Academic Dean-College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

UCA; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Tuition waivers for employees andfamil

12 official holidays

Paid leave accrual

Retirement plan with 10% university

Health and wellness incentives

Free gym membership

Job summary

The University of Central Arkansas seeks an Academic Dean for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences (CHBS). The dean will provide visionary leadership for academic programs, faculty and staff, budgets, accreditation, and partnerships, advancing enrollment and student outcomes across the college.

Ideal candidates will have a doctorate, proven academic leadership at chair/director levels, and a record of fundraising and external engagement with healthcare and behavioral health stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate in a discipline related to CHBS.
• Demonstrated academic leadership at department chair level or above.

Responsibilities

• Lead academic programs, budgets, accreditation, and partnerships.
• Oversee enrollment outcomes and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Serve as principal internal and external spokesperson for the College."],
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Skills

Higher education administration

Diversity & teamwork

Sound judgment

Interpersonal communication

Civility

Follow-up

Education

Doctorate in related field

Job description

Academic Dean-College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number F0502026

Working Title

Working Title Academic Dean-College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Department Org

Why should you work at UCA?

We are excited that you are considering joining the UCA Family—the faculty, staff, students and alumni—who make the University of Central Arkansas a great place to work!
At the University of Central Arkansas, we value our employees striving to maintain a work-life balance. We realize that this affects the overall well-being of employees while learning to prioritize challenging work and the ability to make a difference. Participation in university-wide flexible work schedules may be available for certain positions. Training is provided on systems or job-specific software, and tools are available supporting professional and personal development. The benefits package allows you to customize your benefits to meet your current needs, with the ability to adjust them as your priorities change. This includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, 80% tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a retirement program with university contributions of 10% of employee salary. Also available are health and wellness incentives, as well as access to sports and cultural activities on campus for the family, free gym membership and equipment rentals.

Position Summary

The University of Central Arkansas invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences ( CHBS ). As UCA’s largest academic college by declared majors and a leading contributor to Arkansas’s healthcare and behavioral health workforce, CHBS offers an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished and entrepreneurial academic leader.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the dean serves as the college’s chief academic and administrative officer. The dean provides leadership for academic programs, faculty and staff, budgets and resource planning, personnel processes, program quality and assessment, specialized accreditation, clinical operations and partnerships, enrollment and student outcomes, interdisciplinary initiatives, scholarship, advancement, and engagement with the university and broader community.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The position demands excellent communication skills and proven ability to facilitate consensus, evidence of effective academic leadership and administrative experience at the department chair level or above.

Skills Considered Essential for Success

• Knowledge of the organization and administration of higher education.
• Knowledge of state, federal, and university rules, regulations and procedures.
• Ability to work in a diverse and dynamic environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently with common goals as a part of a team.
• Ability to make sound judgments.
• Effective interpersonal communication, writing, and organizational abilities.
• Civility in all interactions.
• Demonstrate effective follow-up.

Required Education and/or Experience

An earned doctorate in a discipline in or closely related to the College, together with a record of teaching, research, and scholarly achievement that merits appointment as a tenured full professor in one of the College’s academic units.

Demonstrated academic leadership and progressively responsible administrative experience at the level of department chair, school director, associate dean, dean, or comparable level.

Preferred Education and/or Experience

Proven ability to manage the budget, personnel, facilities, and other resources of a complex, multi-unit academic organization with fiscal responsibility and transparency.

• A demonstrated record of success in fundraising and securing external support from donors, alumni, foundations, corporate partners, and public sources, or a genuine and demonstrable commitment to engaging in that work.
• A commitment to shared governance and to transparent, collaborative decision-making that engages faculty, staff, and students.
• A record of recruiting, retaining, developing, and mentoring high-quality faculty and staff, and of rewarding excellence in teaching, research, and service.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to serve as the principal internal and external spokesperson and advocate for the College across multiple constituencies.
• A demonstrated commitment to student success at every stage of the academic experience, including access, retention, persistence, graduation, and career outcomes.
• The ability to foster interdisciplinary collaboration within the College and across the university, to build a shared identity and sense of common purpose among different academic units, and to contribute to institutional priorities.
• The highest standards of personal and professional integrity and ethical conduct.
• A strong record of research, scholarship, or creative activity, including success in obtaining external funding, and experience advancing a college’s research productivity and impact.
• In-depth knowledge of clinical and professional programs, including clinical placements, affiliation agreements, specialized program accreditation, and the delivery of community-based services.
• Experience leading or overseeing clinical operations, such as university-based clinics, community health services, or simulation centers, including attention to quality of care, regulatory compliance, and financial sustainability.
• Experience building partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, government agencies, industry, and nonprofit partners that advance the academic and service missions of the College.
• Fluency in enrollment management, demographic and workforce trends, and the range of curriculum delivery modes, including online, hybrid, and accelerated formats at the undergraduate and graduate levels, needed to keep programs competitive and relevant while maintaining academic rigor.
• An entrepreneurial orientation toward enrollment growth, program development, continuing and professional education, and mission-aligned revenue generation that supports the long-term financial health of the College.
• A record of supporting high-quality teaching, faculty scholarship, student success, and academic or professional program quality.
• Ability to lead collaboratively across multiple disciplines, build trust, communicate effectively, and manage complex decisions with integrity.
• Experience leading across multiple campuses, sites, or delivery locations and addressing the needs of stakeholders in each.
• Working knowledge of faculty personnel processes, including reappointment, promotion, and tenure, and of faculty governance structures.
• Experience leading organizational change.
• Comfort using data from multiple sources, including enrollment, workforce, financial, and academic performance data, to inform strategy, program development, resource allocation, and policy.
• A relational and approachable leadership style characterized by active listening, empathy, humility, and a visible, engaged presence with faculty, staff, and students.

University, Campus, and Community Description

Thank you for your interest in employment at the University of Central Arkansas.
Founded in 1907, UCA has an enrollment of more than 10,000 students and employs over 1,300 full-time employees. The university offers more than 85 undergraduate and 59 graduate certificate and degree programs, including doctoral programs in five disciplines. UCA is proud of its tradition of teaching excellence and its contributions in research, scholarship, and creative activities.

Desired start date

05/16/2027

Will this position be Onsite, Remote, or Hybrid?

Onsite

This position may be subject to a pre-employment criminal, sex-offender registry, financial history background check and drug screening. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication and/or adverse financial history alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background checks and drug screening information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

UCA EEO Statement

The University of Central Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. In keeping with its nondiscrimination policy in employment, admissions and other functions and programs, the university considers employees and students on the basis of individual merit and will not discriminate against a person on the basis of gender, race or color, ethnicity, religion, spiritual beliefs, national origin, age, familial status, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, disability, political beliefs, intellectual perspective, genetic information, military status, or other factors irrelevant to participation in its programs.

Open Date

10/29/2026

Open Until Filled Yes

Posting Supplemental Questions

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