Associate Dean for Coordinated Graduate Studies, Liberal Arts

Thank you for your interest in employment with Louisiana Tech University.

The College of Liberal Arts (COLA) at Louisiana Tech University invites applications for the inaugural position of the Associate Dean for Coordinated Graduate Studies. This key leadership role will help shape the College’s research efforts and expand its current creative capacities at the graduate level, while coordinating the College’s Research Centers and co-coordinating COLAb, the College’s proposed incubator for ideas, projects, and interdisciplinary activities. Reporting to the Dean and working closely with COLA faculty and the Associate Dean for Integrated Undergraduate Affairs, the Associate Dean for Coordinated Graduate Studies will contribute to the College’s culture and help build an environment that supports research, scholarship, and creative initiatives, providing strategic guidance and encouraging collaboration across disciplines, including external partners within the University and beyond.

COLA is home to the Schools of History & Social Sciences, Literature & Language, Design, Music, Theatre, and Aviation. COLA is committed to fostering curiosity, inquiry, and exploration through research, scholarship, and creative work within its academic programs and research centers: the Waggoner Center for Civic Engagement and Public Policy, the Community Design Activism Center, VISTA (Visual Integration of Science Through Art) Center, and the Center for Health and Medical Communication.

Primary Responsibilities and Expectations

Strategic Leadership

• Create and implement a forward-thinking strategy to enhance research, scholarship, and creative activities within the College.

• Identify new opportunities to grow the College’s research impact while building on existing strengths.

• Ensure alignment with Louisiana Tech’s vision and strategic goals.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Promote partnerships across disciplines among faculty, students, and external collaborators.

• Encourage innovative approaches to address complex issues through research and creative work.

Research Support

• Lead efforts to secure external funding and resources for research and creative projects.

• Provide mentorship and support to faculty and students with the goal of enhancing their research and scholarship contributions.

Promotion of Scholarship

• Increase the reach of the College’s research and creative achievements regionally, nationally, and internationally.

• Increase visibility and influence of the College’s work through strategic advocacy and communication.

Faculty Development

• Support faculty growth by identifying opportunities for collaboration and creative development.

• Champion initiatives that strengthen faculty success in research, scholarship, creative, and performance endeavors.

Student Engagement

• Encourage students to collaborate with faculty on research and creative projects.

• Cultivate a culture of curiosity, innovation, and achievement within the student community.

Administrative Management

• Work with College leadership to manage resources and oversee operations tied to research and creative initiatives.

Qualifications and Requirements

Required Qualifications

• A terminal degree in a relevant discipline within the College’s areas of study.

• A distinguished record of research or creative scholarship that qualifies for a tenured professor appointment within the College.

• Proven experience in academic leadership, research administration, or similar roles.

• Success in securing external funding in one or more disciplines represented by the College.

• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration and interdisciplinary research within a diverse academic setting.

• Strategic vision and a forward-looking mindset to navigate the evolving academic landscape.

• A commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of research and education.

Application Requirements

• A comprehensive curriculum vitae.

• A letter of application (maximum four pages) detailing interest in the role and qualifications.

• A one-page personal statement on leadership philosophy.

• Names and contact details of at least four references

Note: Additional materials may be requested from shortlisted candidates.

Compensation

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. 

Anticipated start date for this 12-month position is January 1, 2026.

For more information or to apply, please visit here.

Founded in 1894, Louisiana Tech University is located along the I-20 corridor in North Louisiana. Situated between Jackson, Mississippi and Dallas, Texas, the campus is approximately 70 miles east of Shreveport, Louisiana in the heart of an economically diverse and culturally rich region. Being a four-year selective admissions public university awarding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, Louisiana Tech University is ranked as a high-research doctoral university. With approximately 12,000 students, Louisiana Tech’s campus adjoins Ruston−a friendly town of approximately 22,000; home to parks, lakes, world-class mountain biking trails, Ruston is a community made vibrant through its arts, music, and seasonal festivals.

The COLA occupies multiple facilities on campus, including two theater spaces and a recital hall (Howard Auditorium); art and music studios; workshops with woodworking, metals, printmaking, and ceramics; spaces for assembly of large-scale building components; an airport with a fleet of planes and flight simulators; and a wide array of specialized equipment and musical instruments. Faculty in COLA represent a range of liberal arts disciplines, including aviation, architecture, art, communications, geography, history, journalism, political science, social sciences, modern languages, music, and theater. Faculty in many academic units have a long-standing commitment to service learning and community engagement. George T Madison Hall, which houses a portion of COLA, including the Dean’s office, is scheduled to undergo a major renovation that will transform a multiuse classroom facility into a state-of-the-art facility.

Louisiana Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/ADA Employer and places a high priority on the creation of an environment supportive of ethnic minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities.

Posting Close Date: This position will remain open until filled.

Please Note:  Applications must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the Job Closing Date to ensure consideration.

Note to Applicant:

Applicants should fully describe their qualifications and experience with specific reference to each of the minimum and preferred qualifications in their cover letter. The search committee will use this information during the initial review of application materials.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

This position may require a criminal background check to be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions at the Louisiana Tech University may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.