The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs provides strategic leadership and operational oversight in support of undergraduate student success. This role is responsible for advancing initiatives that enhance the undergraduate experience, ensuring high-quality services across student-facing units, and fostering a collaborative, student-centered culture.

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs serves as a key member of the Academic Affairs leadership team, working closely with the associate dean, assistant deans, directors, departments, central administrative offices, and external partners to align programs and services with the College of Engineering (CoE) and institutional priorities.

The CoE Academic Affairs is a dynamic and student-centered unit that includes student engagement and leadership including student organizations, K-12 outreach, career services, undergraduate and graduate advising, learning support, and scholarships, and student wellness.

This position will directly supervise one or more functional units, ensuring effective service delivery, continuous improvement, and alignment with the COE’s academic mission.

• Advises and collaborates with the Dean, Associate Dean, and/or Office of the Provost on critical issues, representing the functional area of supervision at appropriate meetings and events as requested; and serves on and/or leads various program and/or university committees as directed

• Serves on various university review committees, working with a wide range of constituencies including the Faculty Senate, Deans and Associate Deans, General Counsel, and University Leadership

• Monitors on-going assessment and continuous improvement of academic programs and services by guiding the establishment of annual goals, ensuring progress towards goals is met, articulating challenges, and reporting on annual outcomes and achievements for programs and services

• Supports special initiatives and/or grant-funded programs that require senior leadership attention with respect to program design, planning, coordination, and interaction with internal and external stakeholders

• Facilitates collegial, collaborative working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, partners with administrative and academic departments to support initiatives, and gathers input from key stakeholders to support recommendations

• Establishes priorities that align with the strategic directives of the assigned school or college and ensures units effectively carry out duties in a way that best supports the academic mission of the university; provides direct supervision of department /program leadership staff and monitors compliance with laws, regulations, university policies, procedures, and relevant contractual obligations

• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees

College of Engineering, Academic Affairs

The starting salary for the position is $110,000 (but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications). 

• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, academic administration, or a related area

• Minimum of 3 or more years of experience leading and supervising staff, including managing multiple teams or functional units

• Proven experience advancing student success initiatives that support individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds, with evidence of measurable impact (e.g., retention, engagement, or satisfaction outcomes)

• Experience implementing academic or student affairs policy and procedures

• Experience working collaboratively across departments and administrative units in a complex organizational setting

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholders

• Experience using data and assessment to inform decision-making, program improvement, and strategic planning

• Experience in a college of engineering or similarly complex academic environment

• Understanding of the engineering profession and engineering curricula, and ability to relate to engineering undergraduates and prospective students

• Demonstrated success overseeing student-facing units (e.g., advising, student engagement, student services, recruitment)

• Experience with budget management, resource allocation, and operational oversight

• Familiarity with student information systems, reporting tools, and assessment frameworks

• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives or large-scale student experience improvements

Master’s degree required; preferred in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership, psychology, social science, engineering or a related field

To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload a cover letter and resume/CV.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the required documents in that field, either as a single combined file (PDF preferred) or as multiple files in the same upload area. 

Applicants are required to attach both a cover letter and resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referenced in the position description. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants will advance in the recruitment process. Applicants that do not submit all materials or do not clearly show that they meet the requirements will no longer be considered.

Selected applicants will receive an invitation to participate in phone or virtual interviews after the application deadline. Those moving on to the final round will be invited to an in-person interview at UW-Madison. 

Once finalists are identified, they will be asked to provide names and contact information for at lease three professional references, including a current/most recent supervisor.

Please be aware that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.  This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position you would have to provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

The College is not an E-Verify employer and therefore we cannot accept F-1 OPT STEM Extensions for employment eligibility.

Beth Brandl,

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See for further information.