The Ohio State University

Assistant Dean for Student Experience

The Ohio State University$110K — $130K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • PhD or equivalent in higher education administration or related field.
  • 12+ years of leadership experience in higher education or academic administration.
  • Proven ability to build partnerships with businesses and stakeholders for student success.
  • Experience in improving student retention and post-graduate employment outcomes.
  • Demonstrated autonomy in decision-making within complex educational structures.
  • Strong operational skills in managing budgets and program performance.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee student success initiatives, including programs for retention and graduation rates.
  • Lead the development of data-informed strategies to enhance student enrollment and support.
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to implement innovative academic support programs.
  • Cultivate partnerships with community organizations to expand experiential learning opportunities.
  • Design community engagement and workforce development strategies for students.
  • Make strategic decisions on resource allocation to improve student outcomes.

Benefits

  • Collaborative leadership environment with a focus on student success.
  • Opportunities for professional development and networking within the business community.
  • Engagement with innovative programs that enhance academic experiences.
  • Involvement in shaping strategic initiatives for institutional growth.
Full Job Description

Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact . If you have questions while submitting an application, please review these frequently asked questions.

Current Employees and Students:

If you are currently employed or enrolled as a student at The Ohio State University, please log in to to use the internal application process.

Job Title:
Assistant Dean for Student Experience

Department:
Fisher College | Office of the Dean-Interim

The Assistant Dean for Student Experience is an integral member of the Fisher College of Business leadership team and serves as a strategic thought leader who collaborates across units to shape and advance the College’s student success, access, and career outcomes agenda.

This role provides direct oversight of the Advancing Community Connections and Empowering Student Success Office (ACCESS), the Office of Career Management (OCM), and the Office of Global Business (OGB), and chairs the Student Success Committee. The Assistant Dean operates with a high degree of independence and accountability, making critical decisions that directly influence the academic success of students, the operational effectiveness of the College, and its long-term institutional performance.

The Assistant Dean provides vision, strategic direction and collaborative leadership for student success–related programming, including initiatives focused on student retention, persistence, graduation, and post-graduate career placement. This position exercises significant discretion in prioritizing investments, designing interventions, and deploying resources to achieve measurable improvements in key student success metrics.

Working in close partnership with faculty, staff, and institutional stakeholders, the Assistant Dean leads the development and implementation of comprehensive, data-informed strategies that attract, support, and empower a high-achieving student population. These efforts are closely aligned with the College’s strategic growth objectives and its commitment to access, academic excellence, and student outcomes.

The Assistant Dean is responsible for co-architecting and scaling innovative programs that enhance academic success and Fisher student experience while reducing barriers to persistence. Through rigorous use of data and predictive insights, this leader identifies priorities, evaluates program effectiveness, and drives continuous improvement efforts through cross-unit collaboration. Decisions made in this role directly impact the college’s retention rates, graduation outcomes, and overall student success.

In addition, the Assistant Dean leads the design and execution of student-focused community engagement strategies, workforce development initiatives, and academic support programs that strengthen student belonging. This includes cultivating partnerships with employers, community organizations, and alumni to expand experiential learning and employment opportunities for students.

As a transformative change agent, the Assistant Dean is charged with expanding awareness of and access to Fisher College of Business degree programs, with a particular focus on affordability, equity, and student achievement. The role requires sound judgment, strategic foresight, and the ability to influence across complex organizational structures to drive alignment and execution. This role drives cross-functional collaboration and leverages data, partnerships, and innovative practices to ensure measurable improvements in student and career outcomes.

Additional Information:

Required Qualifications:

  • PhD or equivalent education and/or experience in higher education administration, business, public administration, or a related field of study.

  • 12+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education, academic administration, student success, or a closely related field. Experience designing, implementing, and scaling student success, workforce development, or community engagement programs.

  • Demonstrated experience building and sustaining partnerships with the business community, external organizations, and key stakeholders to co-create strategic initiatives, programming, and events that enhance student experience and support student success.

  • Demonstrated experience collaborating across organizational matrix structures to support improved student retention, persistence, graduation rates, and/or post-graduate employment outcomes.

  • Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, exercising sound judgment and independent decision-making in complex, high-stakes environments.

  • Proven track record of building consensus and influencing outcomes without direct structural authority. 

  • Experience making resource allocation and programmatic decisions that materially impact organizational performance, student outcomes, and institutional priorities.

  • Strong operational acumen, including oversight of program performance, budgets, and resource optimization.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead transformational change, manage ambiguity, and drive adoption of new initiatives.

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present as a member of the college's executive leadership team and represent the college with internal and external stakeholders.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Established network of employer, industry, or community partnerships that support experiential learning and job placement.

  • Experience aligning academic programs with evolving workforce needs, including high-demand sectors at the state or national level.

  • Ability to leverage technology to enhance student engagement, operational efficiency, and data visibility.

  • Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive environments that support student belonging and long-term success.

Please submit both a cover letter and resume for full consideration.

Location:
Fisher Hall (0249)

Position Type:
Regular

Scheduled Hours:
40

Shift:
First Shift

About The Ohio State University

The Ohio State University (OSU) is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1870 and is one of the largest universities in the United States, with over 68,000 students enrolled across its main campus and regional campuses. OSU offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in various fields, including business, engineering, education, law, medicine, and the arts and sciences. The university is known for its strong research programs, particularly in the areas of agriculture, engineering, and medicine. OSU is also home to several museums, including the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Ohio State University Museum of Art.
Learn more about The Ohio State University
Size
45,831 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at The Ohio State University

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Assistant Dean for Student Experience jobs: