Job description
The Dean of the College of Business is responsible for all matters relating to the instructional programs within the College, including the various courses of study, the teaching faculty, class scheduling, student registration, and physical and financial resources. The Dean works in cooperation with the Department Chairpersons, the other Deans, the Provost, University committees and councils, and other members of the faculty and staff to meet these responsibilities.
Responsibilities:
· Coordinates and participates in a continuing, systematic, and broad-based process of planning and evaluation of the educational activities of teaching, advising, research, and service.
· Coordinates the preparation of departmental budgets and supervises spending within the College, approving specific expenditures when required by State law or University policy.
· Coordinates the scheduling of the necessary courses, preparing class schedules each term and submitting them to the Provost, and supervises all instruction offered by the College, both on campus and off.
· Allots the space and other physical resources assigned to the College for the support of the instructional programs, continuing education activities, and other approved purposes, ensuring compliance with space management policies and procedures.
· Assigns faculty mentors and supervises the registration of all students in the College.
· Coordinates curriculum development within the College, aligned with relevant workforce data and the University mission, and ensuring timely student degree completion.
· Ensures appropriate opportunities for student experiential learning within the College, aligned with program outcomes, workforce needs, and post-graduation student success.
· Evaluates and approves official student records and requests, including transcripts of transfer students, applications for graduation, exceptional class schedules, and such special requests as those relating to transient student status, correspondence work, etc.
· Supervises the recruitment of faculty and academic staff, accepting applications, receiving recommendations from Department Chairpersons and search committees, and making recommendations to the Provost.
· Provides orientation for new faculty and continuing opportunities for faculty development through in-service meetings, consultants, counseling, travel, etc.
· Participates in the ongoing evaluation of faculty for purposes of development, promotion and tenure decisions, and re-appointment.
· Maintains records on faculty qualifications, faculty workloads, faculty absences, and related matters and, as required, submits to the appropriate administrative offices the necessary forms and reports relating to faculty, such as faculty evaluation documents, annual sick leave records, payroll forms, travel requests, etc.
· Coordinates, with the Department Chairperson, the employment of adjunct faculty.
· Coordinates the annual review of the Planning and Assessment documents for the College.
· Encourages and coordinates College fundraising and grant writing efforts.
· Establishes and maintains meaningful relationships with college alumni to support engagement, collaboration, and advancement of the College’s mission.
· Coordinates student recruitment for the College, working with the Office of Student Recruitment.
· Promotes a culture of active engagement by encouraging and demonstrating regular, visible presence and participation in college-sponsored events, programs, and activities.
· Submits each year to the Provost a corrected and updated copy of the appropriate sections of the General Catalogue and the Graduate Catalogue.
· Provides a means of communication between the faculty and the central administration and oversees internal college communication processes, as well as external communication with institutional leadership.
· Coordinates continuing education and community service programs, workshops, conferences, and related activities within the College.
· Provides liaison with the public and with the higher education community, serving as a University representative to appropriate professional groups within the State and elsewhere.
· Ensures the involvement of the business and industry advisory council with the College’s academic programs.
· Performs other duties as requested by the Provost and the President.
Qualifications:
Minimum
· D.B.A. or Ph.D. in a business discipline and/or related terminal degree.
· Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the university level.
· Demonstrated scholarship, research, and/or equivalent professional experience.
· Knowledge of distance-learning technology and ability to lead substantial growth of MBA, DBA, and online programs.
· Proven communication and interpersonal skills that will enable the candidate to work effectively with students, faculty, other administrators, and external constituencies.
Preferred
· Successful experience in university administration at chairperson level or above.
· Experience with accrediting agencies on a regional and national level.
· Experience at a regional university.
· Successful and innovative approaches to building and sustaining new academic programs, both on-campus and online.
· Demonstrated experience in engaging business and industry with the College and its academic programs.
· Experience in local and regional economic development, fundraising, and/or work with advisory boards.
About the College of Business:
The College of Business offers Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management, and Marketing. The College also offers the Master of Business Administration and the Doctor of Business Administration. The College has 595 undergraduate students and 310 graduate students. The College has 11 full-time faculty members, 82 percent of whom hold a terminal degree.
The College is organized into two departments: Accounting, Finance, and Economics, and Business Administration, Management, and Marketing. The College houses a Small Business Development Center and the Center for Business and Entrepreneurial Services.
The Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics provides a quality education in preparation for jobs in accounting and financial-related careers. The Department has a successful history of placing qualified students in internships and other experiential learning opportunities while working toward degree completion.
The Department of Business Administration, Management & Marketing offers majors in business administration (with a choice of emphasis), management and marketing (with a choice of emphasis). The business administration, management and marketing majors are available either online or on campus.
Programs and Initiatives
The College of Business has several exciting programs and initiatives underway, including:
Small Business Development Center
The mission of the University of West Alabama’s Small Business Development Center is to grow the economy in the western region of Alabama, known as the Black Belt, by providing entrepreneurs with the education, information and tools necessary to build successful businesses. The Center’s services are targeted to Choctaw, Clarke, Marengo, Sumter, and Wilcox counties.
Accounting Club
The Accounting Club’s mission is to promote interest in the accounting profession as a career, educate students about the various career paths available to accountants, and to provide opportunities for members to interact with other accounting students, faculty, and leaders in the business community.
Enactus
Enactus is a network of leaders committed to using business as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact. Their goal is to educate, inspire and support young people to use innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the world’s biggest problems. At UWA, Enactus students take what they are learning in the classroom and apply those principles in the community to help small businesses and community members thrive.
Finance Club
The Finance Club provides a forum for students to discuss current events in finance, which will prepare them for interviews and the workplace.
Minority Business Student Association
The mission of the Minority Business Student Association is to empower and advance minority business majors through networking and collaborating with professionals to better prepare students for their future endeavors.
Click here to explore more information on programs and initiatives, and follow this link for more information on the College, overall.
Accreditation
The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees.
The College of Business is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) to offer the following degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Management, and Marketing, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
About The University of West Alabama:
The University of West Alabama (UWA) was chartered in 1835 as a church-related female academy and remained primarily a school for girls until the twentieth century. 2025 marked 190 years of proud tradition and educational excellence with more than 41,000 graduates. The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor, master, education specialist, and doctoral degrees through the College of Business, Julia Tutwiler College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Engineering Technology, Ira D. Pruitt College of Nursing and Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and Online Programs. Click here to view an interactive campus map.
Mission
Enriching lives through education, service, and outreach.
Vision
To offer quality education and effective services while establishing a model for leadership in the region and beyond.
Strategic Plan
The University of West Alabama’s Strategic Plan 2026–2035, Your Bridge to What’s Possible, outlines a bold vision for advancing student success, access, and institutional growth in rural and regional higher education. The plan prioritizes enrollment expansion, retention, and a personalized student experience supported by flexible learning models, strong partnerships, and data-informed decision-making. Grounded in values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and regional responsibility, UWA is committed to serving as a catalyst for opportunity and prosperity in the communities it serves.
You can read more about the plan here.
Points of Interest
· A total of 30 new academic programs have been added over the past 6 years, including 2 doctoral programs (Ed.D. & D.B.A.)
· Over 100 international students on campus from 41 different countries
· UWA has been consistently recognized as one of the safest, most diverse, and best value of any public university in the state
· UWA was awarded the Governor’s Seal of Excellence in Work-Based Learning for its Integrated Marketing Communications Program
· The Division of Economic & Workforce Development received the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Excellence and Innovation Award for Regional and Economic Development
· In 2025, UWA was designated as an Opportunity College and University (OCU), reflecting its long-standing commitment to both access and economic outcomes for graduates
· In 2023, the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area was designated; UWA’s Center for the Study of the Black Belt serves as the management entity for this area
· The institution has received multiple national rankings for best online college, especially at the master’s level in education (e.g., 3rd in the nation for “Best Online Master’s Degrees in Secondary Education”)
How to apply
Acceptance of inquiries, nominations, and applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search.
To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications/experience. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Interested parties are encouraged to apply no later than October 16, 2026.
To apply online, go to https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su524
All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.
For more information or to make a recommendation or nomination:
Angelyn P. Gay
541-880-4914
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.
AA/EO Employer.
Minority applications encouraged.
