Assistant Dean

The Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies provides leadership for the strategic growth, administration, and continuous improvement of graduate education within the Herff College of Engineering. Working collaboratively with department chairs, graduate coordinators, faculty, and the Graduate School, the Assistant Dean advances initiatives that strengthen graduate enrollment, student success, academic quality, and research excellence.

Responsibilities

Strategic Graduate Program Development

• Lead initiatives to expand and strengthen graduate education through innovative program development, including online and hybrid degrees, interdisciplinary programs, graduate certificates, stackable credentials, and accelerated bachelor's-to-master's pathways.
• Evaluate graduate curricula to ensure relevance to emerging technologies, industry needs, artificial intelligence, and workforce demands while maintaining academic rigor.
• Coordinate periodic review of graduate curricula and the graduate catalog to improve clarity, consistency, and student accessibility.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that increase graduate enrollment, improve program competitiveness, and enhance the College's national reputation.
  
  

Graduate Student Success and Program Administration

• Provide leadership for the College's graduate programs from recruitment through degree completion, emphasizing student success, retention, timely graduation, and career outcomes.
• Supervise and coordinate graduate program operations in partnership with departmental graduate coordinators and program directors.
• Develop best practices for admissions, onboarding, advising, mentoring, milestone tracking, annual reviews, internships, and professional development.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive Graduate Student Handbook and other graduate policies, procedures, and resources.
• Oversee Graduate Recruitment
  
  

Assessment, Planning, and Data Analytics

• Lead collection, analysis, and reporting of graduate education metrics to support strategic planning and continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports and supporting documentation for accreditation, institutional assessment (e.g., SACSCOC), state reporting, rankings, and College strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with College leadership and Marketing to develop data-driven recruitment materials, promotional content, annual reports, and presentations highlighting graduate education achievements.
  
  

Academic Policy and Governance

• Serve as the College's resource on graduate academic policies, procedures, and governance.
• Coordinate graduate petitions, academic appeals, exceptions, and policy interpretations while ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with Graduate School and University regulations.
• Administer and maintain graduate bylaws and facilitate their periodic review and revision in collaboration with faculty governance.
  
  

Graduate Assistantship and Fellowship Administration

• Oversee the strategic allocation and administration of Teaching Assistantships and College graduate fellowships.
• Manage assistantship budgets, appointment processes, workload expectations, and annual allocation planning in collaboration with departments.
• Develop standards that promote excellence in teaching, professionalism, and student support among graduate assistants.
• Coordinate College fellowship programs and recommend allocation strategies that maximize recruitment and student success.
  
  

Professional Development and Research Training

• Develop College-wide professional development programming that prepares graduate students for successful careers in academia, industry, government, and entrepreneurship.
• Coordinate workshops and seminars on topics including grant writing, responsible conduct of research (RCR), academic publishing, research communication, intellectual property, commercialization, entrepreneurship, career preparation, and leadership.
• Organize an annual Herff College of Engineering Research Symposium showcasing faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and external engagement.
  
  

Leadership and Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the College leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and implementation of graduate education initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across departments to develop interdisciplinary educational and research opportunities.
• Represent the College on University committees and in external partnerships related to graduate education.
  
  
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant area and three (3) years of appropriate experience.

Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to handle or feel, and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to walk.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
  
  

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.