Description

The University of West Alabama seeks a Dean of the College of Liberal Arts

Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/UWA_Dean_COLA_Profile.pdf

Location: Livingston, Alabama

The Position:

The University of West Alabama invites applicants for the position of Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The Dean is responsible for all matters relating to the instructional programs within the college, including the various courses of study, the teaching faculty, class scheduling, student registration, and physical and financial resources. The Dean works in cooperation with the Department Chairpersons, the other Deans, the Provost, University committees and councils, and other members of the faculty and staff to meet these responsibilities.

Responsibilities:

•        Coordinates and participates in a continuing, systematic, and broad-based process of planning and evaluation of the educational activities of teaching, advising, research, and public service.
•        Coordinates the preparation of departmental budgets and supervises spending within the college, approving specific expenditures when required by State law or University policy.
•        Coordinates the scheduling of the necessary courses, preparing class schedules each term and submitting them to the Provost, and supervises all instruction offered by the college, both on campus and off.
•        Allots the space and other physical resources assigned to the college for the support of the instructional programs, continuing education activities, and other approved purposes, ensuring compliance with space management policies and procedures.
•        Assigns faculty mentors and supervises the registration of all students in the college.
•        Coordinates curriculum development within the college, aligned with relevant workforce data and the University mission, and ensuring timely student degree completion.
•        Ensures appropriate opportunities for student experiential learning within the college, aligned with program outcomes, workforce needs, and post-graduation student success.
•        Evaluates and approves official student records and requests, including transcripts of transfer students, applications for graduation, exceptional class schedules, and such special requests as those relating to transient student status, correspondence work, etc.
•        Supervises the recruitment of faculty and academic staff, accepting applications, receiving recommendations from Department Chairpersons and search committees, and making recommendations to the Provost.
•        Provides orientation for new faculty and continuing opportunities for faculty development through in-service meetings, consultants, counseling, travel, etc.
•        Participates in the ongoing evaluation of faculty for purposes of development, promotion and tenure decisions, and re-appointment.
•        Maintains records on faculty qualifications, faculty workloads, faculty absences, and related matters and, as required, submits to the appropriate administrative offices the necessary forms and reports relating to faculty, such as faculty evaluation documents, annual sick leave records, payroll forms, travel requests, etc.
•        Coordinates, with the Department Chairperson, the employment of adjunct faculty.
•        Coordinates the annual review of the Planning and Assessment documents for the college.
•        Encourages and coordinates college fundraising and grant writing efforts.
•        Establishes and maintains meaningful relationships with college alumni to support engagement, collaboration, and advancement of the college’s mission.
•        Coordinates student recruitment for the college, working with the Office of Student Recruitment.
•        Submits each year to the Provost a corrected and updated copy of the appropriate sections of the General Catalogue and the Graduate Catalogue.
•        Promotes a culture of active engagement by encouraging and demonstrating regular, visible presence and participation in college-sponsored events, programs, and activities.
•        Provides a means of communication between the faculty and the central administration and oversees internal college communication processes, as well as external communication with institutional leadership.
•        Coordinates the Freshman Studies Program.
•        Coordinates the University Honors Program.
•        Coordinates continuing education and community service programs, workshops, conferences, and related activities within the college.
•        Provides liaison with the public and with the higher education community, serving as a University representative to appropriate professional groups within the State and elsewhere.
•        Performs other duties as requested by the Provost and the President.

Qualifications:

Minimum

•        The terminal degree in a discipline in which the college offers programs.
•        Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the university level.
•        Proven administrative skills.
•        Demonstrated scholarship, research, and/or the equivalent creative professional experiences.
•        Successful experience with grants.
•        Proven communication and interpersonal skills that will enable the candidate to work effectively with students, faculty, other administrators, and external constituencies.

Preferred

•        Successful experience in university administration at chairperson level or above.
•        Experience with accrediting agencies on regional and national levels.
•        Experience at a regional university.
•        Experience in online academic offerings.

About the College of Liberal Arts:

The College of Liberal Arts is organized into four departments; the Department of English and History, with majors in English, English Language Arts, History, History with Teacher Certification, Political Science, and General Social Sciences; the Department of Psychology and Sociology, with majors in psychology and sociology; the Department of Communications and Creative Arts, with majors in Integrated Marketing Communications and Creative Arts Enterprise; and the Department of University Studies, which houses the University Honors Program, Freshman Studies, the UWA Basic Curriculum, and academic programs in Interdisciplinary Studies and Professional Studies. The college also houses several minors, including political science and anthropology. The college is home to 516 undergraduate students and 345 graduate students. There are 38 full-time faculty members in the college, 87 percent of whom hold a terminal degree.

The Department of Communications and Creative Arts is a dynamic hub where creativity meets communication. Its programs are designed to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Through a combination of theoretical learning and hands-on experience, students explore the art of storytelling, media production, and creative expression across various platforms.

The Department of English and History offers profound insights into the human condition and the world we live in. English delves into the art of language, literature, and expression, exploring how written and spoken words shape and reflect culture, thought, and identity.

The Department of Psychology and Sociology offers a wide range of learning opportunities. Each field within the department provides unique insight into how and why humans do the things they do. After graduating from UWA, many students move on to graduate school in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work or a closely related field.

The Department of University Studies empowers students to explore diverse academic pathways while designing personalized programs aligned with their career goals. Through interdisciplinary studies major, students integrate coursework from multiple fields into a cohesive, purposeful degree.

Programs and Initiatives

The College of Liberal Arts has several exciting programs and initiatives underway, including:

Choir

The UWA Choir holds singing auditions each semester for all students to earn up to $3,000 per year in performance scholarships, regardless of their majors, minors, or previous experience. The Choir practices twice a week and regularly performs an eclectic repertoire of choral music, both locally and regionally, from all periods of history and many parts of the world. Vocalists entertain audiences with their musical interpretations in blues, jazz, gospel, madrigals, chants, rock, show tunes, pop, and foreign languages.

Theatre

The UWA Theatre holds auditions each semester for all students to earn up to $1,800 per year in scholarships, regardless of their majors, minors, or previous experience. There are opportunities for actors, set designers, production assistants, stage managers, videographers, and editors.

UWA Writing Center

The University of West Alabama Writing Center offers writing assistance to students from any discipline across campus. The Center strives to be a space that nurtures collaborative endeavors and values critical thinking, where writers feel welcomed as intellectuals, recognized as individuals, and appreciated as part of the UWA community.

The Sucarnochee Review

Established in 1974 and named for the Sucarnochee River that runs near the University of West Alabama, The Sucarnochee Review is published annually by the University's Department of English and History. It is student-led and student-edited with strong belief in the value of amplifying student voices. It proudly makes space in each issue for new and upcoming undergraduate writers while also being open to writers of all ages, at all stages of their careers.

Livingston Press

The Press's goal is to publish contemporary literary novels and story collections.

Fort Tombecbe

UWA owns the Fort Tombecbe site and more than 23 acres surrounding it. It’s an active archeological dig that gives students in archeology, anthropology, even biology, hands-on experience in the field.

Click here to explore more information on programs and initiatives and follow this link for more information on the college, overall.

Accreditation

The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, education specialist and doctoral degrees.

About The University of West Alabama:

The University of West Alabama (UWA) was chartered in 1835 as a church-related female academy and remained primarily a school for girls until the twentieth century. 2025 marked 190 years of proud tradition and educational excellence with more than 41,000 graduates. The University of West Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, bachelor, master, education specialist, and doctoral degrees through the College of Business, Julia Tutwiler College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Division of Engineering Technology, Ira D. Pruitt College of Nursing and Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and Online Programs. Click here to view an interactive campus map.

Mission

Enriching lives through education, service, and outreach.

Vision

To offer quality education and effective services while establishing a model for leadership in the region and beyond.

Strategic Plan

The University of West Alabama’s Strategic Plan 2026–2035, Your Bridge to What’s Possible, outlines a bold vision for advancing student success, access, and institutional growth in rural and regional higher education. The plan prioritizes enrollment expansion, retention, and a personalized student experience supported by flexible learning models, strong partnerships, and data-informed decision-making. Grounded in values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and regional responsibility, UWA is committed to serving as a catalyst for opportunity and prosperity in the communities it serves.

You can read more about the plan here.

Points of Interest

•        A total of 30 new academic programs have been added over the past 6 years, including 2 doctoral programs (Ed.D. & D.B.A.)
•        Over 100 international students on campus from 41 different countries
•        UWA has been consistently recognized as one of the safest, most diverse, and best value of any public university in the state
•        UWA was awarded the Governor’s Seal of Excellence in Work-Based Learning for its Integrated Marketing Communications Program
•        The Division of Economic & Workforce Development received the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Excellence and Innovation Award for Regional and Economic Development
•        In 2025, UWA was designated as an Opportunity College and University (OCU), reflecting its long-standing commitment to both access and economic outcomes for graduates
•        In 2023, the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area was designated; UWA’s Center for the Study of the Black Belt serves as the management entity for this area
•        The institution has received multiple national rankings for best online college, especially at the master’s level in education (e.g., 3rd in the nation for “Best Online Master’s Degrees in Secondary Education”) 

To Apply:

Acceptance of inquiries, nominations, and applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search.

To apply, please submit a CV and a cover letter that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications/experience. Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted. Interested parties are encouraged to apply no later than October 16, 2026.

To apply online, go to https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su523

All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.

For more information or to make a recommendation or nomination:

Caitlin Hummel

585-880-7550

chummel@summitsearchsolutions.com

Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

The University of West Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, hearing status, personal appearance, color, sex, pregnancy, political affiliation, creed, ethnicity, national origin (including ancestry), citizenship status, physical or mental disability (including perceived disability), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any grievance process on campus, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or other human rights agencies. AA/EOE. Minority applications encouraged.