Dean, School of Business and Management

Job Description

Job Description

About Our Client

Azusa Pacific University (APU) is a nationally recognized, comprehensive evangelical Christian university committed to developing disciples and scholars who impact the world for Christ. Founded in 1899, APU integrates rigorous academics with a deep and enduring faith commitment that shapes teaching, scholarship, and community life.

APU is a leader among Christian institutions as a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and is consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America's Best Colleges. Offering more than 100 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across its residential campus, regional locations throughout Southern California, and online, APU serves a diverse academic community committed to excellence, innovation, and service.

In both 2024 and 2025, The Wall Street Journal ranked Azusa Pacific University as the #1 Christian university in California, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence, student outcomes, and mission-driven education.

Employees at APU are called to engage fully in a Christ-centered culture by cultivating authentic community, modeling lifelong learning, and demonstrating Christ-like character. Faculty and staff work together to create an environment that honors God while preparing students to lead lives of purpose and impact.

Since 1899, Azusa Pacific University, a top Christian higher education institution in the nation, has helped students discover their higher calling to impact the world for Christ. Taught by world class faculty, APU offers an education that leads to lifelong transformation and eternal impact. APU offers 59 bachelor's degrees, 34 masters degrees, 35 certificates and credentials, and 7 doctoral programs to more than 7,000 students at the university's main campus in Azusa, several regional locations across Southern California, and online. Learn more at apu.edu.

APU seeks employees who desire to contribute to our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is edifying to God and one another.

The Opportunity

Azusa Pacific University invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Business and Management.

Reporting directly to the Provost, the Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative leader of the School of Business and Management, including the endowed Leung School of Accounting. The Dean provides leadership for faculty development, academic programs, curriculum innovation, accreditation, strategic planning, budget stewardship, and student success while advancing the University's Christ-centered mission. As a member of the Academic Cabinet, the SBM Dean will collaborate with dean peers, including identifying partnership opportunities for cross-disciplinary curricular engagement and work with external partners.

Within the School of Business and Management, the Dean will provide academic vision and administrative leadership, in collaboration with chairs and faculty. In partnership with the SBM Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and the Leung Endowed Chair, external partnerships will expand to meet the growing needs of industry partners, as well as enhanced opportunities for SBM students and alumni.

The Dean will work closely with campus partners, including Enrollment Management, Marketing, and Advancement to support enrollment growth, expand industry engagement, and enhance the School's regional and national reputation.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a visionary, faith-driven academic leader to build upon the School's strong foundation while preparing students to lead with excellence, integrity, and servant-hearted leadership in today's rapidly evolving business environment.

Grounded in APU's Christian mission, the Dean will ensure graduates develop not only professional competence but also ethical leadership, humility, wisdom, and the ability to lead organizations with purpose and integrity.

Key ResponsibilitiesAcademic Leadership & Excellence

Provide strategic leadership for the academic direction of the School of Business and Management.

Ensure academic programs maintain excellence through effective curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, continuous improvement, and alignment with workforce needs.

Lead efforts to prepare students for the future of business by incorporating emerging technologies, data-informed decision-making, innovation, entrepreneurship, and ethical leadership.

Faith Integration

Champion the thoughtful integration of Christian faith throughout the student experience by ensuring curricular and co-curricular programs reflect biblical principles, ethical leadership, stewardship, and Christ-centered decision-making.

Foster an academic culture where faith informs scholarship, leadership, and professional practice.

Faculty Leadership and Development

Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain exceptional faculty committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and faith integration.

Create a collaborative academic culture that supports faculty success, interdisciplinary and external partnerships, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Student Success & Experiential Learning

Advance student success through high-impact learning experiences that connect classroom learning with professional practice.

Expand opportunities including:

• Internships
• Consulting projects
• Simulations
• Competitions
• Employer engagement opportunities

Continue strengthening signature initiatives including:

• ZuVenturez
• Transformative Talks
• Student Investment Club
• Meet the Firms
• Study Abroad and Study Away Programs

Ensure graduates are prepared to lead successful careers and lives of faithful impact.

Strategic Vision & School Leadership

Develop and execute a strategic vision for the School of Business and Management that advances academic excellence, innovation, enrollment sustainability, and long-term institutional impact.

Assess opportunities for growth while responding to evolving workforce needs, changing business models, and emerging trends in business education.

Operational Excellence

Provide sound fiscal stewardship and operational leadership through effective budgeting, resource management of University and donor funds, personnel leadership, and continuous improvement.

Ensure the School operates effectively while responsibly stewarding university resources.

Collaborative ResponsibilitiesEnrollment Growth & Market Engagement

Partner with Admissions, Marketing, and university leadership to strengthen enrollment strategies, recruitment pipelines, and awareness of APU's distinctive Christ-centered business education.

Support outreach efforts with prospective students, high schools, churches, Christian organizations, and community partners.

External Engagement, Partnerships & Advancement

Represent the School with alumni, employers, professional organizations, and faith-based communities.

Collaborate with the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and University Advancement to cultivate relationships that support:

• Employer partnerships
• Experiential learning opportunities
• Alumni engagement
• Philanthropic initiatives
• Industry connections

Research & Thought Leadership

Encourage faculty scholarship and thought leadership that advances business education, ethical leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging business practices.

Support opportunities for faculty and students to contribute meaningful research and industry impact.

Diverse Perspectives & Community Engagement

Cultivate a learning environment that values diverse perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas while fostering an academic culture rooted in Christian hospitality, respect, opportunity, and excellence.

Success in the First 18 Months

The successful candidate will:

• Build trust and strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and university leadership.
• Lead continued assessment of existing academic programs and identify opportunities for innovation and growth.
• Advance curriculum that prepares students for the future of business.
• Strengthen faculty development and academic excellence.
• Expand experiential learning opportunities and employer engagement.
• Partner with university leaders to strengthen enrollment strategies.
• Develop a long-term vision for the School of Business and Management.

Why This Role, Why Now

This is a defining leadership opportunity to build upon a strong academic foundation while shaping the next chapter of one of California's premier Christian business schools.

The next Dean will inherit:

• Strong institutional support
• An engaged faculty that has collaboratively completed curricular redesign
• A newly appointed Endowed Chair for Ethics in Auditing and Accounting 
• Growing industry partnerships led by the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
• Expanding national visibility
• An unwavering Christ-centered mission
• Significant opportunities for innovation and growth

For a leader passionate about Christian higher education, academic excellence, and preparing future business leaders, this role offers the opportunity to influence students, faculty, and programs that will have lasting impact.

Requirements

Academic Credentials

An earned doctorate in business, management, technology, or a closely related discipline is preferred. Candidates should possess scholarly accomplishments consistent with appointment as a full professor.

Candidates holding a master's degree with exceptional executive leadership experience, significant professional accomplishments, and demonstrated success leading complex organizations may also be considered.

Academic Leadership Experience

Demonstrated success leading academic programs, faculty, curriculum development, assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, and organizational improvement.

Mission Alignment

A demonstrated commitment to Christian higher education and the integration of faith into leadership, teaching, scholarship, and community life.

Collaborative Leadership

A transparent, approachable leadership style with the ability to build trust, lead through shared governance, and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building relationships with industry partners and employers.
• Experience collaborating with advancement, fundraising, or philanthropic initiatives.
• Experience supporting enrollment growth strategies.
• Executive leadership experience outside traditional higher education environments.
• Understanding of emerging trends shaping business education, technology, and workforce needs.