Position Details

Classification Information

Position Classification Title
Dean, Honors Program

FLSA
Exempt

Position Class
89849

Position Overview

Position Summary

Dean of the Honors College & Director of Undergraduate Research

Winston-Salem State University invites applications for the inaugural Dean of the Honors College and Director of Undergraduate Research. Reporting to the Vice Provost for Student Success, the Dean will serve as the principal academic and administrative leader for the Honors College and provide university-wide leadership for undergraduate research. This position offers an exceptional opportunity to build and shape an emerging Honors College while advancing a culture of academic excellence, research, leadership, innovation, belonging, and student achievement.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative, student-centered, academically credible, and entrepreneurial leader who can translate institutional priorities into sustainable programs and measurable outcomes. The Dean will be expected to build strong faculty and staff partnerships, advocate effectively for high-achieving students, develop innovative programs and external partnerships, and establish the Honors College as a distinctive and nationally recognized component of the University's academic experience.

Responsibilities of the Dean of the Honors College & Director of Undergraduate Research include:

Academic and Strategic Leadership

• Provides vision, executive oversight, and advocacy for the Honors College and Undergraduate Research and represents the unit on appropriate University leadership councils.
• Develops and implements strategic priorities, policies, and measurable goals for enrollment, retention, academic achievement, graduation, research participation, post-graduate outcomes, and continuous improvement.
• Builds the identity and national profile of the Honors College through partnerships, benchmarking, recognition, and innovative programming.

Honors Curriculum, Faculty, and Undergraduate Research

• Collaborates with academic deans, department chairs, faculty, and curriculum bodies to design, assess, and strengthen a rigorous interdisciplinary honors curriculum grounded in inquiry, research, leadership, and experiential learning.
• Partners with Faculty Affairs and academic units to recruit, develop, and recognize faculty who teach, mentor, and conduct research with honors students.
• Leads the University strategy to expand undergraduate research, creative inquiry, scholarly activity, and faculty-mentored experiences across disciplines.
• Creates pathways for students to engage with faculty mentors and disseminate scholarly and creative work through symposia, conferences, publications, and other appropriate venues.

Honors Student Recruitment, Success, and Engagement

• Collaborates with Enrollment Management and academic partners to recruit, admit, retain, and graduate high-achieving students and periodically reviews admissions, continuation, and scholarship standards.
• Provides strategic oversight for honors student engagement, including leadership development, mentoring, service, cultural and academic enrichment, career readiness, and alumni engagement.
• Ensures recognition of honors student achievement through signature experiences including induction, convocations, research showcases, senior recognition, and scholar celebrations.
• Partners with Career Development, Graduate Studies, faculty, and external organizations to expand internships, fellowships, competitive scholarships, graduate/professional school preparation, and career opportunities.
• Monitors student progress and outcomes and supports proactive strategies that promote persistence, timely degree completion, and post-graduate success.

Cheatham-White Scholars and Scholar Development

• Provides executive oversight of the Cheatham-White Scholars Program and supervises the Director of the Cheatham-White Scholars Program and Honors Student Experiences.
• Ensures high standards for scholar recruitment, selection, academic achievement, leadership, research, service, retention, and graduation while aligning programming with University and Honors College priorities.
• Coordinates Honors College support, for Chancellor's Scholars, Provost's Scholars, honor societies, competitive fellowship candidates, and other designated high-achieving student populations.

Personnel, Operations, and Resources

• Supervises, evaluates, mentors, and supports the Director of the Cheatham-White Scholars Program and Honors Student Experiences, the Coordinator of the Honors College, and other assigned staff, establishing clear goals and performance expectations.
• Provides responsible stewardship of the budget, scholarships, programmatic resources, and externally funded initiatives.
• Oversees College operations, communications, events, student services, assessment, reporting, and data-informed continuous improvement.

Fundraising, External Relations, and Advocacy

• Works with University Advancement, the Office of the Provost, alumni, donors, foundations, and external partners to secure resources supporting scholarships, undergraduate research, student enrichment, and Honors College priorities.
• Supports grant development and cultivates partnerships with graduate and professional schools, corporations, research organizations, alumni, and community partners.
• Serves as an ambassador and advocate for the Honors College and its students internally, regionally, and nationally.

Position Information

Position Number
211367

Working Position Title
Dean of the Honors College and Director of Undergraduate Research

Building and Room No.

Hill Hall, Room 222

Appointment Type
Permanent Full-Time

If Time Limited.
No

Appointment Length.
N/A

Requirements and Preferences

Position required to work during periods of adverse weather or other emergencies
Not Mandatory

Normal Work Schedule

8am-5pm, Monday through Friday
Weekends and evenings as required

Department Required Skills

Required Qualifications

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree in an academic discipline, higher education administration, student affairs, or a closely related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible higher education leadership experience at the department chair, program director, assistant/associate dean, dean, or comparable level.
• Demonstrated experience with honors education, high-achieving student programs, undergraduate research, interdisciplinary learning, student leadership development, and related high-impact practices.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and/or faculty and leading collaborative teams.
• Evidence of effective strategic planning, assessment, program development, resource management, and cross-campus collaboration.
• Experience with competitive scholarships or fellowships, fundraising, grants, donor engagement, or external partnerships.
• Knowledge of national honors education practices and demonstrated success using data to improve outcomes for high-achieving students.
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, organizational, and external-relations skills.

Preferred Years Experience, Skills, Training, Education

Preferred Qualifications

• A distinguished record of scholarship, research, creative activity, and/or publication sufficient to support appointment at the associate or full professor level, where applicable.
• Direct leadership or teaching experience in an honors college or honors program and/or experience leading undergraduate research across disciplines.

Required License or Certification

Valid US Driver's License
No

Commercial Driver's License Required
No

Physical Required
No

List any other medical/drug tests required