The Dean of the Honors College serves as the senior academic and administrative leader for Austin Peay State University’s Honors College. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and academic oversight for the Honors College and serves as the chief advocate for honors students, faculty, programs, and initiatives across the university. The Dean is responsible for advancing a honors experience that promotes a distinctive curriculum grounded in high-impact practices and innovative teaching, undergraduate research and creative inquiry, global learning, community engagement, internships, leadership development, competitive fellowships, and other experiential learning opportunities. Aligning the Honors College’s academic priorities with institutional goals and national best practices, the Dean will lead efforts to strengthen the Honors College as an academic home for high-achieving students and as a university-wide catalyst for innovation, student success, and distinguished achievement. The Dean will oversee the Honors College budget, programs, assessment, faculty, staff, and student leadership structures, while working collaboratively with academic colleges, departments, Admissions, Advancement, Government Relations, Student Affairs, and external partners. The Dean will also represent Austin Peay State University in national honors networks and lead recruitment, fundraising, and development efforts for the Honors College.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Provide strategic vision, academic leadership, and administrative oversight for the Honors College.
Report directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and serve as a member of the university’s academic leadership team.
Oversee Honors College programs, operations, budget, faculty, staff, student initiatives, and assessment processes.
Develop, implement, and evaluate Honors College policies, procedures, academic standards, and curricular expectations.
Lead the development of Honors courses, seminars, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning opportunities, and other academic experiences that support Honors education.
Work collaboratively with academic deans, department chairs, faculty, and academic programs to expand and coordinate Honors course offerings across the university.
Represent Austin Peay State University in National honors networks and related organizations, including the National Collegiate Honors Council, Council of Undergraduate Research, National Association of Fellowships Advisors, and other such organizations.
Provide oversight for the awarding and recognition of Honors degrees, Honors distinctions, and related student achievements.
Supervise and provide leadership for Honors College personnel and affiliated roles, including the Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Research and Innovative Learning, Director of Global Education and Competitive Fellowships, Director of Community Engaged Learning, Faculty Fellows, Faculty-in-Residence, communications staff, administrative staff, and student leadership groups.
Support and guide the work of the Associate Dean in Honors course scheduling, Honors course development, assessment, student success outcomes, internship placement, and retention and graduation strategies.
Support the Director of Undergraduate Research and Innovative Learning in expanding undergraduate research, experiential learning, internships, externships, cooperative education, and career-connected academic opportunities.
Support the Director of Global Education and Competitive Fellowships in advancing study abroad, study away, faculty and student exchanges, Washington Center Internships, and competitive fellowships such as Fulbright, Rhodes, Truman, Goldwater, Gilman, and related programs.
Support the Director of Community Engaged Learning in advancing service learning, community-engaged learning, the President’s Emerging Leaders Program, and other high-impact practices connected to campus and community needs.
Provide oversight for Faculty Fellows and Faculty-in-Residence who teach Honors seminars, mentor students, support Honors theses and undergraduate research, and lead co-curricular initiatives.
Engage and advise Honors Student Council and Honors College Ambassadors to support student leadership, recruitment, mentoring, programming, and peer engagement.
Develop and maintain strong partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, donors, community organizations, national programs, and external stakeholders.
Use data, assessment, and student success outcomes to evaluate Honors College effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.
Promote a culture of academic excellence, innovation, belonging, leadership, civic engagement, and student achievement within the Honors College.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of Honors education, high-impact practices and experiential learning, , student leadership development, and academic excellence initiatives.
Knowledge of contemporary trends in Honors education, higher education, student success, retention, persistence, graduation strategies, and post-graduate preparation.
Strong understanding of academic program development, curriculum design, Honors course development, and interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary learning.
Ability to provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for a growing Honors College.
Ability to work collaboratively with academic deans, department chairs, faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and external partners.
Strong administrative, organizational, budgeting, planning, and assessment skills.
Ability to lead faculty and staff, build effective teams, and foster a collaborative and student-centered culture.
Ability to advocate effectively for Honors students, Honors faculty, and the mission of the Honors College.
Strong communication, public speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to lead recruitment and retention strategies for academically talented and high-achieving students.
Ability to cultivate philanthropic support, engage donors, and develop external partnerships that advance Honors College priorities.
Ability to represent the university professionally in local, regional, national, and international settings.
Knowledge of competitive fellowship and scholarship programs and the role they play in elevating student achievement and institutional reputation.
Ability to use data and assessment to evaluate student outcomes, program effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
Commitment to academic excellence, student success, innovation, leadership development, community engagement, and the mission of Austin Peay State University.
Required Minimum Qualifications
An earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution in an academic discipline appropriate for appointment as a tenured faculty member at Austin Peay State University.
A record of teaching, scholarship, and service sufficient to merit appointment at the rank of Professor
Demonstrated experience in academic leadership, which may include service as a department chair, associate dean, program director, honors program leader, center director, or comparable academic administrative role.
Austin Peay State University is a four-year public, doctoral-level university, with six colleges and four Chairs of Excellence. The University has an enrollment of over 11,000 students and is located in Clarksville, Tennessee, a community of an estimated 150,287 people located approximately 40 miles northwest of Nashville, TN.
Austin Peay State University is a proud supporter of hiring veterans. We hire veterans with equivalent experiences and pay grades from their military service, rather than requiring or preferring only college degrees. Please visit our website for more information on how veterans can qualify for additional employment opportunities at APSU: https://www.apsu.edu/human-resources/hiring-veterans/.
Austin Peay State University (APSU) prohibits discrimination in all employment, programs, and activities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), disability, age, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. For Title IX inquiries or complaints, contact: Chief of Institutional Culture & Title IX Coordinator, LaNeeça R. Williams at williamslr@apsu.edu | 931-221-7690, Browning Building, Room 140, Clarksville, TN 37044. For other non-discrimination concerns, contact: Director of Institutional Culture & Title VI & Title VII Coordinator, Dr. Jo Baldwin at baldwinjapsu.edu | 931-221-7178 or Associate Director of Accessibility Compliance & ADA/504 Coordinator, Jayme Glover at gloverj@apsu.edu | 931-221-7160. View APSU’s full nondiscrimination policy at Policy 6:001.
