Dean of the Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts

Founded in 1842 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Cumberland University holds a unique place in American history as one of the oldest liberal arts universities in the South. In 1956, the Board of Trust secured an amendment to the Charter, changing the institution to a private, independent corporation.  Its alumni include 14 governors, more than 80 members of the United States Congress, two United States Supreme Court justices, three United States ambassadors, a United States secretary of state and founder of the United Nations. Currently, Cumberland University has three Schools: the Oakley School of Humanities, Education, and the Arts (OSHEA); the Labry School of Science, Technology, and Business (LSSTB); the Rudy School of Nursing and Health Professions (RSNHP)

Cumberland University draws on its enduring spirit of excellence to provide students from all backgrounds with a well-rounded education that is intensely personal, intellectually challenging, future focused and dedicated to preparing every student for a meaningful career and fulfilling life.

Today, Cumberland continues to evolve to meet the needs of a diverse and expanding community while providing a transformational higher education experience through more than 100 academic programs of study in the three schools.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE OAKLEY SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, EDUCATION, AND THE ARTS The OSHEA is comprised of 41 faculty teaching in 24 undergraduate majors, 5 graduate majors, and 17 minors. Approximately 1306 students are enrolled in OSHEA majors, not including students enrolled in LSSTB and RSNHP majors who are completing General Education Core Curriculum courses (GEC).  A large portion of the GEC is taught by the OSHEA faculty. 

The mission of the OSHEA is to support and develop the overall mission of the University; specifically, to encourage artistic expression, understanding of the human experience throughout history, and development of practical and philosophical talents for personal, professional, and educational growth over an entire lifetime.

 

GENERAL JOB FUNCTION This position is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the operations and activities of OSHEA.  The position reports to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Engaging in activities to support the mission of Cumberland University and OSHEA. Overseeing faculty recruitment, hiring, credentialing, development, evaluation, and termination. Monitoring program curriculum development for both undergraduate and graduate programs within the school to ensure currency with current regional and national needs and commitment to continuous improvement. Developing teaching assignments and scheduling classes. Ensuring compliance with all accreditation standards and regulatory requirements. Advising and mentoring students. Overseeing financial planning and budgeting for OSHEA. Managing and cultivating external relations with the community. Participating in fundraising and development. Supervising the teaching, research, and service activities in the school. Serving on the University Management Team. Participating in and completing performance evaluations following the guidelines set forth by the University.  

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS Extensive experience at the senior level, working with CEO and Trustees Thorough understanding of the concepts and principles of higher education. Experience in and demonstrated knowledge of higher education recruiting Knowledge and understanding of Student Services needs and trends in Higher Education. Demonstrated leadership skills. Excellent interpersonal and communicative skills. Adaptability guided by professional ethics  

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Required:       Ph.D. or terminal degree in one of the disciplines in OSHEA which include the humanities, social sciences, education, and the arts

Preferred:      Experience at the Director or Vice President level