Description: King University, a Christian liberal arts university in Bristol, Tennessee, seeks a Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. The Dean serves as the chief administrator for the College, providing leadership and advocacy for more than 25 faculty, vision and energy for growth, and care for students and scholarship. The Dean has responsibility for the flourishing of faculty, development of programs and curriculum, instructional effectiveness, assessment and evaluation, and strategic planning. The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences reports directly to the Provost.
Review of applications will begin immediately, with priority given to applications received by January 1, 2025. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2025.
University Profile
Established in 1867, King University has enjoyed a long and distinguished history of academic excellence, accessibility, and service to the church and to the home community. Its focus on intellectual development, social growth, and spiritual formation has resulted in generations of King alumni who have achieved success across a wide spectrum of disciplines. Upon graduation, King alumni generally carry lower debt, have a higher earning potential, and achieve lasting success in their careers.
King is a comprehensive university offering more than 90 majors, minors, pre-professional degrees, and concentrations through five academic schools:
• College of Arts & Sciences, including the Peeke School of Christian Mission
• School of Business, Economics, and Technology
• School of Education
• School of Nursing
• School of Health and Professional Sciences
The University offers both a thriving traditional student experience and multiple online modalities for undergraduates and working adults. It places significant value on its longstanding liberal arts tradition. Its well-rounded academic slate is a key part of the academic development and achievement that, time and again, distinguishes its graduates from those of other institutions.
King’s main campus occupies 135 acres of rolling, wooded terrain two miles east of the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee, and Bristol, Virginia. The campus Oval, Georgian-style architecture, and scenic hilltop views create a peaceful learning environment that is minutes away from a thriving downtown and close to numerous recreational, shopping, and dining opportunities. Known as the Birthplace of Country Music, Bristol hosts a growing Americana music scene, a Smithsonian-affiliated museum, an annual three-day music festival, and a world-famous NASCAR short track.
Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, Tennessee, make up the Tri-Cities Metropolitan area, which hosts a population of approximately a half-million residents. King’s location offers ample access to outdoor activities, including boating on South Holston Lake, world-class fly fishing on the South Holston River, and hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail. Numerous other areas for camping, mountain biking, and horseback riding, including those in the Cherokee National Forest and the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, are all within an afternoon’s drive.
King’s proximity to Interstate 81 offers access to approximately one-third of the U.S. in the span of a day’s drive. Numerous flights are also available through Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI), located 30 minutes from campus. The region boasts a lower-than-national average cost of living and a diverse economy with career opportunities in healthcare, education, marketing, manufacturing, and technology.
College of Arts & Sciences Profile
With a rich history of excellence, the College of Arts & Sciences currently offers 20 academic majors in the humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences. Its faculty also provide a significant portion of the general education curriculum for all undergraduate programs. Graduates of King’s Arts & Sciences programs are distinguished in many fields, both in this region and across the country.
Faculty in the Arts & Sciences are active in research and service. Current grants include an Inclusive Excellence 3 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) focusing on STEM education and building partnerships with local community colleges for STEM student success; multiple faculty development and conference grants from the Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE); and a grant from the Educating Character Initiative (ECI) from Wake Forest encouraging thoughtfulness, resourcefulness, and responsibility in our students. King’s Institute for Faith and Culture speaker series and the King Lectureship at the College for Older Adults provide pathways for community engagement.
Minimum Qualifications: Mature Christian faith and support of King University's mission and vision (https://www.king.edu/faith-and-values/mission-and-vision); Earned terminal degree from an accredited institution in an Arts & Sciences discipline; Academic experience and a record of teaching excellence commensurate with rank; Administrative experience in higher education with a proven record of collaborative and collegial leadership and a demonstrated ability to advocate for faculty, students, academic programs, and the University; Commitment to the liberal arts and experience with diverse modes of course delivery.
Preferred Qualifications: The preferred candidate will be a seasoned professional with experience managing multiple stakeholders within an organization; demonstrate the ability to set short and long-term goals and objectives; provide strategies for how to measure and achieve those goals and achieve success in identifying and solving problems in complex organizations. The successful candidate should possess many of the following skills: Consensus building with high integrity and be committed to creating a collaborative, trusting, and inspiring environment in which results are recognized and celebrated; have excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; have strong verbal and written skills.
Responsibilities: Provide strategic academic leadership, working collaboratively with deans, chairs, program coordinators, and faculty to further the University’s mission in teaching, scholarship, and service; Advocate for the well-being and professional growth of Arts & Sciences faculty, staff, and students; Promote innovative ideas that demonstrate a vision for the liberal arts and work with Enrollment Management to drive student recruitment for Arts & Sciences programs; Supervise budgetary resources, assessment and evaluation, program development, and the recruitment and retention of Arts & Sciences faculty; Communicate effectively and build relationships within the College and the University and with the wider community; Teach up to two courses annually as needed.
Language: Multilingual/Bilingual Candidates Preferred
Campus: Bristol