Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences - Position Description

The Opportunity

The Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences ensures college objectives align with the University’s strategic plan, mission, and goals. The Dean drives the strategic vision for the college, ensuring innovative academic programs and student-focused initiatives are implemented across both UWG campuses.

Applications will be received and considered until the position is filled, but for full and best consideration, please apply by Feb. 15, 2026.

View the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan (PDF)

Job Responsibilities

The Dean serves to build upon the strengths of the College's academic programs, curate robust student-centric experiences, expand scholarly and creative achievements, and engage the internal and external university community. Through visionary, inclusive, and entrepreneurial leadership, the dean will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administration to:

  • Promote excellent teaching and student success with a focus on retention and graduation
  • Provide creative, collaborative leadership consistent with the mission of the university
  • Supervise and develop innovative academic programming within the college, with emphasis on experiential learning
  • Expand research, creative activity, scholarship, and external funding
  • Implement effective and efficient growth, policy, personnel, accreditation, continuous improvement, fiscal, and strategic processes and leadership
  • Serve as an advocate for students, faculty, and staff
  • Represent the college to a variety of external constituents

Qualifications

The Dean will be a strategic leader who fosters a sense of place and cultivates world-class, student-centered academic programs and external partnerships. Within the context of the opportunities and challenges of 21st century higher education, the Dean will demonstrate:

  • The ability to foster academic excellence, retention, and graduation
  • Strong written and interpersonal skills
  • An ability to successfully cultivate an environment of teamwork through integrity and building trust through shared governance
  • Experience in working with external partners, including local and regional businesses

The Dean must possess a progressive record of increasing academic leadership and a distinguished record of teaching, scholarly achievement, and professional accomplishments sufficient to qualify for appointment at the rank of professor in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, or a closely related field. Successful administrative experience in the supervision of tenure-track and tenured faculty is required.

Finalists for the position will successfully perform in an on-campus interview that includes a public presentation. An earned doctorate or terminal degree in the field is required.

Highly Preferred Experiences

  • Experience in delivering career-focused, professional, higher-education programs
  • Successful history of strategic planning, resource stewardship, and assessment
  • Experience working with external partners to coordinate academic programs and meet workforce needs
  • Experience with program accreditation
  • Technology integration into the educational experience and online learning
  • Successfully serving traditional and nontraditional students
  • Enrollment management, retention, and growth
  • Record of success in generating grant and contract funding

The Dean will be a leader to help meet statewide needs, working with the University System of Georgia colleagues at the System Office and partners at other USG institutions. The Dean will ensure relevance and competitiveness of existing degrees and innovate into new areas of potential. The Dean will lead expansion of service, enrollment, student success (including proactive analysis), and partnerships. The Dean must have experience with and support for a broad range of disciplines (including the diversity of traditional and creative practices represented in the CHASS programs), consensus-building, and the ability to work well with college leadership (directors, program coordinators, and administrative staff).

The College

The College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at the University of West Georgia exemplifies academic excellence in Anthropology, Art, Creative Writing, English, Film, History, International Languages and Cultures, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, and Theatre by providing quality undergraduate and graduate education to meet current and evolving needs within the regional and broader community. Well-connected to external partners in the region, the College provides world-class classroom, studio, lab, and experiential learning spaces for students on the Carrollton and Newnan campuses and online.

The College is home to over 160 faculty and staff and serves over 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students. Organized into three schools, with directors leading Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, the College is focused on advancing its statewide and national reputation for producing leaders and meeting workforce and creative needs in the region and beyond.

The College is focused on the following strategic, career-preparedness goals:

  • Increase enrollment in majors, minors, certificates, and in service to general education
  • Expand experiential learning opportunities (internships, undergraduate research, other forms of work-based learning) for students in support of UWG's QEP
  • Increase attendance at public events (shows, lectures, exhibitions, etc.) as these serve as some of the most impactful, public-facing, "front porch" events to recruit students and engage the community.
  • Promote the current, robust menu of study abroad and study away opportunities while developing new programs
  • Increase grant writing activity across the college
  • Expand and improve teacher education programs

The Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, History, and Philosophy at the University of West Georgia are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Bachelor of Music in Music and Master of Music in Music at the University of West Georgia are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). The Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre (Plan Approval) at the University of West Georgia are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST).

 

To learn more about the University of West Georgia, please visit our About UWG page.

The University of West Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.