Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research
Position Description:
About the Position
The College of Charleston invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research. The next Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research will be a collaborative, visionary academic leader who embodies integrity, and collegiality, and demonstrates a strong commitment to graduate programs; research, scholarship, and creative activity; and student and faculty success.
Reporting to the Provost, the Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research provides academic leadership and vision to advance graduate education and research. The Dean sets strategic, operational, and financial directions for the graduate programs, while fostering a collegial environment that supports excellence in teaching, research, and service. The Associate Provost role oversees research and grants administration processes, ensuring effective management of external funding, compliance, and support for faculty and student research activity.
Vision for the Role
The next Dean of the Graduate School and Associate Provost for Research will lead the advancement of graduate education and research by fostering innovative, interdisciplinary programs and expanding professional development to prepare students for success in academia, industry, and government. The dean will strengthen partnerships across campus and with external stakeholders, broaden funding opportunities, and modernize grants management to enhance efficiency, compliance, and competitiveness. The Dean and Associate Provost will position the College to elevate its national reputation in graduate education and research.
The undergraduate research program will remain a distinct entity; however, undergraduate students will benefit from increased opportunities to engage in research as the College develops a strategic plan in this area.
Key Responsibilities
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Strategic Leadership: Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administration to develop and implement initiatives aligned with the College’s mission and values. Ensure the quality, growth, relevance, and effective delivery of graduate programs.
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Academic Excellence: Support innovative teaching, scholarship, and creative activity. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration, student research opportunities, and professional development for faculty, staff, and graduate students. Skilled in identifying unique developmental needs across student populations and partnering with graduate student organizations to create customized learning and mentoring opportunities.
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Grants and Research Administration: Provide leadership for the Office of Research and Grants Administration, ensuring efficient management of external funding, compliance, and reporting. Expand opportunities for faculty and students to secure competitive grants and effectively oversee research budgets. This position will also serve as the Institutional Official (IO) for our Institutional Animal Care and Use Program (this research compliance responsibility is part of research administration that is not necessarily tied to grant funding).
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Administration & Operations: Oversee staffing, budgeting, and academic policy. Collaborate with program directors to ensure systematic review and improvement of programs and courses. Provide centralized oversight of admissions, graduate assistantships, and student support services. Committed to advancing equity and transparency in graduate education by standardizing funding practices and establishing data systems that link financial support to institutional effectiveness.
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Financial Stewardship: Manage resources responsibly and seek new opportunities for financial sustainability through alumni, donors, and external partnerships.
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External Engagement: Build relationships with alumni, donors, advisory boards, and external partners to strengthen graduate education and research. Develop strategic partnerships with appropriate state and regional higher educational institutions (especially the Medical University of South Carolina, also located in Charleston) and engage with statewide networks, such as the South Carolina EPSCoR office, to expand research collaborations, funding opportunities, and innovation initiatives.
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Community & Culture: Actively participate in campus life, support student and faculty events, and cultivate a culture of teamwork and shared achievement.
Qualifications
The successful candidate must possess an earned doctorate in a relevant discipline and a distinguished record of teaching and scholarship, meriting appointment as a tenured associate or full professor. In addition, the successful candidate will also demonstrate the following preferred qualifications:
- Proven leadership in higher education, including staff supervision, program development, strategic planning, and budget management.
- Broad experience in securing external grants, overseeing grant administration, research protections and compliance, and managing research budgets effectively.
- Demonstrated success fostering collaboration, building consensus, and motivating faculty and staff.
- A broad understanding of higher education and the challenges facing public liberal arts and sciences institutions, with the vision to address them creatively.
- Leads with a forward-looking understanding of online education trends and champions innovative approaches to meet the unique needs of doctoral students in an undergraduate-focused institution.
- Experience engaging external stakeholders, including political leaders, alumni, and donors; proven success in fundraising and resource development.
In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following preferred personal qualities:
- Unquestioned integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to transparency and fairness.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to listen, build trust, and engage diverse perspectives.
- Confidence in delegating authority and empowering colleagues, while fostering teamwork and accountability.
- Commitment to student success and active engagement in campus life.
EEO Statement:
The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of sex, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, and other classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please visit eop.cofc.edu.
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