Dean, College of Business and Economics

About the Position

The Dean of the College of Business and Economics serves as the academic and administrative leader of the College, reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Working closely with the Associate Dean, department chairs, faculty, and faculty governance, the Dean provides strategic direction while fostering a culture of academic excellence, collaboration, and innovation.

The Dean must demonstrate exceptional emotional intelligence, building trust through empathy, active listening, and authentic connection with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. This role also requires a strong, consistent presence on campus, ensuring meaningful daily engagement that strengthens the life of the College community.

In partnership with faculty, the Dean will:

Internal Priorities

• Strengthen academic programs, guide accreditations, and advance faculty teaching and scholarship to enhance the College’s reputation and impact.
• Champion student success by closing equity gaps and creating opportunities for all learners to thrive.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive College culture where all faculty, staff, and students can contribute and succeed.
• Build strong relationships across colleges to expand interdisciplinary programs and shared initiatives.

External Priorities

• Cultivate partnerships with alumni, industry, and community organizations to create pathways for innovation, impact, and opportunity.
• Lead fundraising and resource development while representing the College with distinction on campus and beyond.
• Position the College as a regional catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and economic development.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for the College, aligned with the University’s mission and goals.
• Develop recognition for the College regionally, nationally, and globally.
• Serve as a persuasive advocate for the College both within the University and externally.
• Maintain a consistent and in-person leadership presence to foster trust, accessibility, and connection across the College.

Academic Excellence and Program Innovation

• Build and maintain high-quality academic and professional degree programs.
• Ensure continued Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation and lead ongoing program innovation.
• Manage AACSB and WSCUC accreditation standards, ensuring faculty and programs consistently meet expectations.
• Oversee all programs of the College, including negotiation of terms with key partners such as major accounting firms, technology companies, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations to expand student opportunities and industry engagement.
• Initiate and maintain cooperative relationships with other universities, community colleges, community organizations, and state and local agencies.

Faculty Development and Support

• Foster a supportive and inclusive academic environment that champions authentic engagement and strengthens shared governance.
• Empower faculty through meaningful consultation, transparent decision-making, and sustained support for teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Build a vibrant faculty community of tenure-track and lecturer faculty, uniting diverse perspectives and expertise to advance the College’s mission.
• Support excellence in faculty teaching, research, creative activity, and professional contributions that shape the reputation and impact of the College.
• Inspire and cultivate faculty leadership to guide the College into the future.

Student Success

• Champion student success by monitoring outcomes, closing equity gaps, and ensuring access to high-quality learning experiences both in-person and on-line.
• Advance student learning by responding to emerging evidence-based curricular trends and innovative practices.
• Expand career pathways for students by engaging employers, alumni, industry, and community partners to create new opportunities.

External Engagement and Advancement

• Strengthen relationships with alumni, industry leaders, government, and community partners to expand opportunities for students and faculty.
• Create and nurture partnerships with the business community.
• Lead fundraising and resource development efforts, including scholarships, program support, endowed professorships, and other areas.

Administrative and Resource Management

• Effectively manage personnel, programs, and financial resources.
• Oversee administrative operations in alignment with university policies and priorities.

Required Qualifications

Academic Credentials

• Four years of academic leadership experience at the chair level or above.
• Terminal degree in a discipline within the College, or an MBA with significant experience commensurate with leading a College of Business and Economics.
• A record of teaching, service, and scholarship sufficient to merit appointment with tenure at the rank of full professor in the College.
• A record of achievement demonstrated through one or more of the following: scholarly and educational accomplishments, corporate or public enterprise experience, business community involvement, and fundraising.
• Evidence of collaborative and transparent leadership, making shared decisions that foster collegiality and trust.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Leadership and Management

• Experience as an associate dean or dean.
• Substantial leadership and administrative experience in an academic environment, with a record of fostering innovation, equity, entrepreneurship, scholarship, and research.
• Skill in effective resource management and implementation of policies within a large, complex public organization.
• Ability to lead successful fundraising initiatives and build financial sustainability for the College.
• Experience with AACSB accreditation.
• Experience at a campus with a collective bargaining agreement.

Interpersonal and Community Engagement

• Proven ability to build authentic, collaborative relationships with faculty, students, staff, administration, and external stakeholders.
• Strong emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, empathy, trust-building, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in supporting and advancing faculty teaching, research, and professional development.
• Ability to develop partnerships with industry and community leaders to expand opportunities for the College.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive community that embraces the strengths of everyone, ensuring access and opportunity for all.
• Commitment to maintaining an on-campus, in-person presence, ensuring daily engagement with the College community.
• Commitment to shared governance.

Ethics and Commitment

• Knowledge of ethical practices in business and higher education.
• Demonstrated integrity and accountability in leadership and decision-making.

Applications and Nominations

For more information about the institution, position, qualifications and application process, please download the full position profile on the Academic Search .

Cal State East Bay is being assisted by Stacey Morgan Foster, JD, Senior Consultant (), and Carolyn Kelly, Search Manager (), with Academic Search. All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in strict confidence. To learn more about this opportunity, potential applicants are welcome to schedule a conversation with the Senior Consultant for this search, Stacey Morgan Foster, JD, by requesting a call through this .

Applicants should send electronically the following two separate documents (in PDF format) to :

1. A detailed cover letter, addressed to the Search Committe, expressing your interest in this position and addressing how you meet the qualifications as outlined in the profile.
2. A current resume/curriculum vitae (CV).

Although the search remains open until the position is filled, for full consideration by the Search Committee, candidates should submit all application materials by February 25, 2026. Semifinalists for the position will be invited for a confidential interview via Zoom. References will be requested at this time. Finalists will be invited for a campus interview. The expected start date is July 1, 2026.

Although nominations are not required to be considered for this position, leaders who know of outstanding candidates are welcome to submit confidential nominations by sending an email to . Please include the nominee’s full name, position, institution/organization, and email address.

Condition(s) of Employment

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including LiveScan, as appropriate), that may include, but is not limited to: criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment. Cal State East Bay will issue a conditional offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Unsatisfactory results may also affect the continued employment of current Cal State East Bay employees who were conditionally offered the position.

All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate. LiveScan is conducted through the University Police Department.

EEO Statement

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal State, East Bay provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. The CSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.