ecosystem and the larger community.
The Dean will play a key role in stewarding existing relationships and building new networks that benefit the College and its partners.
Success in the role will require an individual who can inspire and unify the community around shared priorities; continue to attract, retain, and cultivate talented and diverse faculty, staff, and students; and empower all within CBE to be at the forefront of elevating the university to Carnegie R2 Classification.
As a passionate, energetic champion for the educational mission and student success, the incoming Dean must be an exceptional communicator who is skilled at building relationships with internal and external partners, represent the College compellingly to stakeholders and donors, and demonstrate an uncompromising commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice.


Qualifications and Skills

While no single candidate will have all the ideal qualifications, the successful candidate will have many of the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:

An earned doctorate and a distinguished record of academic excellence; credentials that qualify for appointment at the full professor level; Leadership experience as a successful academic administrator, such as service as a department chair or center director level or above; An intellectual leader; a distinguished teacher, scholar, entrepreneur, and innovator; able to set metric-driven decisions in pursuit of an institutional mission, engaging in a continual process of assessment and improvement, and communicating with constituents through a communicative and accountable style of decision-making; A personal and professional history of impactful research and scholarship, with a record of success in the ability to encourage and support others in their own scholarly achievement; A personal understanding of the supports and resources needed at a high-performing, multimodal university dedicated to excellence in research, teaching, and service at the R2 level and beyond; A demonstrated track record of enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and improving the culture and climate for students, staff, and faculty; respect for individuality and a commitment to promoting diversity as a critical component of academic excellence; Experience with faculty recruitment and retention; facilitating promotion and tenure processes; proven ability to cultivate and develop staff and an aptitude to form an effective leadership team; An astute understanding of academic finances and experience establishing budget priorities and serving as a responsible steward of resources; ability to make difficult decisions and prioritize; A demonstrated passion for students, research, and service and a keen sense of the trends and developments at top business programs; experience growing and promoting research within a traditionally teaching-focused institution; An excellent collaborator who can partner with other deans and administrators, department chairs, faculty, staff, and students; Demonstrated willingness and ability to fundraise, generating and achieving philanthropic goals and securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, and/or foundations; Established connections to industry, government, and educational organizations and the ability to create opportunities for faculty and students; an exceptional communicator who can inspire internal and external constituencies to attract partners to support new initiatives; A record that demonstrates the highest degree of integrity, transparency, honesty, and fairness.
Salary and Benefits

Targeted hiring range is $310,000 - $335,000 and full University benefits that include 22 days of annual leave, up to 15 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life, and retirement plans; and tuition remission.
To learn more about our benefits, please click here .


Procedure for Candidacy: Towson University has retained WittKieffer, a national executive search firm, to assist a university search committee in this recruitment.
Application materials, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., Lauren Bruce-Stets, and Tyler Workman at ****** .


The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.