Working/Functional Title
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies & Strategic Initiatives
Position Summary
The Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Strategic Initiatives is a member of the Dean’s leadership team and works closely with the Dean, Assistant and Associate Deans, and College staff to provide leadership on matters related to undergraduate education and strategic initiatives within the College of Arts & Letters. The Associate Dean advises the Dean on areas within the position’s portfolio and collaborates across the College and University to advance College priorities and strategic goals. The position is a full-time, 12-month appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure, beginning in Fall 2027.
Undergraduate Studies: Overview of Responsibilities (60%)
In the area of undergraduate studies, the Associate Dean provides strategic leadership and oversight for all College activities related to Undergraduate Academic Affairs and leads transformative change in undergraduate education and student success. Working collaboratively with the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, the Assistant Dean of Academic and Research Technology, the Director of Integrated Arts and Humanities, the Director for Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Accessibility, the Office of Undergraduate Studies team, Academic Operations, and other College and University partners, the Associate Dean identifies and addresses current and emerging challenges and opportunities in undergraduate education.
This work includes developing and advancing strategies that strengthen the undergraduate student experience, support enrollment and degree completion, foster curricular innovation, enhance academic advising and student support, and advance the College’s strategic priorities and MSU’s broader student success goals. Budget forecasting and planning related to undergraduate education are also central to the role. In collaboration with the Dean, Finance Team, Academic Operations, and other appropriate partners, the Associate Dean participates in analysis associated with the University’s new budget model. Enrollment trends, instructional activity, curricular demand, and other relevant data are used to anticipate resource needs, identify opportunities, and inform strategic decisions about the College’s undergraduate portfolio. The Associate Dean also oversees the undergraduate studies budget and is responsible for aligning resources with the College’s undergraduate educational priorities, operational needs, and strategic goals.
Undergraduate Studies: Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for undergraduate education, curriculum, enrollment, and student success across the College.
- Develop and implement long-range plans and initiatives that strengthen undergraduate programs, foster curricular innovation, and advance College and University priorities.
- Work with departments and programs to align curriculum, course offerings, enrollment demand, instructional capacity, and effective resource allocation.
- Working closely with the Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, oversee the College’s General Education strategy, including University-level reform, planning, policy, and implementation; development and assessment of courses and pathways; and connections between General Education and CAL majors, minors, and certificates.
- Provide leadership for continuous improvement of the College’s undergraduate curriculum and oversee the Academic Program Review process in collaboration with the Director for Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Accessibility.
- Foster a data-informed culture of curricular planning and assessment and coordinate College participation in relevant University curricular and governance processes.
- Oversee the undergraduate studies budget and participate in budget forecasting and planning, including analysis related to the University’s new budget model.
- Compile and analyze enrollment, instructional, curricular, and student-success data for reporting, assessment, forecasting, and strategic decision-making.
- Use data to identify opportunities and challenges and inform decisions about curriculum, enrollment, instructional capacity, and resource allocation.
- Participate in the College’s planning and analysis initiative (SYNC) to assess the broader financial, curricular, and operational implications of budget and resource-allocation decisions.
- Represent the College on University undergraduate education committees, councils, and initiatives, and serve as liaison to relevant University governance bodies and offices.
- Serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership team and participate in Chairs and Directors meetings and other College leadership activities.
- Oversee key undergraduate academic activities and events, including commencement.
- Working with the Dean, develop internal and external partnerships that advance undergraduate education and College strategic priorities.
- Work with Advancement and other partners to pursue philanthropic and external funding opportunities supporting undergraduate education and other college priorities.
Strategic initiatives: Overview of Responsibilities (20%)
Working on behalf of and in close consultation with the Dean, the Associate Dean provides leadership for selected strategic initiatives that span academic units, require coordination across administrative areas, or involve significant internal and external partnerships. The Associate Dean helps translate the College’s strategic priorities into actionable initiatives by developing plans, convening appropriate stakeholders, building partnerships, identifying opportunities and resources, and supporting implementation and assessment. This work is grounded in the College’s values and informed by institutional priorities, and emerging opportunities for strengthening the arts and humanities at MSU. The specific portfolio of strategic initiatives will evolve in response to College and University priorities and will be assigned by the Dean.
Strategic Initiatives Responsibilities
• Oversee and contribute to new interdisciplinary and cross-unit initiatives that advance the College’s academic mission, strengthen its institutional position, and create new opportunities for faculty and students.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with other MSU colleges, academic and administrative units, centers, institutes, and university leadership to advance shared priorities.
• Convene faculty, staff, students, and external partners around emerging areas of opportunity and facilitate the development of new programs, collaborations, and initiatives.
• Work with the Dean, Advancement, Alumni Relations, and College leadership, as appropriate, to connect strategic priorities with fundraising, alumni engagement, and external relations.
Research: Overview of Responsibilities (20%)
As a tenured faculty member, the Associate Dean will maintain an active program of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity. This work may include scholarly publications within the candidate’s discipline; creative practice, performance, or exhibition; community-engaged research and scholarship; or other forms of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scholarly activity. Research and scholarly activity may also develop in conjunction with the academic leadership, strategic initiatives, and visioning associated with the position.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate -MFA or PhD in a field represented within the College or a closely related discipline
Minimum Requirements
- Ph.D. or MFA in the candidate’s field.
- Record of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity appropriate for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in a department or program within the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University
- Demonstrated record of academic administrative leadership in higher education, such as service as a department chair, program director, associate or assistant dean, or in a comparable leadership role.
- Significant experience with undergraduate education, including curriculum development, academic program planning, student success, enrollment, advising, and related areas.
- Demonstrated experience leading curricular or organizational change and working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and academic leaders to develop and implement new initiatives.
- Experience using enrollment, curricular, student-success, financial, or other institutional data to inform academic planning and decision-making.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across academic units and administrative areas and to build productive collaborations among diverse constituencies.
- Experience managing complex projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and shared institutional responsibilities.
- Demonstrated commitment to strengthening undergraduate education in the arts and humanities and to advancing the educational mission of a public research university.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, and collaborative leadership skills.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated leadership in undergraduate education at the college, school, or university level.
- Knowledge of enrollment management, instructional planning, curricular demand analysis, and the alignment of academic resources with enrollment and programmatic priorities.
- Familiarity with academic budgeting, resource allocation, financial forecasting, or incentive-based/resource-centered budget models.
- A record of leadership or significant participation in General Education curriculum redesign or implementation.
- Knowledge of academic program review, assessment, accreditation, or other processes supporting continuous improvement of academic programs.
- Demonstrated success developing interdisciplinary or cross-unit academic programs, partnerships, or strategic initiatives.
- Ability to translate institutional or college-level strategic priorities into programs and initiatives with measurable outcomes.
- A record of building productive partnerships across colleges, professional schools, administrative units, or external organizations.
- Success pursuing philanthropic, grant, or other external resources in support of academic programs and strategic priorities.
Required Application Materials
Applicants should include:
- A letter expressing interest in this position and describing leadership philosophy, qualifications, and experience
- A current curriculum vitae
- names and email addresses of 3 references for letters of recommendation
Special Instructions
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EBS tile of Careers at MSU posting #1172570. Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. To ens ure full consideration, please submit applications by that date. For more information, contact the Chair of the Search Committee, Yen-Hwei Lin, liny@msu.edu. Please also consult the College website: http://www.cal.msu. edu/ Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.
Review of Applications Begins On
12/01/2026
Website
https://cal.msu.edu
Department Statement
The College of Arts & Letters promotes an academic and organizational culture that actively seeks out and strengthens diverse perspectives among its members in pursuit of academic excellence, creativity, and meaningful public impact. The College welcomes candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to open access, proactive inclusion, student success, and collaborative leadership.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
