Dean, College of Arts and Media

Grand Canyon University Inc.; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Grand Canyon University is seeking a Dean for the College of Arts & Media in Phoenix, AZ. The role requires leading faculty and staff to advance programs, student outcomes, and community engagement within a Christ-centered, entrepreneurial framework.

The Dean will shape strategic direction, ensure accreditation standards, and collaborate across university teams. An advanced degree and leadership experience in arts or media are essential for this mission-driven appointment.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree relevant to the role (e.g., MFA or doctoral).
• Leadership, business, or entrepreneurial experience in the arts and/or media.
• Experience in higher education and teaching.
• Ability to lead at operational and strategic levels.
• Passion for sharing Christian faith as a leader and educator.

Responsibilities

• Lead faculty and staff across program creation, operations, student experience, retention and outcomes.
• Create learning outcomes and assessment culture integrating faith and values.
• Collaborate with university teams in a matrix organization to improve student success.
• Establish the college brand and partner with operations to recruit and enroll students.
• Lead advisory boards and engage with business leaders to advocate for GCU.
• Support faculty development in teaching, service and scholarship.
• Ensure accreditation standards are met and maintain program quality.
• Provide strategic planning and policy development within the university framework.

Skills

Executive leadership

Higher education experience

Teaching experience

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Faith-based leadership

Education

Advanced degree relevant to the role (MFA or doctoral)

Job description

Dean, College of Arts and Media – Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona

Grand Canyon University is a national university with a purpose-driven educational model that combines Christian faith with free-market principles, is seeking its next Dean for the College of Arts & Media. GCU is a private, non-denominational Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. We are looking for a unique leader who can bring together the arts with various forms of media and performance, combining Christian faith with academic excellence. The Dean will bring real-world experience, a passion for teaching, and an operations mindset to scale the college's impact and share the Gospel through the arts and media.

Our Mission

GCU is a missional, Christ-centered university with an innovative and adaptive spirit that addresses the world's deep needs by cultivating a compassionate Christian community, empowering free and virtuous action, and serving others in ways that promote human flourishing. Through academic excellence, the university equips students with knowledge of the Christian worldview, instilling in them a sense of purpose and vocational calling that enables them to become innovative thinkers, effective communicators, global contributors, and transformative leaders - placing the interests of others before their own.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Provost & Chief Academic Officer, GCU is seeking a high-energy leader to advance the vision and impact of the college for students and society. This role calls for a servant leader with an entrepreneurial vision for all programs, one who encourages students to leverage their God-given gifts. We are especially interested in candidates who can strengthen our academic community through their experience, perspective, and industry context, and who can respond thoughtfully to uncertainty in the age of AI. The Dean leads every aspect of the college and its integration into the broader GCU academic affairs team and university systems. GCU maintains a well-established, centralized shared-services model that supports the college in scaling excellence.

What We Offer

The opportunity to work at a thriving, diverse campus and online student population - the largest private, Christian university in the country.

The chance to champion a Christian and entrepreneurial mindset for today's changing world within the arts and media.

A place on a leadership team that has built a high-quality, Christian-based academic experience for students of all socio-economic backgrounds, without raising undergraduate tuition in 18 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead faculty and staff in support of the GCU mission across all aspects of the student academic experience, including program creation, college operations, student experience, retention, graduation, and career outcomes.
• Create high-quality learning outcomes and a culture of assessment that integrates Christian faith and character, free-market principles, and servant leadership.
• Lead the college in collaboration with university teams and services within a matrix organization, creating efficiencies and leveraging best practices for student success and college operations (e.g., Faculty Training & Development, Curriculum Design & Development, and Marketing).
• Establish the College of Arts & Media brand and partner with operational teams to market, recruit, and enroll high-quality students.
• Lead the college's advisory boards and engage with C-level business leaders to advocate for GCU.
• Lead faculty and support their professional development in teaching, service, and scholarship.
• Uphold the integrity of GCU's Christian mission, faith integration, and learning outcomes.
• Oversee new program development, course scheduling, faculty evaluation and development, curriculum development, faculty/staff hiring and supervision, budget development, and fiscal monitoring.
• Ensure programs and curriculum meet accreditation standards.
• Provide leadership for the college in strategic planning, direction setting, and policy development within the context of the University's strategic plan and institutional policies.
• Take on additional responsibilities as assigned by the Provost or President.

Requirements & Leadership Qualities

• Advanced degree relevant to the role or to the College of Arts & Media (e.g., MFA or doctoral degree).
• Leadership, business, and/or entrepreneurial experience in the arts and/or media.
• Experience in higher education and teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to lead at both operational and strategic levels.
• A passion for sharing Christian faith as a leader and educator.

GCU's Commitment to Diversity

GCU's Christian worldview has shaped the university's mission and growth for more than 65 years. As a Christ-centered higher education institution, GCU integrates faith, learning and work to connect the GCU community with distinct Christian principles and strong central values.

The University values diversity among its students, faculty and staff, and invites applications from all qualified individuals, including minorities, females, individuals with disabilities and veterans.

At GCU, working professionals may find their purpose in ways marked by compassion, service, integrity and concern for the common good.

Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory outcome (as determined by the university) of pre-employment screening activities, including a background check.