Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 175,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT) is looking for an Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to provide strategic leadership for the Honors College. This role involves fortifying academic programs, enhancing faculty affairs, and ensuring academic quality through effective governance.

The successful candidate will lead initiatives that align academic priorities with institutional goals and support undergraduate research while fostering innovation in teaching and learning.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate and scholarly achievement commensurate with appointment as a tenured associate professor or higher.
• Demonstrated success in academic leadership within higher education.
• Strong administrative expertise in personnel leadership and shared governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the academic mission of the Honors College.
• Strengthen transdisciplinary initiatives and align academic priorities.
• Lead faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and promotion.

Education

Earned doctorate with tenure

Experience leading a department or program

Expertise in academic planning and assessment

Commitment to student-centered pedagogy

Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Commitment to academic excellence and public service

Job description

Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs provides strategic leadership for the academic mission of the Honors College, with primary responsibility for curriculum, pedagogy, faculty affairs, assessment, and academic quality. Reporting to the Dean and serving as a key member of the Dean’s Leadership Team, the Associate Dean advances a distinctive, high impact honors curriculum; fosters excellence in teaching, research, and creative inquiry; and ensures effective governance and continuous improvement of academic programs.

Working collaboratively with faculty and campus partners, the Associate Dean strengthens transdisciplinary initiatives, expands research and enrichment opportunities, and aligns Honors College academic priorities with institutional goals and national best practices. The role also provides leadership in faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and promotion, and represents the Honors College within the university and nationally, contributing to its intellectual vitality, institutional alignment, and growing impact.

A strategic, innovative, and forward-thinking academic leader, the Associate Dean anticipates and responds effectively to emerging challenges and opportunities in honors education and higher education broadly. Through a collaborative and transparent leadership approach, the Associate Dean builds trust, cultivates shared purpose, and navigates complexity to lead meaningful and sustained change. This role requires exceptional relationship building skills, sound judgment, high emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to student success and to the development, wellbeing, and success of faculty and staff.

Required Qualifications

• Earned doctorate with tenure and a record of scholarly achievement commensurate with appointment as a tenured associate professor or higher.
• Demonstrated success in academic leadership within higher education, including experience leading a department, program, or comparably complex academic unit.
• Strong administrative expertise in academic planning, assessment, personnel leadership, and shared governance.
• Demonstrated commitment to innovative, student-centered pedagogy and to undergraduate research and creative inquiry.
• Experience using assessment and data-informed decision-making to support academic quality and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead collaboratively, build trust, and engage diverse constituencies.
• Commitment to the land-grant mission, academic excellence, access, and public service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within or closely with an honors college or similar high-impact academic program.
• Appointment at the rank of full professor.
• Experience with faculty reappointment, promotion, and governance processes.
• Practical Knowledge of national best practices and emerging models in honors education.
• Demonstrated success securing or supporting externally funded curricular, pedagogical, or research initiatives (e.g., SoTL).
• Experience with strategic planning, accreditation, external reviews, and/or benchmarking efforts.
• Ability to articulate and advance a forward-looking vision for the College.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, mentoring, retaining, and advocating for outstanding faculty, staff, and students, with a commitment to cultivate a thriving and supportive academic community.

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Overtime Status: Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type: Regular

Salary Information: 175,000 to 200,000

Hours per week: 40

Review Date: 22 June 2026

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Keith Goyne at [e-mail] regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.