Job description

Job Identification: 43495

Job Category: Faculty

Apply Before: 05/27/2026, 01:42 PM

Degree Level: Doctorate Degree

Locations: 4202 E Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, 33620, US

Hiring Salary: Commensurate with experience

Essential Personnel: No
Job Description

The Assistant Dean, Student Success & Research (ADSSR), provides strategic leadership for CDAP’s research and student success missions. Research assignment includes developing, fostering, and overseeing research programs, faculty mentorship, grant management, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. This position will provide leadership and guidance to the College’s Academic Advising Office, respond to student grievances, oversee Student of Concern reports, classroom management & centralized course scheduling.

The ADSSR will promote interdisciplinary collaboration, enhance CDAP’s research profile both internally and externally, and raise the level of the overall student experience in CDAP. The ADSSR serves on the Administrative Council and other position-related college and university committees, and reports to the Sr. Associate Dean, while working closely with the college’s Dean, school and unit directors, and other administrators to align initiatives with college and institutional strategic goals.

Organizational Summary:
As the creative center of the University of South Florida, the College of Design, Art & Performance provides an enriched, creative, and professional environment for tomorrow’s leaders in architecture, design, art, art history, dance, music, and theatre. The college is home to the university’s arts district, Contemporary Art Museum, Graphicstudio and the Florida Center for Community Design. The college embraces opportunities to embed new and existing arts programming in the rapidly growing regional communities and serves as an integral engine for socioeconomic progress through its research, advocacy, and engagement.

The USF School of Art & Art History serves as the visual arts and design educational hub in a dynamic, diverse region of over 3 million residents, with over 500 majors and more than 25 full-time faculty across two campuses (St. Petersburg and Tampa). We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in studio art, graphic arts, and art history, along with minors and interdisciplinary certificates for non-majors. Located in a vibrant metropolitan setting, our school provides graduate students with exceptional studio space, technical facilities, and opportunities to collaborate with distinguished faculty. We immerse students in visual culture, encouraging critical thinking and a strong sense of citizenship within a global context. Our nationally ranked Master of Fine Arts program fosters creativity and experimentation, offering an environment for students to push boundaries while working with cutting-edge resources. Additionally, the Kennedy Family Artist and Scholar program invites recognized artists and scholars to develop interdisciplinary projects and teach, fostering dialogue and outreach that enrich academic research and community engagement.

Responsibilities

STUDENT SUCCESS

• Directly supervise the Manager of Academic Advising and the Assistant Director of Student Success.
• Provide leadership and oversight of CDAP Academic Advising Office operations
• Address/resolve student issues and concerns as they relate to Advising services and student experience; direct/involve other departments/schools as appropriate.
• Responsible for processing Academic Integrity reports via Maxient; address and process formal academic grievances and student concerns.
• Facilitate communication of university, academic and student advocacy resources (OAA, OARS, SAS, SOS, SOCAT, etc.) to Advising team and CDAP departments; schedule meetings and presentations with resource-oriented departments as requested.
• Oversight of college-wide course scheduling
• Certification of graduate assistant tuition waivers.
• Participate in HEADS, Academic Program and BOG assessments.
• Contribute to college metrics analysis and assessments for APR, Retention, Degree Completion; identifying goals/targets for CDAP metrics scorecard and strategies for meeting/improving goals and strategic enrollment management plans.
• Approve/certify admission referrals for the School of Music and the School of Theatre & Dance.
• Responsible for developing and submitting annual Student Success fiscal budget request to CDAP Business Office.

RESEARCH

• Mentor faculty, supporting research skill development, scholarship, and career advancement. Guides faculty in grant writing, research design, and team science, as well as serving on facilitating research socialization activities for faculty and students
• Program and implement the college’s annual faculty research symposium.
• Oversee the college’s sponsored research portfolio, including internal and external grants, contracts, and funding initiatives.
• Facilitate extramural funding, managing internal grant programs, and collaborate with research committees (CDAP Faculty Development Committee) to allocate resources effectively.
• Manage the college’s research budget, including the CDAP Internal Awards budget.
• Oversee operational aspects of research programs and administer the CDAP Internal Awards program
• Identify new funding opportunities and partnerships with government, industry, organizations, non-profits, and philanthropic entities.
• Recommend policies, procedures, and practices to strengthen the college’s strategic direction. Liaise with university research offices, such as the Research and Innovation Office, Office of Research Integrity and Compliance, and communicate research-related information to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensures compliance with institutional, state, and federal research regulations and promotes a culture of academic excellence in research.
• Serving as a member-at-large and facilitator for the COTA Faculty Development Committee, coordinating the application and review processes for internal COTA grants in Research, Teaching, and Recruitment.
• Supervise staff in the Research Office.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in the Arts from an accredited institution.
• Experience and demonstrated success in high-level arts administration and advising.
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and inclusive practices.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in navigating complex educational institutional systems.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF’s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

How to apply

Applicants MUST provide the following documents when completing the application:

• Letter of interest that outlines creative activity and how it would integrate into the curriculum and education.
• Curriculum vitae that highlights education, academic or industry experience, and creative activity as an artist or graphic designer.