Assistant Dean for Student Experience

Ohio State University; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business seeks an Assistant Dean for Student Experience to lead initiatives across ACCESS, OCM, and OGB, and to set the strategic direction for student success and career outcomes. This executive role collaborates with faculty and external partners to advance retention, graduation, and placement.

The position emphasizes data-informed decision making, strategic investments, and expanding opportunities for experiential learning and workforce

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent education and/or experience in higher education administration, business, public administration, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education or related field.
• Designing, implementing, and scaling student success, workforce development, or community engagement programs.
• Experience building and sustaining partnerships with business, external organizations, and key stakeholders.
• Ability to operate with autonomy and make independent decisions in complex environments.
• Proven track record of building consensus and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
• Experience making resource allocation and programmatic decisions impacting performance.
• Strong operational acumen including oversight of budgets and resources.
• Ability to lead transformational change and manage ambiguity.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, representing the college at executive level.

Responsibilities

• Oversee ACCESS, OCM, and OGB and chair the Student Success Committee.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and stakeholders to advance student success and career outcomes.
• Lead data-informed strategy development for retention, persistence, graduation, and placement.
• Drive partnerships with employers, community organizations, and alumni for experiential learning.
• Scale innovative programs to reduce barriers to persistence and improve student belonging.
• Align programs with Fisher College of Business growth, access, and equity objectives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Higher ed leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Autonomy in decisions

Budget management

Cross-functional teams

Change management

Exec communication

Partnership development

Education

PhD or equivalent education

Job description

Job Title:

Assistant Dean for Student Experience

Department:

Fisher College | Office of the Dean-Interim

The Assistant Dean for Student Experience is an integral member of the Fisher College of Business leadership team and serves as a strategic thought leader who collaborates across units to shape and advance the College’s student success, access, and career outcomes agenda.

This role provides direct oversight of the Advancing Community Connections and Empowering Student Success Office (ACCESS), the Office of Career Management (OCM), and the Office of Global Business (OGB), and chairs the Student Success Committee. The Assistant Dean operates with a high degree of independence and accountability, making critical decisions that directly influence the academic success of students, the operational effectiveness of the College, and its long-term institutional performance.

The Assistant Dean provides vision, strategic direction and collaborative leadership for student success–related programming, including initiatives focused on student retention, persistence, graduation, and post-graduate career placement. This position exercises significant discretion in prioritizing investments, designing interventions, and deploying resources to achieve measurable improvements in key student success metrics.

Working in close partnership with faculty, staff, and institutional stakeholders, the Assistant Dean leads the development and implementation of comprehensive, data-informed strategies that attract, support, and empower a high-achieving student population. These efforts are closely aligned with the College’s strategic growth objectives and its commitment to access, academic excellence, and student outcomes.

The Assistant Dean is responsible for co-architecting and scaling innovative programs that enhance academic success and Fisher student experience while reducing barriers to persistence. Through rigorous use of data and predictive insights, this leader identifies priorities, evaluates program effectiveness, and drives continuous improvement efforts through cross-unit collaboration. Decisions made in this role directly impact the college’s retention rates, graduation outcomes, and overall student success.

In addition, the Assistant Dean leads the design and execution of student-focused community engagement strategies, workforce development initiatives, and academic support programs that strengthen student belonging. This includes cultivating partnerships with employers, community organizations, and alumni to expand experiential learning and employment opportunities for students.

As a transformative change agent, the Assistant Dean is charged with expanding awareness of and access to Fisher College of Business degree programs, with a particular focus on affordability, equity, and student achievement. The role requires sound judgment, strategic foresight, and the ability to influence across complex organizational structures to drive alignment and execution. This role drives cross-functional collaboration and leverages data, partnerships, and innovative practices to ensure measurable improvements in student and career outcomes.

Additional Information:

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent education and/or experience in higher education administration, business, public administration, or a related field of study.
• 12+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education, academic administration, student success, or a closely related field. Experience designing, implementing, and scaling student success, workforce development, or community engagement programs.
• Demonstrated experience building and sustaining partnerships with the business community, external organizations, and key stakeholders to co-create strategic initiatives, programming, and events that enhance student experience and support student success.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating across organizational matrix structures to support improved student retention, persistence, graduation rates, and/or post-graduate employment outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgment and independent decision-making in complex, high-stakes environments.
• Proven track record of building consensus and influencing outcomes without direct structural authority.
• Experience making resource allocation and programmatic decisions that materially impact organizational performance, student outcomes, and institutional priorities.
• Strong operational acumen, including oversight of program performance, budgets, and resource optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformational change, manage ambiguity, and drive adoption of new initiatives.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present as a member of the college's executive leadership team and represent the college with internal and external stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications:

• Established network of employer, industry, or community partnerships that support experiential learning and job placement.
• Experience aligning academic programs with evolving workforce needs, including high-demand sectors at the state or national level.
• Ability to leverage technology to enhance student engagement, operational efficiency, and data visibility.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive environments that support student belonging and long-term success.

Location:

Fisher Hall (0249)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.