Description
The University of St. Thomas (UST) announces a national search for the position of Dean of the Cameron School of Business, with employment to begin July 1, 2027. As UST works to increase enrollment and strengthen its standing as a major institution of higher education, we seek a Dean who will ensure the delivery of high-quality programs and instruction, foster mission-focused faculty development, and guide the strategic growth of the school while remaining faithful to the University's distinctive Catholic mission.
UST prepares students for success in today's dynamic economy through a strong core curriculum in the liberal arts, exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty, and innovative co-curricular programs. An independent, coeducational private university, UST enrolls nearly 4,000 students (more than 3,000 undergraduates and almost 700 graduate students) from 34 states and 61 countries. We are Houston's only Catholic university, welcoming students of all faiths and backgrounds, and our student body reflects the city we serve.
Houston is the nation's fourth-largest city and home to one of the most dynamic business environments in the world: a global center of energy, health care and life sciences, international trade, shipping and logistics, aerospace, and finance, with more than twenty Fortune 500 headquarters. The Cameron School of Business is located in the heart of this economy and is uniquely positioned to serve it.
The Cameron School of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, management, marketing, accounting, finance, economics, and international business, including the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a nationally recognized Master in Clinical Translation Management. The Dean's primary responsibility is stewardship of the school's academic performance and enrollment growth. The Dean will also serve as the school's principal ambassador to the Houston business community, cultivating partnerships with corporations, professional firms, entrepreneurs, alumni, and nonprofit organizations; ensuring that the school's programs and faculty scholarship respond to the needs of the region's employers; and maintaining the school's accreditations. The Dean reports directly to the Provost and serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Cameron School of Business.
Stewardship and Strategic Role Functions
Develop and lead a clear strategic vision for the Cameron School of Business, aligned with the University's strategic plan and Catholic mission, and integrate it into the school's academic planning and operations.
Guide the strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of the school's academic programs to ensure their quality, relevance, and market competitiveness.
Lead enrollment growth across the school, with particular emphasis on expanding the MBA program and other graduate offerings, by working closely with Enrollment Management and Marketing on recruitment strategy, program positioning, and yield.
Ensure that the school's degree programs, concentrations, certificates, and executive education offerings are aligned with the workforce needs of the Houston and Gulf Coast business community, including energy, health care, finance, logistics, and technology, and lead the development of new programs where demand warrants.
Foster the conditions and relationships that support creativity, innovation, and the formation of learning communities among faculty and students.
Support faculty and staff professional development at both the individual and the departmental level.
External Relations and Community Engagement
Serve as the principal representative of the Cameron School of Business to the Houston business community, actively building and maintaining relationships with corporate executives, professional associations, chambers of commerce, and civic organizations.
Lead a Dean's Business Advisory Council of regional executives to inform curriculum, provide internships and placement opportunities for students, and strengthen the school's reputation.
Expand internship, mentorship, experiential learning, and career placement pipelines for students through employer partnerships.
Work with Institutional Advancement to cultivate donors, secure gifts, endowed chairs, scholarships, and sponsored programs, and steward the school's benefactors and namesake legacy.
Engage alumni as partners in recruitment, mentoring, philanthropy, and career placement.
Support/Oversight Functions: Faculty and Department Chairs
Recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain a high-quality faculty committed to teaching excellence, the University's mission, and the professional development of students.
Develop and implement plans and allocate resources for faculty scholarship that addresses the needs of the region's business community and contributes to the school's AACSB standing.
Encourage faculty engagement with industry through consulting, executive education, applied research partnerships, and service on corporate and civic boards.
Create, implement, and evaluate the processes and procedures essential to an effective and collaborative academic enterprise, including faculty workload, evaluation, promotion, and tenure.
Support/Oversight Functions: Academic Programs
Collaborate with the other deans and with colleagues in Finance, Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Marketing, and Human Resources to develop and support programs that contribute to sustainable growth and high-quality learning outcomes.
Oversee the selection, development, and orientation of department chairs.
Facilitate the growth and enhancement of academic programs, both online and face-to-face, through support for sponsored research, grants, and partnerships.
Oversee the school's assessment of student learning and the use of assessment results for continuous improvement.
Ensure that curricula remain current with respect to technology, data analytics, and the evolving practices of the business professions.
Academic Leadership
Provide academic leadership within the school and across the University, and serve as a member of the Council of Deans.
Ensure that academic program reports and proposals presented to the Provost meet appropriate quality standards to support effective review, decision-making, and implementation.
Model and promote a culture of collegiality, shared governance, and accountability.
Administrative and Regulatory Functions
Direct the work of department chairs and staff to ensure that the school's goals and objectives are met, including enrollment, retention, graduation, and placement goals.
Oversee resource acquisition and the school's budget, including responsible fiscal management and the development of new revenue streams.
Ensure compliance with the accreditation standards and reporting requirements of The Commission on Colleges and Universities (CCU, formerly SACSCOC) and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and lead the school's continuous improvement review process.
Ensure consistent application of University policies relevant to the school's faculty and academic mission.
Application
Applicants should submit 1) a comprehensive letter of application addressing the responsibilities and qualifications described above; 2) a current curriculum vitae; 3) a statement demonstrating willingness to support the tenets of Catholic higher education as articulated in Ex corde Ecclesiae; 4) the names and contact information of five; and (5) professional references. References will not be contacted without the candidate's prior consent.
Review of Applications begins December 1, 2026, and continue until the position is filled.
The University of Saint Thomas is committed to the religious, ethical, and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education. As permitted by law, practicing Catholics who will advance the mission of the school are preferred for this position. However, the University invites all qualified applicants to apply.
Requirements
Qualifications
Education: Candidates may qualify through either of two career paths:
Academic path: an earned terminal degree (Ph.D., D.B.A., or equivalent) in a field represented in the Cameron School of Business or a related field, with a record of teaching and scholarly achievement sufficient to hold rank as a tenured associate or full professor.
Executive/entrepreneurial path: a master's degree in business or a related field (M.B.A. or equivalent) is required; a terminal degree is preferred but not required.
Experience and Other Attributes:
Candidates may qualify through either of two career paths: Academic path: substantial teaching experience and a minimum of five years of senior-level academic administrative experience (department chair, associate dean, dean, or equivalent); or
Executive/entrepreneurial path: a minimum of ten years of senior leadership experience in business, strategic leadership of an enterprise or major division, or the founding and successful growth of a company; prior teaching experience is welcome but not required.
Under either path, the successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of academic culture, shared governance, and accreditation, and a commitment to teaching and student success.
Demonstrated success in growing enrollment, particularly in graduate and MBA programs.
Demonstrated ability to build productive relationships with corporate, professional, and civic leaders, and a record of successful fundraising or external partnership development.
A deep understanding of and respect for the liberal arts as the foundation for quality professional education.
Proven ability to inspire, collaborate, and negotiate with varied and sometimes competing constituencies; the successful candidate must be able to lead the faculty to new levels of engagement and to champion creativity and innovation.
Experience with CCU and AACSB accreditation preferred.
An experienced leader with a clear and focused commitment to teaching, learning, and academic excellence in support of student success.
A seasoned professional experienced in shared governance and committed to fostering cohesion, collegiality, and accountability among faculty and staff.
Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in academic administration, including applicable regulations, laws, and policies.
A demonstrated record of fiscal responsibility and accountability, with a high degree of financial acumen.
Strong collegial leadership qualities, including the demonstrated ability to recruit and build a strong faculty.
Recognized academic vision, with attention to the future of higher education, emerging trends in business education, and the changing needs of employers.
Familiarity with online and hybrid program delivery, executive education, and data-driven program management.
Viewed as highly ethical, trustworthy, credible, and respectful of differing views and opinions, and known for building consensus and being a good listener.
Highly effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
The Dean must demonstrate a genuine understanding of and commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, the dialogue between faith and reason, the principles of Ex corde Ecclesiae, and the Basilian values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. The Dean must also be willing and able to promote the University's Catholic identity in the daily life of the school. The University will actively seek, and strongly prefers, practicing Catholics for this role. Qualified candidates of other faith traditions who can credibly make and keep that commitment are encouraged to apply and will receive full consideration.
