Dean, College of Education
About the Role and Institution
Our client is a major university in Florida recognized nationally for its academic excellence, innovative programs, and commitment to student success. With a strong reputation for preparing the next generation of educators, the university is a leader in teacher preparation, education research, and community engagement. Located in a vibrant and diverse region, the institution offers a dynamic environment where academic leaders can make a genuine and lasting difference.
The College of Education seeks an accomplished, forward-thinking leader to serve as Dean. This role provides an exceptional opportunity to lead a distinguished college known for its impact on education policy, research, and teacher preparation at local, state, and national levels. The Dean oversees all academic, research, and operational aspects of the College, ensuring alignment with the university’s mission and strategic goals. The position requires a collaborative and visionary leader with a proven record of fostering innovation, driving student success, and building strong community partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement a compelling and actionable vision for the College of Education that aligns with the university’s strategic priorities and advances the college’s standing as a national leader in education.
- Promote a culture of innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence across all programs, departments, and constituencies of the College.
- Lead the College’s strategic planning process, ensuring sustainable growth in enrollment, program development, research productivity, and community impact.
Academic Excellence
- Oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing assessment of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs to meet evolving educational needs and labor market demands.
- Ensure all programs meet state, national, and accreditation standards for teacher preparation and education, maintaining current standing with CAEP and relevant professional bodies.
- Champion the adoption of innovative teaching methods, evidence-based curriculum design, and new instructional modalities that prepare graduates for the realities of contemporary educational practice.
Research and Innovation
- Foster a strong culture of research excellence, increasing grant-funded initiatives, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the College’s external research profile.
- Support faculty scholarship that addresses critical issues in education policy, teacher preparation, equity, and learning outcomes, positioning the College as a recognized leader in education research.
- Identify and pursue strategic research partnerships with federal agencies, foundations, state education departments, and K-12 partners that advance the College’s research agenda.
Student and Faculty Success
- Drive initiatives that support student success, recruitment, and retention across undergraduate and graduate programs within the College of Education.
- Lead the recruitment, mentorship, and retention of outstanding faculty and staff, building a team capable of delivering on the College’s academic and research ambitions.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that encourages professional growth, equity, and a genuine sense of shared purpose among all College community members.
Community and Partnership Development
- Build and sustain strong partnerships with K-12 schools, school districts, state education agencies, and other educational institutions that create real pathways for students and amplify the College’s community impact.
- Advocate for the College at the local, state, and national levels, promoting its programs, research contributions, and positive impact on the education workforce and the communities it serves.
- Engage actively with alumni, donors, and external stakeholders to support fundraising, resource development, and the College’s long-term financial sustainability.
Operational Management
- Manage the College’s budget, resources, and physical infrastructure to ensure financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and appropriate investment in strategic priorities.
- Oversee accreditation processes and program reviews, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, compliance, and continuous improvement across all College programs.
Required Qualifications and Leadership Competencies
Key Leadership Competencies
Articulates a credible and compelling direction for the College that motivates faculty, attracts students, and strengthens the institution’s national standing in education.
Builds a high-performing academic community through genuine mentorship, transparent shared governance, and consistent investment in faculty development and success.
Understands the K-12 landscape well enough to build partnerships that are genuinely valuable to school districts and that create meaningful field experiences for teacher preparation students.
Creates the conditions for faculty research productivity through funding support, infrastructure investment, and a culture that values scholarship as integral to the College’s identity.
Manages College resources with strategic discipline, balancing short-term operational needs against long-term investments in programs, people, and institutional reputation.
Models and institutionalizes a genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across hiring, curriculum, student support, and community engagement.
Why This Role Matters
The Dean of a College of Education at a major Florida university carries institutional responsibility that extends well beyond the campus. Florida is one of the largest and most diverse K-12 systems in the nation, and the university’s teacher preparation programs feed directly into that system. The quality of graduates the College produces, the strength of its K-12 partnerships, and the relevance of its research have real consequences for students and communities across the state.
For an experienced academic leader with roots in education, a genuine commitment to the teacher preparation mission, and the administrative depth to manage a complex college, this is a meaningful and consequential opportunity to shape the field.
A Dean of Education is not just leading a college. They are shaping the people who will shape classrooms for decades. The leverage in that role is extraordinary — and so is the responsibility.
What the University Offers
Application Process
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit the following. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.
- A detailed curriculum vitae highlighting leadership experience, academic achievements, research contributions, and relevant administrative history.
- A cover letter addressing the candidate’s vision for the College of Education and their approach to academic leadership, faculty development, and community engagement.
- Contact information for three professional references who can speak to academic leadership effectiveness, research contributions, and collaborative working relationships.
Retained Search by Excelon Associates
Excelon Associates is a retained executive search firm headquartered in Asheville, NC, with additional offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL. Our higher education practice places academic deans, provosts, vice presidents for academic affairs, and senior education leaders at universities and colleges across the United States. Since 2007 we have supported institutions in recruiting the academic leadership that shapes college-level mission, program quality, and long-term institutional reputation.
For institutions seeking an exceptional Dean for their College of Education, Excelon Associates is a trusted recruitment partner. Reach out to start a confidential conversation, or browse our full sample job descriptions library for related higher education leadership roles.
Hiring a Dean of Education?
Excelon Associates places academic deans and senior education leaders at universities across the United States. Headquartered in Asheville, NC. Retained search since 2007.