Francis Marion University and the School of Education invite applications for a Dean of the School of Education. The Dean, as the principal advocate for the School of Education, is responsible for the oversight of the School’s academic programs and the cultivation of alumni involvement. The Dean provides leadership that advances the educational and scholarly missions of programs in the School and fosters a responsive, student-centered, and innovative academic climate. The Dean is accountable for the review of curricula, accreditation, programs, budget, and all operational functions of the School. This is a 12-month, full-time administrative appointment, with a reduced teaching load. The Dean is appointed by the President and reports directly to the Provost.
The School of Education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and offers a comprehensive portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare highly qualified educators to serve South Carolina and the broader region. Undergraduate offerings include Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Education (Biology, English, History, and Mathematics), Art Education, and Special Education/Autism Studies. Graduate programs include Teaching and Learning, Special Education/Multi-Categorical, and accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching pathways. The School maintains strong partnerships with the school districts throughout the Pee Dee, Coastal, and other regions of South Carolina and supports one of the state’s largest Teacher Cadet initiatives. It houses one of 24 South Carolina Teaching Fellows programs, a fellowship program for undergraduate education students, that promotes extensive professional development and service opportunities. The School is also recognized for its Centers of Excellence, including the Center of Excellence for Teaching Children of Poverty and the Center of Excellence for Teacher Retention and Induction in the Pee Dee, reflecting a strong commitment to educational access, student success, and workforce development.
Required Qualifications:
- Terminal degree in an area of scholarly inquiry traditionally associated with the discipline of Education.
- Strong teaching record at the college level.
- Outstanding record of leadership, advocacy, and service to a college, university, and community.
- Successful leadership experience in a department or school of education.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships and connections with public school partners.
- Experience in working collaboratively across academic programs, student affairs, and support services.
- Experience in recruiting, supporting, and retaining a diverse student population.
- An understanding of and commitment to engage first-generation college students.
- Experience in attracting and retaining a diverse and outstanding faculty.
- Evidence of strong communication skills, effective delegating, and a commitment to shared governance.
- A visionary and strategic thinker about schools of education and how they fit into liberal arts university structures and decision-making.
- Classroom experience in the K-12 system.
- Experience with the multifaceted and detailed responsibilities associated with managing and fulfilling the requirements for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
Francis Marion University has been recognized for its excellence in education by several national ranking agencies. US News and World Report named FMU as one of its top regional universities in the south for more than a decade. FMU was named as “The Chronicle’s Great Colleges to Work For” 2013-2026.
Francis Marion University is a state-assisted, regional, liberal arts university serving approximately 4,200 students in Florence, SC: a growing city with a vibrant culture. The campus is within easy driving distance of the state capitol, Columbia, as well as other areas of interest, including Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Charlotte, Asheville, and Savannah.
Florence enjoys award winning schools, affordable cost of living, excellent healthcare, and varied recreational programs including sports, community events and festivals. Florence’s thriving downtown was awarded the prestigious Great American Main Street Award, which recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.
Materials Needed:
- Letter of Interest (Referencing Position Number 26-43).
- Copies of all transcripts (official transcripts will be required of the successful candidate).
- Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate’s qualifications for the position.
- Applicants may also submit the name, title, mailing address, email address, and telephone numbers of additional professional references.
.
Send complete application packet to: Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion University, P.O. Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547. May also be submitted via fax at 843-661-1202 or email to: [email protected]
As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission.
Applicants honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces, who meet the minimum training and experience requirements, are given employment preference by all State agencies and higher education institutions in South Carolina.
An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution
