Dean, College of Business & Entrepreneurship and Communication and the Arts [A00740]

About The College

The College will play a central role in Mercy University’s new academic structure by integrating business and entrepreneurial education with communication, digital, media, and creative disciplines. The College, as the overarching unit for two Schools, will strengthen academic identity, enhance program alignment, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and support innovative pathways for students preparing for leadership in business, analytics, management, communication, media, design, the arts, and the creative economy.

The College will serve approximately 1,595 students, including 1,312 undergraduate students and 283 graduate students, across 16 academic programs: 10 undergraduate programs and six graduate programs. The College comprises these Schools:

• School of Business & Entrepreneurship (name TBD)
• School of Communication and the Arts (name TBD)

Its academic portfolio includes undergraduate and graduate programs in Accounting, Business Administration, Organizational Management, Risk Management and Insurance, Business Analytics, Communication Arts, Media Studies, Music Production and Recording Arts, Design and Animation, and related fields. Through this combination of disciplines, the College will be positioned to advance entrepreneurship, digital fluency, creative production, professional communication, experiential learning, business analytics, and industry-engaged education. The College will also contribute to the University’s cross-cutting interdisciplinary pillars, through General Education, expanded research, and the AI Entrepreneurship Innovation Hub. By fostering cross-campus collaboration and teaching innovation, the College will prepare students to lead in dynamic business, tech, and creative environments.

Responsibilities

Student Success

• Set clear student success goals for retention, progression, and completion; use dashboards and disaggregated data to close equity gaps.
• Integrate career readiness by expanding internships, practica, and employer-partnered projects aligned with program outcomes.
• Align advising, tutoring, and early-alert interventions with program learning outcomes to improve persistence and time to degree.
• Establish Student Advisory Councils that inform continuous improvement and strengthen belonging and campus climate.
• Expand high-impact practices (undergraduate research, service learning, global learning) and assess learning gains.

Faculty Development

• Oversee faculty and staff recruitment, retention, and development; support excellence in teaching, scholarship/creative work, and service.
• Integrate professional development into institutional culture in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning and relevant units.
• Launch structured mentoring for early- and mid-career faculty tied to promotion and scholarly goals; promote evidence-based and inclusive teaching.
• Implement transparent workload equity norms for teaching, scholarship/creative activity, and service.
• Recognize excellence through selective awards and public showcases of faculty scholarship and creative work.
• Oversee appointment, evaluation, promotion, and (where applicable) tenure processes in consultation with School leadership and faculty governance.

Strategic Leadership and Academic Innovation

• Define a vision, and partner across faculty, staff, and administrators of the college to set long-term academic goals, and align resources to support innovation.
• Develop and oversee the school’s budget with decision-making authority over program allocations, strategic initiatives, and faculty support resources in consultation with the Provost.
• Model high standards of professional accountability and hold subordinates accountable for achieving ambitious results.
• Monitor key college metrics and provide actionable feedback, ensuring team members take ownership of academic goals and operational successes.
• Ensure alignment of schools and policies with the College's academic values and priorities.
• Spearhead strategic initiatives for data governance, enrollment management, academic marketing, and accreditation compliance.
• Be a partner across all offices of the university to meet college and university priorities including data integrity, marketing, enrollment, recruitment.
• Effectively monitor accreditation status and requirements and ensure just-in-time action across all requirements for success.
• Lead the College Advisor Board and ensure employer, alumni, and other stakeholder involvement in ensuring college, school, and program success.
• Lead strategic planning for the College in alignment with University priorities and accreditation standards; engage faculty and staff in planning and decision-making.
• Guide curriculum development, program review, and continuous improvement to ensure academic rigor, relevance, and student success.
• Advance portfolio optimization and new offerings responsive to evolving workforce needs (e.g., certificates and other credentials, 4+1 pathways).
• Develop coherent online, hybrid, and other such initiatives with clear quality standards, student support, and enrollment strategies.
• Coordinate external funding (grants, corporate partnerships) to seed program innovation and student success initiatives.
• Ensure alignment of College and School policies and priorities with University values.
• Support leadership succession planning.

Collaborative and Inclusive Culture

• Cultivate a collegial, student-centered environment that values diverse voices among faculty, staff, and students.
• Strengthen shared governance and meaningful faculty engagement in shaping the College’s vision and direction.
• Conduct periodic climate assessments and implement action plans that advance access and belonging.
• Ensure transparent communication of decisions, rationales, and timelines, especially during organizational change.
• Uphold integrity, fairness, and understanding in faculty and student grievance processes.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Serve as chief fiscal steward for the College; develop and oversee the College budget with decision-making authority over School allocations, strategic initiatives, and faculty support, in consultation with the Office of the Provost.
• Implement multi-scenario budgeting aligned with strategic priorities and enrollment forecasts; monitor program margins and contribution analysis.
• Ensure School and program leaders effectively manage budget allocations, program fees, and course scheduling in response to demand, accreditation constraints, and student pathways.
• Strengthen fiscal controls, compliance, and data integrity; coordinate with Institutional Research and Finance for decision support.
• Develop multi-year equipment, space, and technology plans that support scholarship/creative activity and instructional innovation; monitor risk and mitigation related to enrollment volatility and regulatory change.

Donors, Development, and External Relations

• Provide thoughtful and strategic leadership in advancing philanthropic support for the College, in close partnership with Advancement.
• Represent the College to alumnae/i, donors, employers, community partners, and professional organizations; be a visible, public-facing leader who elevates the College’s visibility and reputation in the broader community.
• Actively engage prospects, alumnae/i, donors, and other external stakeholders to articulate academic priorities and align donor interests with institutional goals.
• Establish College Advisory Boards and, where appropriate, program-level industry or sector-related councils to inform strategy, cultivate advocacy, and help identify new philanthropic prospects.
• Coordinate with Advancement to design and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans aligned with academic and strategic priorities.
• Build alumnae/i pipelines for mentorship, internships, and philanthropy—and deepen relationships with individual and organizational donors.
• Ensure donor intent compliance and transparent reporting on endowed and restricted funds’ impact on students, faculty, and programs.
• Support external funding pursuits (grants, corporate and foundation partnerships, public funding) in collaboration with relevant University offices.

Excellence Through Shared Responsibility

• Practice robust shared governance by collaborating across the University on policies, initiatives, and strategic priorities.
• Facilitate consistent implementation of University, College, and School policies and priorities.
• Oversee systematic assessment of student learning outcomes and program review; use data for continuous improvement and document “closing the loop”.
• Ensure adherence to institutional policies, external regulations, and accreditation standards; maintain accurate, current, and compelling public-facing information (including web content and program outcomes).
• Champion cross-University initiatives (student success, research/creative activity, civic engagement) and report progress to the Provost.

Professional Development and Sustainability

• Participate in professional development and training to ensure currency and development.
• Leverage 360-degree feedback and self-reflection to create an actionable development plan, driving professional growth and role advancement.
• Actively apply feedback from peers, managers, and stakeholders to demonstrate tangible performance improvements and career progression.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in a relevant discipline, with eligibility for tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
• Progressive leadership experience over ten years in a complex academic setting, including significant academic and fiscal planning responsibility.
• Demonstrated success supporting faculty excellence and staff development, shared governance, and culture of accountability.
• Proven track record in budget management, resource stewardship, strategic planning, and accreditation processes.
• Evidence of external fundraising, grant acquisition, alumnae/i relations, and partnership development.
• Student-centered ethos with commitment to teaching, research/scholarship/creative activity, and student development.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering access, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and advocacy skills; personal integrity and sound judgment.
• Exceptional communication skills to build consensus among faculty, students, and administration.
• Experience with curriculum development, student retention strategies, and program growth.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through changes and evolving higher education environments and complex regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated ability to hold people accountable, provide feedback and evaluation.

Reports to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and collaborates with Office of the Provost and other university offices.