Dean, Honors College

As the Honors College at Westminster University celebrates its tenth anniversary, we invite applications for the position of Dean of the Honors College. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will provide strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the Honors College, championing a rigorous, interdisciplinary, and student-centered honors experience. The Dean will work closely with faculty, staff, students, and university leadership to enhance the Honors College's curriculum, build on its recruitment momentum, and deepen its community values. The Dean will also ensure honors education remains central to Westminster's academic identity.

This is an opportunity for an experienced academic leader to build on past successes in recruitment and program innovation. The Honors Program at Westminster began in 1986 and built a reputation for providing challenging, interdisciplinary seminars focused on primary texts and engaged, interactive learning. The program added conversation-based pedagogy to its core identity; in 2016 it became a stand-alone academic unit that offered upwards of two dozen unique seminars each year, all team-taught by faculty members representing different disciplines. This year is our largest cohort to date, testament to the magnetism of the program and the recruitment efforts of a dedicated team within the Honors College.

The Honors College has also been a campus leader in advancement work over the past three decades. Under the direction of the Dean, students, faculty, staff and alumni work together each year to raise funds for research scholarships, summer internships, global travel, paraprofessional training, and co-curricular programming for students. The Honors College has a $6M+ endowment, including nearly $1M in endowed Honors scholarships. Last year, these efforts amounted to a record $1M raised to support the Honors College and our key values: conversation across difference, curiosity and connection, and interdisciplinary inquiry. The Dean will help  

shape the future of honors education at a university that prizes innovation, mentorship, and student success.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership for the Honors College, setting strategic priorities in alignment with the university's mission and academic goals

   

  Guide curriculum development, ensuring honors coursework is rigorous, interdisciplinary, and responsive to student and faculty needs

   

  Recruit, mentor, and support honors faculty and staff, fostering a collaborative and inclusive academic community

   

  Lead an in-house recruitment team to attract high-potential students and partner with Admissions on scholarship and outreach strategy

   

  Manage the Honors College budget, staffing, and operations

   

  Cultivate relationships with alumni, donors, and external partners to support program growth and student opportunities (research, fellowships, study abroad, etc.)

   

  Partner with Advancement, other academic units, and external partners to meet annual fundraising goals

   

  Represent the Honors College within the university's academic governance structures and to the broader community

   

  Assess and report on program outcomes, using data to guide continuous improvement

   

  Maintain a respectful, collaborative, inclusive, and fair campus culture, both within the Honors College and in the broader university community

   

  Champion equity and access within honors education, ensuring pathways for students from diverse backgrounds

   

Qualifications

Required:

• Earned doctorate or terminal degree in an academic discipline

   

  A strong record of teaching, scholarship, and service

   

  Demonstrated academic leadership experience (e.g., department chair, program director, associate dean, or equivalent)

   

  Strong commitment to undergraduate honors education and student mentorship

   

  Excellent communication, budget management, and interpersonal skills

   

Preferred:

• Prior experience within an honors college or program

   

  Experience with curriculum design, accreditation, or academic assessment

   

  Track record of fundraising, grant-writing, or donor engagement

   

  Experience recruiting high-potential students and creating diverse student cohorts

   

  Knowledge of successful strategies in cultivating advisory boards & alumni networks

   

  Experience in local, national, and international fellowship advising

   

  Familiarity with national honors education networks and best practices

   

Salary

$160,000 - $175,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, current curriculum vitae, a statement of leadership philosophy as it relates to honors education, and contact information for three professional references by Friday, October 23. Please direct questions to search committee chair, Julie Stewart, at jstewart@westminsteru.edu. 

Westminster University is committed to a diversified workforce, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. To this end, Westminster prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment based on race or ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, disabilities, genetic information, status as a veteran, or any other category or classification protected by applicable federal, state, or city laws.

Westminster University’s commitment to diversity and global learning is revealed in its core values, mission and vision statements, and learning goals. We seek colleagues who will support the learning of all students, including those from groups historically underrepresented in higher education, such as students of color, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students. We invite candidates whose interests and skills contribute to these efforts.