Job Details

Dean, College of Business

Position Number: 7169570
Location: Athens, OH
Position Type: Deans - Business

Ohio University seeks a dynamic, strategic, and externally engaged leader to serve as Dean of the College of Business. As the chief academic and administrative officer of the College, the Dean will provide innovative leadership that advances excellence in teaching, learning, research, and engagement while aligning the College's mission and priorities with those of the University. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean oversees academic programs, personnel, fiscal resources, and strategic initiatives for a College with an operating budget exceeding $31 million and a strong foundation of student-centered education, experiential learning, research and scholarship, and industry engagement.

The next Dean will be expected to articulate and advance a distinctive vision for the College's future, building upon highly regarded programs such as sports administration, entrepreneurship, sales and nationally ranked online offerings. Central to this role is positioning the College to respond to a rapidly evolving business environment, including emerging workforce needs, technological change, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. The Dean will promote agility, accountability, and innovation while strengthening the College's brand and reputation.

A core priority will be delivering a strong and adaptive student experience that integrates high-quality instruction, research and scholarship in an R1 environment, and applied, experiential learning. The Dean also will deepen engagement with alumni, employers, and community partners and explore new programs and initiatives that serve the needs of industry, including executive education, applied research, and other mission-aligned revenue streams. Fundraising and partnership development, in close collaboration with University Advancement, will be critical to sustaining growth and impact.

The College operates within a complex resource environment shaped by growing enrollments and a unionized faculty. The Dean must champion the College's priorities while fostering a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative culture that values faculty and professional staff and supports shared governance. Through clear communication, relationship-building, and strategic leadership, the next Dean will guide the College of Business toward continued excellence, relevance, and long-term success.

Applications can be submitted through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal. Applicants should submit, as separate documents, a CV or résumé and a letter of interest that addresses the themes outlined in the leadership profile at WittKieffer.com. WittKieffer is assisting Ohio University in this search. For full consideration, candidate materials should be received by August 11, 2026.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search:

Ryan Crawford | rcrawford@wittkieffer.com

Lauren Bruce-Stets | lstets@wittkieffer.com

Julia Bradley | jbradley@wittkieffer.com

Ohio University is committed to promoting and supporting a workplace and educational environment where healthy and respectful conduct is the cultural norm. In support of this commitment, Ohio University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ethnicity, national ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, status as a parent or foster parent, military service, or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information. Ohio University's Equal Employment and Educational Opportunity Policy (40.001) and Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct Policy (03.004) detail prohibited conduct.

University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance (ECRC) supports this purpose by monitoring the educational environment and workplace to stop, remediate, and prevent discrimination on the basis of protected status. We make policy recommendations, offer training, and provide avenues for resolving grievances based on protected status.

Should any member of the campus community experience discrimination or harassment based on a protected class status, including sexual harassment, other sexual misconduct, or retaliation due to a protected disclosure or activity, they are asked to contact the Director of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX Coordinator. Further, reports may also be submitted for violations of the University's policy on freedom of expression.