Texas Southern University (TSU) invites nominations, applications, and inquiries in its search for a visionary leader to serve as the next Dean of the Graduate School.
TSU, located in Houston, is a comprehensive doctoral university offering a broad academic portfolio with over 100 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and concentrations organized into ten academic colleges and schools. Since its inception in 1927, Texas Southern has been highly regarded as a premier producer of talent. It has grown from 300 students in its first summer to serving approximately 8,500 students today. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, TSU honors its designation as a special-purpose institution for urban programming and research. TSU is one of 13 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to hold the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s coveted status as a Doctoral University of High Research Activity (R2). Its research prowess is demonstrated by grant awards increasing 48% over the past two fiscal years.
The Graduate School was established as a unit of TSU when the institution was created by the Texas State Legislature in 1947. TSU offers 27 master’s, three doctor of education, four Ph.D. programs, and several specialist degrees tailored for success in many fields of study. The Graduate School’s major goal is to provide an environment that supports the enhancement of research, teaching, and other scholarly pursuits for students seeking advanced degrees in specialized academic disciplines. Through graduate study, a high level of scholarship is encouraged, and the qualities of industry, intellectual honesty, thoroughness, and accuracy are emphasized by the involvement of students in courses, seminars, independent study, and research.
Reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Carl B. Goodman, who during his tenure has emphasized TSU’s pursuit of R1 classification through strengthening the graduate research enterprise, the Dean of the Graduate School at TSU serves as the chief administrative officer for all graduate programs within the university’s schools and colleges. The Dean provides strategic leadership, fosters academic excellence, and enhances the overall graduate student experience. This role involves overseeing curriculum development, faculty support, student recruitment and retention, and external partnerships.
The successful candidate must hold a terminal degree in any academic field of study from an appropriately accredited institution and have a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and service that merits appointment to the rank of full professor with tenure in one of the units at the university. Candidates must also have significant administrative experience in higher education, with preference given to those with experience in graduate school administration and a record of teaching excellence at the graduate level, with preference given to candidates who have taught in both undergraduate and graduate settings. Candidates should also have a record of leadership in research, graduate programs, or other initiatives serving academically talented undergraduate students.
WittKieffer is assisting TSU in this search. 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 leadership profile found at below.
For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by May 19, 2025. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal using the buttons below. Confidential nominations and inquiries can be directed to the University’s consultants, Christine J. Pendleton and Maya Holt-Brockenbrough, Ph.D. at [email protected].