Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Named as one of the Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities for 2021 by College Consensus, Fort Valley State University seeks a visionary, courageous, and skilled leader to be the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The next Dean will have the opportunity to lead a strong college of arts and sciences that is eclectic and diverse in its research, creative activity, and program offerings. Take a virtual tour of the University at http://fvsu.vrtoursrvr.com/.

For complete information on this search, see the Search Profile at https://myersmcrae.com/skins/userfiles/files/FVSU-CAS.pdf

About the University

Located in Central Georgia, Fort Valley State University is a comprehensive institution offering 37 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. One of the University System of Georgia’s three public historically black universities, FVSU is the state’s only 1890 Land Grant Institution. Dr. Paul A. Jones has served as President since 2015.

     Founded in 1895, FVSU combines the personal attention and family feel of a small, private college with the level of research funding found at large public universities. The University’s 1,365-acre main campus in Fort Valley has the second largest acreage of any Georgia university.

     FVSU advances its mission and educational goals through three academic colleges: Agriculture, Family Sciences, and Technology; Arts and Sciences; and Education and Professional Studies. In fall 2020, the University enrolled 2,827 undergraduate and graduate students.

     The diverse faculty provide a supportive, yet challenging learning environment that encourages innovation and inspires lifelong learning and the realization of aspirations. Students benefit from strong mentoring by accessible professors. The close-knit campus community encourages personal and academic growth and establishes lifelong ties that extend well beyond graduation.

     Ninety-two percent of the student body is from Georgia, and nearly 64 percent of the students are female. More than 83 percent of the students attend the University full-time.

     FVSU has been recognized four consecutive years as the top public historically black college in Georgia. This #1 ranking includes U.S. News and World Report, 2019 and 2020 Best Colleges rankings, and the Washington Monthly, 2019. In 2018, Diverse Issues in Higher Education listed FVSU as a top 10 producer of African Americans with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, engineering technology, family and consumer sciences, computer and information systems, psychology, and history in the state of Georgia.

     The National Science Foundation provides more funding for science, technology, engineering, and math research at FVSU than at any other public teaching college in Georgia, putting it in the top 10 for NSF-funded STEM research among all colleges in the state.

     Fort Valley State University has produced graduates who have literally changed the world, serving as pioneers and trailblazers in civil rights, education, law and government, human rights, and public policy.

College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences is a center of liberal study, intellectual exploration, scientific advancement, and artistic expression. The College houses eight academic departments: Behavioral and Sciences; Biology; Business Administration and Economics; Chemistry; Language and Liberal Studies; Mental Health Counseling; Mathematics and Computer Science; and Visual and Performing Arts and Media Studies. Among the College’s most recent program additions are a major in Supply Chain Logistics and minors in Cybersecurity and Applied Statistics.

     The College is also home to the highly acclaimed Cooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP), which has increased the number of minorities and women working in private and public sectors of the energy industry. The nationally renowned program produces engineers, geoscientists, and physicists through dual degree programs.  

     The largest academic unit of the University, the College serves nearly 1,700 students and offers 17 majors leading to a bachelor’s degree. The faculty members and staff of the College provide an engaged and supportive learning environment, creating opportunities for intellectual growth and personal development.

     The College has established several significant partnerships in Georgia, including Sheryl Underwood Radio, iHeart Radio Macon, the Grand Opera House, the Tubman Museum, and the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. It also has a Memorandum of Understanding with Robins Air Force Base, the largest employer in the state; Central Georgia Technical College; and Georgia Military College.

     For more than 15 years, the College has hosted the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program. The program works to increase the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to populations historically underrepresented in these disciplines.

     Additionally, FVSU Mathematics faculty and students play an important role each year in a pre-college outreach program of the Cooperative Developmental Energy Program’s Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Academy (CDEP-MSEA). The early intervention program introduces minority and female 9th grade students to the fields of mathematics.

     Through the collaboration of FVSU’s Mathematics program with CDEP’s dual degree program, students obtain a B.S. degree in Mathematics from FVSU and a second B.S. degree in Engineering, Geosciences, or Health Physics from Georgia Tech, the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Penn State University, the University of Texas-Austin, the University of Texas Pan American, and the University of Arkansas. Students in the dual degree program are fully supported with scholarship funds from more than 25 collaborating energy companies and government sources, including Exxon Mobile, Chevron, Conoco Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Opportunity

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest of the three colleges within the University. Faculty provide the core curriculum for all undergraduate programs at FVSU. The College will require a Dean with the leadership skills to harness the resources of a diverse curriculum, rich history of performance, and the enthusiasm and undaunted pride of the larger community to chart the path towards its ambitious and bold future. This academic leader should have proven experience in strategic planning and implementation and a commitment to student success, faculty development, and program innovation.

     The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Dean) is part of the academic team dedicated to supporting FVSU’s mission of meeting the higher education needs of the state, region, and nation through innovative teaching and applied research. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost), the Dean works closely with the Deans’ Council and the President’s Cabinet to assist in the management of the College of Arts and Sciences.

     The Dean guides the direction of the College through strategic planning and leadership and serves as the College’s chief academic and administrative officer. The Dean is charged with ensuring the College’s academic programs, research, faculty development, and student outcomes are of the highest quality and continue to grow. The Dean must bring administrative acumen and nimbleness in strategically allocating resources to advance the College’s mission. The Dean also serves as CAS’s chief external representative to the broader community and with other university leaders.

     As the College looks towards the future, it seeks a courageous and savvy leader who will craft a compelling vision that leverages its diverse strengths and manages the College organizationally and financially. The Dean will support faculty and staff, will be actively engaged in building community relationships and advocating for the College within the University, and will effectively build a strong collaborative group of faculty and staff.

Primary responsibilities

• Serves as a liaison between the College and the Office of Academic Affairs.
• Leads the implementation of the University’s strategic plans at the college level.
• Works closely with the other college deans and the Provost to formulate and implement the academic objectives of the College within the context of the mission and objectives of the University.
• Partners with University Advancement to cultivate and steward donors as needed.
• Conducts annual evaluations of the work of faculty members within the College.
• Provides written recommendations concerning the retention, promotion, and tenure of faculty members to the Provost.
• Prepares an annual report on the progress toward the objectives of the College and the University, including recommendations related to funding and future needs.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Qualifications

Candidate must have an earned doctorate from a regionally accredited university with a degree in a discipline represented within the College of Arts and Sciences. Distinguished scholarly credentials and stature appropriate for the rank of Professor in a department in the College are required.

Other requirements include:

• Demonstrated ability to manage change
• Participatory management and leadership style that encourages and values input from others
• Ability to lead teams to achieve established goals
• Proven academic leadership, administrative ability, and experience
• Knowledge of online/distance learning technologies
• Experience in budget, planning, personnel, and student matters
• Knowledgeable, or the ability to become knowledgeable, of the academic requirements of academic programs beyond those in the arts and sciences
• Commitment to high standards in education, research, and outreach
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with on- and off-campus constituencies
• Experience in program reviews, assessment, and specialized accreditation
• An established record demonstrating the recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty and staff
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a high level of competency related to various technologies (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, BANNER, etc.) utilized in an academic setting

Metropolitan Central Georgia

Fort Valley State University is in the Central Georgia metropolitan area, which encompasses the state’s fourth largest city, Macon, as well as several growing cities and progressive small towns. Other features of the area include Robins Air Force Base, one of the state’s largest employers; the #11 rated public school in Georgia, the Academy of Classical Education, and the nationally recognized Houston County School System; and outstanding healthcare along with the second largest hospital in Georgia.

   Central Georgia offers endless activity opportunities for families and individuals alike. A wide range of fine and casual dining, live music venues, festivals, water parks, golf courses, museums, historical sites, farmer’s markets, touring Broadway shows, kayaking, indoor rock climbing, and more provide an appealing quality of life.

   The City of Fort Valley has been honored as one of 10 Georgia “Cities of Excellence,” and it is considered one of the state’s “best managed and most livable cities.” It offers tree-lined streets and beautiful historic homes and boasts a cost of living below the state and national average.

   Beyond the Metro Central Georgia area, Atlanta, one of the nation’s largest cities, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are easily accessible by I-75. If looking for time at the beach or enjoying the cool mountain air, the Georgia coastline or Blue Ridge Mountains are only a three-hour drive away.

APPLICATION & NOMINATION PROCESS

Confidential applications/inquiries are welcomed, and nominations are invited.

Applications

1. Application packet must include: a) A letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications of the position, b) Current curriculum vitae, and c) At least four references with full contact information including e-mails (References will not be contacted without consent from applicant.)
2. Submit application packet (preferably as PDFs) to FVSU-CAS22@myersmcrae.com.

Additional information will be requested upon receipt of application.

For best consideration, submit application packet by March 14, 2022.

Nominations

Submit nominations to FVSU-CAS22-nominate@myersmcrae.com with complete contact and e-mail information for the individual being nominated.

Jennifer Barfield, Senior Vice President, and Emily Parker Myers, CEO, of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting are assisting Fort Valley State University with this search. Send your request for a conversation regarding this search to JenniferBarfield@myersmcrae.com. 

Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.