Dean of the College of Business

Position

The Soderquist College of Business seeks a full-time dean and faculty member with a strong commitment to teaching and the integration of Christian faith. The position begins July 1, 2023. Responsibilities include but are not limited to providing leadership for the college and its individual departments, reviewing course offerings, recommending and administering assigned budgets, encouraging professional development of faculty and students, identifying qualified candidates for faculty positions, representing the college to external constituencies, evaluating faculty performance, advising, recruitment, accreditation and committee assignments. Up to half of the contracted load will be teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses. This position reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Program

The Soderquist College of Business at JBU offers programs in accounting, business, construction management, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, leadership, management, and marketing and provides both undergraduate and graduate degrees. A recent gift by the Walton Family Foundation has allowed JBU to expand programming in data analytics at the undergraduate, graduate, and certificate levels. As of Fall 2022, nearly 350 students were enrolled in undergraduate business programs. Our undergraduate students have achieved a 100% placement rate over the last two years and consistently score in the 90th percentile on national ETS business exams. We also have 175 students enrolled in online and graduate business programs. Four undergraduate programs are offered both on-ground and online, and we offer 8 MBA concentrations online, including healthcare admiration, data analytics, and marketing analytics, and three different masters of science degrees, including one in design thinking and innovation.

Our Northwest Arkansas location gives us access to Fortune 500 companies such as Walmart and Tyson, as well as many business professionals who support the College through networking events, student internships and job opportunities, and service on the SCOB Business Advisory Board (BAB). The College of Business houses the Schmieding Finance and Data Analytics Lab and the Togami Center for Innovation. JBU students have been involved in competitions such as Enactus and the Reynolds Governor’s Cup. In 2017, the JBU Enactus team placed 1st in the regional competition and went on to become the national champions. As recently as 2022, JBU teams placed first in their categories at the Reynolds Governor’s Cup competition. To date, JBU teams have earned over $500,000 in prize money through this competition.

With study abroad programs to Central America, Asia, and Europe, JBU business students gain global and intercultural skills while earning credit. Undergraduate students may earn an MBA in one year upon completing their bachelor’s degree through our 4+1 MBA Program by taking four graduate courses as dual credit that count toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The College of Business employs 11 full-time faculty with an average of 10 years of service, and they use their expertise to provide challenging, practical business education from a Christian perspective, equipping students to succeed in their lifework and impact their world.

Institution

John Brown University’s mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. Founded in 1919, JBU is a Christ-centered, Biblically-faithful, interdenominational university that represents the best of Protestant evangelicalism in our commitment to the following theological principles: the fundamental human need for conversion and lifelong discipleship; the centrality of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for the redemption of human beings; high regard for, and obedience to, the Bible as our authority; and active involvement in a local church, in missions and in ministries that work for Biblical justice and serve people in need. At JBU, we seek to integrate faith and learning, foster holistic Christian formation, promote pragmatic liberal arts education, and prepare people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life. All employees must affirm JBU’s Employee Expectations and Articles of Faith.

With more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 48 countries, JBU offers approximately 50 undergraduate programs, seven fully online bachelor’s degrees and 16 graduate degrees in business, education, cybersecurity and counseling. JBU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds program-specific accreditations from various agencies. More information is available at jbu.edu/accreditation.

JBU has benefited from stable and excellent leadership throughout the organization. President Chip Pollard started in 2004 and has led the organization in consistently meeting enrollment goals, completing two capital campaigns and launching a third, completing two strategic plans and launching a third, 17 major building projects, encouraging efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and students, and navigating the educational and financial challenges of the pandemic successfully. He served on the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board for thirteen years and as chair for five years. Most of the president’s cabinet has served for over 20 years, and all cabinet members have held volunteer leadership positions in the CCCU, ACSD, CIC, NACUBO, and other higher education associations. JBU’s board of trustees are people of deep Christian faith, generous spirit, and professional expertise, with an average length of service of 11 years. They are deeply committed to maintaining JBU’s mission to educate students to honor God and serve others.

JBU has experienced a season of God’s favor and blessing, for which we are grateful. In the last 20 years, JBU has received over $300 million in gifts and grants and has built or renovated over 90% of the university’s facilities. JBU has only about $4 million of debt on over $220 million of assets. During that same time, JBU’s endowment has grown from about $50 million to over $150 million, much of it dedicated to scholarships and academic programs and to support maintenance costs for new facilities. This financial strength has enabled JBU to retain excellent faculty and staff with consistent compensation increases and funds for faculty and staff development. JBU has not been not immune to the economic and cultural challenges facing higher education, but it is positioned better than many institutions to respond.

JBU has received national recognition from many national newspapers and industry journals. For instance, in seven out of the last eight years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has named JBU on its “high honor roll” in its “Great Place to Work” survey. Two out of the last three years, The Wall Street Journal has named JBU the best public or private university in Arkansas. We are typically in the top 10% in our category (master’s level universities in the South) in U.S. News and World Report rankings.

JBU is located in Northwest Arkansas, a region predicted to have the third fastest job growth rate in the country behind only Austin, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. Three of the largest corporations in the world are located here—Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt—and there is a growing technology, entrepreneurial, and art business ecosystem in the region. The quality of life is enhanced with a world-class art museum, Crystal Bridges, 25 miles from campus, over 400 miles of mountain biking trails, several state and national historic sites, parks, and large lakes, and a new $33 million whitewater rafting park just five miles south of campus. Siloam Springs has approximately 17,500 people with affordable housing and good private and public schools.

Required Qualifications

• A Master’s degree (or extraordinary work experience) in a field within the college
• Evidence of administrative potential and a commitment to collaborative leadership
• A commitment to teaching and to supporting teaching-related efforts
• A commitment to the integration of faith and learning
• A commitment to working with a diverse population of students, faculty and staff
• A commitment to supporting a culture of scholarship
• Must be a committed follower of Jesus Christ

Preferred Qualifications

• A terminal degree in the field in which the candidate will do some significant teaching
• Demonstrated experience in teaching and in administrative work
• Demonstrated experience with diverse populations

Salary

A competitive salary exists which will be commensurate with training and/or experience. In addition, JBU offers a comprehensive benefits package including 403(b) retirement plan, medical and dental insurance, tuition remission, leave related to the birth of a child, adoption leave, and moving expenses.

Important Dates

Position begins July 1, 2023. Screening process begins February 1, 2023, and continues until the position is filled.

Diversity

JBU desires to increase the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students to honor how all humans are created in the image of God, to reflect better the diversity of the Kingdom of God, to further our Christian commitment to justice, and to increase the quality of our educational experience. JBU is pursuing the goal of teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from ethnic minorities and women. For more information, visit our diversity webpage.