Job Title
Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Agency
Tarleton State University

Department
Division of Academic Affairs

Proposed Minimum Salary
Commensurate

Job Location
Stephenville, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

The Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources provides strategic leadership and executive oversight for the College's academic departments, research programs, outreach initiatives, and resource management. The Dean advances a culture of student success, academic excellence, and applied learning while fostering a robust, innovative research environment aligned with Tarleton's institutional goals, including the pursuit of R1 status. The Dean serves as the primary external representative for the College and plays a critical role in building partnerships with industry, agencies, alumni, and donors to enhance the College's visibility and impact. Exercises leadership responsibility in advising the College regarding administrative, curriculum, and budgetary matters in their respective departments.

Serves as a Campus Security Authority (CSA); Work hours: Mon-Fri; 8 AM-5 PM or as work requirements indicate.

Responsibilities

• 25% Encourages a culture of student success and academic excellence by emphasizing high academic standards, applied learning, excellent teaching, faculty and student scholarship, exemplary student support services, continuous quality improvement, and data-informed decision-making.
• 25% Foster a robust research culture that supports faculty and student scholarship and creative activity. Facilitate and support the development, submission, and management of externally funded grants and contracts by strengthening research infrastructure, removing barriers to proposal development, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in support of the university's pursuit of R1 status.
• 20% Actively pursue and champion the development of industry and agency linkages that will assist in curriculum development and career opportunities for graduates and acquisition of resources for continuous development, improvement of the college.
• 20% Provide strong planning and management leadership, vision and budget management to college programs, departments, centers, institutes, and personnel emphasizing collegiality, integration, and collaboration among college personnel, programs, and resources.
• 5% Promote compliance with all TAMUS Policies and Regulations, and all Tarleton Rules and Procedures.
• 5% Represent the college effectively both internally and externally.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Earned terminal degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in a field housed in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
• Record of scholarship/creative activity, teaching, and service that supports appointment as a tenured full professor within the College.
• Demonstrated academic leadership experience in higher education (e.g., dean, associate dean, department chair/head, or comparable role).
• Demonstrated fiscal stewardship, including effective management of budgets, personnel, and other resources.
• Evidence of success securing extramural support (grants/contracts and/or philanthropic giving) and working collaboratively with alumni, donors, and state agency partners to advance College priorities.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to set direction and execute a strategic plan, with evidence of leading improvement and change.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain partnerships with external stakeholders that strengthen research, teaching, and outreach/engagement.
• Superior organizational leadership, supervising, and decision-making skills.

Application Procedure

Applications, nominations, and inquiries should be directed to the search firm contact listed below. Review of candidates will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. While applications and nominations will be accepted until a new Dean is selected, interested parties are encouraged to submit their materials to our consultant at the address below by September 15, 2026 for full consideration. Application materials must include a current CV and letter of interest.

Tarleton COANR Dean Search

Funk Associates

2911 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Suite 300

Dallas, Texas 75219

Email: [email protected]

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.