Job description
Transform a historic institution. Shape the future of rural higher education. Lead with purpose.
The University of West Alabama (UWA), one of the state’s oldest public universities and a mission-driven leader in access, student success, and regional impact, invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for its next Provost.
Founded in 1835, UWA serves as a cornerstone of educational opportunity in the Southeast—combining a tradition of excellence with a bold, forward-looking strategic vision. With more than 190 years of heritage, a student-centered culture, and a growing portfolio of academic programs delivered both on campus and online, UWA offers an exceptional environment for a collaborative, innovative, and future-oriented academic leader.
The next Provost will serve as the chief academic officer, partnering closely with the President and a strong, mission-driven leadership team to champion academic quality, advance student success, foster faculty excellence, and build meaningful external partnerships. This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a leader eager to make a visible impact on students, communities, and the region.
Major Responsibilities
- Advancing the vision, mission, and core values of UWA, including being an enthusiastic representative for UWA with internal and external constituencies.
- Working with the President in executing the strategic plan for UWA and creating and executing strategic plans specific to academics, administration, and fiscal management under the Provost’s purview.
- Working with college deans to create and implement data-informed academic strategic plans for academic program development and review to increase enrollment, meet the needs of students, and build a highly qualified workforce.
- Leading college deans in promoting academic excellence through degree programs, student success, and faculty teaching, scholarship, and service.
- Working with college deans to create and ensure seamless educational pathways for students in all degree programs.
- Leading college deans in academic student success, ensuring an environment that is student-centered, is focused on continual improvement and best practices in curriculum, teaching, support services, policies, and processes to support students in achieving educational goals.
- Providing overall administrative and budget oversight for all of UWA’s academic areas and programs.
- Building meaningful relationships with regional K-12 school districts, community organizations, business and industry leaders, donors, and alumni, to best serve our students and the community.
- Supporting scholarly, creative, and service activities of faculty and students.
- Ensuring transparency in key decision-making, including with the President’s Cabinet, deans, the faculty senate, and the broader campus constituencies, as all work together to set and meet UWA’s mission, support students’ success, and achieve strategic goals.
- Working in collaboration with the President, deans, and UWA leaders to develop and expand community, regional, and workforce partnerships.
Required Qualifications
- Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree and qualifications and experiences meriting appointment in an academic discipline at UWA.
- Record of progressively advancing higher education leadership responsibilities, positions, and success.
- Demonstrated ability to manage financial resources, complex budgets, and personnel.
- Demonstrated ability to administratively lead at the higher education level.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully lead faculty and staff through times of change.
- Commitment to shared governance in a higher education setting.
- Commitment to serving the educational needs of an economically and demographically diverse population.
- Proven success in collaborative leadership and innovation.
- An academic portfolio architect, steward, and visionary – able to lead innovation in content and modality.
- Evidence of the ability to communicate effectively with internal and external groups.
- Willingness to live and participate in the area/community and attend after-hours events.
Desired Qualifications
- An excellent academic record of teaching excellence, scholarship, and service.
- Experience in improving academic excellence and student success through graduation.
- Experience with developing innovative academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.
- Evidence of using a systems approach in analysis and problem solving.
- Experience with budget models that reward productivity, effectiveness, and innovation.
- Demonstrated knowledge of critical issues in higher education, including shared governance, and university and program accreditation.
- Evidence of outstanding organizational, interpersonal, and advocacy skills.
- Appreciation for the higher education landscape, including the role of a public regional comprehensive university.
- Commitment to evidence-based, data-informed decision-making processes.
- Evidence and commitment to open and transparent governance that includes actively sharing information with the campus community as well as implementing processes that ensure transparency.
- Demonstrated understanding of complexities involved with student-centered technological innovation, online learning, and delivery across multiple learning modalities.
- Ability to balance entrepreneurial approaches to educational markets with academic rigor and student satisfaction.
Why Lead at UWA?
- A Historic, Mission-Driven University: Founded in 1835 and committed to access, affordability, and life-changing education.
- Visible Leadership Impact: Directly shape academic quality, innovation, student success, and community partnerships in a region that values the University deeply.
- Supportive Leadership & Culture: Work alongside a President and cabinet who believe in collaboration, transparency, and shared governance.
- Growing Academic Enterprise: More than 7,000 students, a 17:1 on-campus student-faculty ratio, expanding online programs, and new strategic initiatives.
- A Community That Welcomes You: Livingston and the surrounding region offer a strong sense of place, affordable living, and a supportive, engaged local community.
The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.
The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies.
How to apply
The Search Committee invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest to be submitted to:
Applications should include:
- A letter detailing interest and qualifications
- A curriculum vitae
Materials should be submitted as soon as possible to ensure full consideration.
