Dean, School of Education

Position Overview

Be an Eagle – Where Purpose Takes Flight! At North Carolina Central University (NCCU), we are more than an institution—we are a community rooted in a legacy of excellence and transformation. A historically Black university located in Durham, North Carolina, also known as ‘The City of Medicine,’ NCCU has been a cornerstone of education since 1910, fostering innovation and progress. Join our team and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and exclusive perks designed to support your work-life balance. At NCCU, your professional growth will be nurtured, and your contributions will help shape the future for our students and the community we serve.

Primary Purpose of Position

The Dean of the School of Education serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the school and reports directly to the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Dean provides strategic leadership and oversight for the school’s academic programs, faculty, staff, and educational initiatives while advancing excellence in teaching, professional growth, student success, and academic innovation. Working within a framework of shared governance, the Dean establishes priorities, supports faculty and staff development, promotes effective academic practices, and ensures the continued quality and relevance of the school’s programs. The Dean provides leadership in securing resources, managing fiscal and personnel matters, and strengthening the school’s relationships with internal and external constituencies. The position serves as a key advocate for the school and promotes its academic mission, reputation, and contributions to the University and broader community. The Dean also fosters collaboration and strategic partnerships with other schools, colleges, departments, and university units to advance interdisciplinary initiatives, enhance student opportunities, and support the University’s overall academic priorities.

Primary Function of Organizational Unit

The mission of North Carolina Central University’s School of Education is to prepare candidates to assume socially responsible positions that advance the general welfare of North Carolina people. The university remains dedicated to serving its historical population of African American students while also welcoming a broad and evolving student body. The School of Education’s conceptual framework, “Preparing Educators for a Range of Cultural Contexts,” undergirds the school’s curriculum and represents the faculty’s commitment to preparing teachers to teach children from all racial, cultural, socio-economic, and religious backgrounds. The program is also designed to engender in graduates the ability to see the social and political implications of their actions and the social contexts in which they are carried out. This paradigm further supports the notion that graduates use their skills and knowledge to promote justice and humane conditions in schooling and society. Our mission applies to all professional education programs at the University, including those housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. The “unit” is considered to be all professional education programs, with the unit head being the dean of the School of Education. As such, the School of Education is the academic unit responsible for all NCCU teacher education programs.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Requisite skills, abilities, and experiences necessary for senior academic administrators
• Distinguished credentials in teaching, research, and service
• Successful track record in university administration and budget management
• Experience in engagement with K-12 school systems
• Success in the procurement of grants and sponsored research
• Broad and thorough knowledge of the academic enterprise
• Strong leadership experience and skills
• Proven written and oral communication skills
• Collaboration and decision-making skills
• Active support of diversity initiatives and awareness
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, hire, retain and manage a diverse workforce
• Ability to promote a diverse work environment through education, training and professional development

Minimum Education/Experience

• Earned doctoral degree in education
• Current status and rank at the level of associate/full professor
• Deemed worthy of consideration for tenure within the School of Education in accordance with NCCU standards
• Minimum of three to five years administration and supervision at the level of associate dean and above
• Proven effectiveness at academic administration
• Skill in facilitating teams and accomplishing projects in a collegial environment
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Significant experience with accreditation matters

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

Administrative

• Foster an environment of collegiality, respect, and teamwork that empowers faculty and staff members to determine and accomplish the goals of the School of Education
• Represent the School of Education to the college’s academic community (academic year, summer programs, and programs abroad), other service departments, the administration and local community and the wider network of School of Education professional organizations nationally and internationally
• Develop strategic plans and set priorities for the School of Education
• Identify and integrate new technologies and information services that support and enhance the school’s educational mission and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of administrative operations
• Engage in continual assessment of the school’s resources and services
• Lead a high-quality faculty and staff, delegating authority for specific areas of responsibility

Management & Administration

• Monitor the external environment, assessing risks and benefits of incorporating the use of new technologies within the academic programs and administrative operations
• Develop organizational models for the School of Education, determining allocation of human resources based on a broad understanding of the school’s goals and objectives
• Set performance goals that incorporate objectives associated with staff development and training
• Develop strategies for recruiting and retaining excellent staff

Leadership and Collaboration

• Support the professional development and continuing education of School of Education faculty, administrators, and support staff
• Exercise administrative, budgetary, fund-raising, and collaborative leadership skills
• Demonstrate skills in teamwork, collaboration, relationship-building, and mentoring