Job description

Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) seeks an inspiring and forward-looking leader to serve as Dean of the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences (BCAS). Located in Prairie View, Texas, about 50 miles from downtown Houston, the 1,440-acre campus has a proud legacy of producing leaders who make meaningful contributions to their professions and communities. PVAMU counts among its alumni distinguished military officers, pioneering engineers, nationally recognized educators, acclaimed artists, celebrated athletes, influential public servants, and innovators who embody the University’s enduring commitment to excellence and service.

PVAMU is the second-oldest public institution of higher education in Texas. Empowered by a shared sense of history and purpose, the University remains committed to providing the highest quality of education, research, and service. Established in 1876 as a land-grant institution, PVAMU enrolls more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 89 countries. The University comprises 11 colleges and schools, most of which are accredited by specialized professional bodies, and supports numerous research centers on its main campus. PVAMU offers 36 bachelor’s degree programs, 31 master’s degree programs, and six doctoral programs. With record enrollment, rising national rankings, and students achieving career success at top companies, the University is building undeniable momentum on its Journey to Eminence.

The Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences serves as the academic and intellectual core of the University and has a distinguished legacy of advancing discovery, creativity, and interdisciplinary learning. As PVAMU’s largest and most academically diverse college, BCAS offers foundational coursework for all undergraduate students and provides a broad array of undergraduate and graduate programs across the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, mathematics, fine and performing arts, and emerging fields. Rooted in the University’s land-grant mission of teaching, research, and service, the College fosters critical thinking, ethical engagement, creative expression, and the pursuit of knowledge that strengthens communities and expands opportunity. The College comprises three newly structured academic schools: the School of Natural and Computational Sciences, the School of Communication, Arts, and Media, and the School of Culture, Community, and Human Development, and offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs.

Reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of BCAS serves as the Chief Academic and Administrative Officer of the College and is responsible for cultivating an environment in which faculty, students, administrators, and staff pursue academic excellence. The Dean oversees a College with a budget of approximately $18 million and more than 2,060 students, including 1,853 undergraduate students and 209 graduate students. BCAS has approximately 250 faculty and 22 staff who support its teaching, research, and service mission. The College contributes significantly to PVAMU’s research enterprise, with faculty securing an average of $3.8 million in annual research and grant funding over the last 3 years.

The next Dean of BCAS will have the opportunity to lead a central academic unit within a university experiencing significant momentum and transformation. The Dean will be expected to support faculty by providing strategic leadership and infrastructure; advance interdisciplinary and innovative academic programs; manage and grow financial resources; champion student success; strengthen research productivity; and cultivate partnerships that amplify the College’s impact across campus and the broader community.

Candidates must hold an earned doctorate and have a distinguished record of scholarly, research, or creative accomplishment commensurate with appointment as a full professor in the College. They should also have a strong trajectory of academic administrative responsibility, minimally at the level of department chair, associate dean, director, or equivalent, within a comprehensive and broad academic environment. Candidates must also have an appreciation of the historic mission of HBCUs and land-grant institutions and have the ability to effectively communicate its impact to a variety of constituents. While not required, candidates who have experience as a faculty member or an administrator at a research-intensive university are of interest to PVAMU.

How to apply

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile available here.

WittKieffer is assisting Prairie View A&M University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by February 13, 2026.

Application materials should be submitted to [email protected].

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to Christine J. Pendleton and Bree Liddell at [email protected].

Prairie View A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action/ Veterans/ Disability Employer.