Assistant Dean for Student Experience

The Ohio State University; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business seeks an Assistant Dean for Student Experience to lead student success, retention, and post-graduate outcomes. This role oversees ACCESS, OCM, and OGB, and chairs the Student Success Committee, collaborating across units to advance equity and excellence for all students.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or equivalent and 12+ years in higher education leadership, with a proven ability to design, scale, and assess programs.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in higher education administration, business, public administration, or related field.
• 12+ years in leadership roles within higher education or academic administration.
• Experience building partnerships with business and external organizations.
• Ability to influence across matrix structures to improve retention, graduation, and post-graduate outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication and autonomous decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead student success, access, and career outcomes initiatives at Fisher College of Business.
• Oversee ACCESS, OCM, and OGB and chair the Student Success Committee.
• Collaborate across units to shape data-informed student experience strategies.
• _design and scale programs to improve retention, graduation, and employment outcomes.
• Partner with employers, alumni, and community organizations to expand experiential learning.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Change management

Collaboration across org structures

Data-informed decision making

Autonomy & independent decision making

Resource allocation

Education

PhD or equivalent education in higher education administration or related field

Job description

Job Title:Assistant Dean for Student ExperienceDepartment: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.

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.

Please submit both a cover letter and resume for full consideration.

Location:Fisher Hall (0249)Position Type:RegularScheduled Hours:40Shift:First ShiftFinal candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

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