Dean, College of Business

Bryant University, United States

Updated: 22 days ago
Location: Smithfield, RHODE ISLAND
Deadline: ;

Posting Details
Position Information


Job Title Dean, College of Business
Full Time / Part Time Full Time
Job Type Staff
Reports To Provost/Chief Academic Officer
Position Summary
Bryant University seeks a visionary and highly collaborative leader to join its administration as the Dean of the College of Business. This is a moment of unprecedented momentum at Bryant. In enrollment , selectivity, position in ranking, external recognition and a transformational gift of real estate, Bryant is poised to execute on its creative and ambitious strategic plan, Vision 2030 . Throughout its 161-year history, Bryant University has been recognized for innovative academic programs that are marketplace driven and highly attuned to the emerging needs of the economy and society. The university is now at a moment to build on its solid background, and through cutting-edge curriculum and wide-ranging experiential educational opportunities, anticipate the needs of the economy and society for a new generation of business leaders. The historical strength of Bryant University is in its business programs. The Dean will lead and support the faculty in strengthening existing programs, anticipating emerging needs, and collaborating in Bryant’s signature model of business/liberal arts collaboration. The Dean will serve as a senior member of the academic leadership team and report to the Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., who joined Bryant in June 2022.
In 2021, a committee of faculty leaders and administrators engaged in a participatory process to develop the College of Business Strategic Plan 2023-2028 . The College of Business plan aligns with the university-wide strategic plan Vision 2030. Both plans were recently propelled forward thanks to a generous real estate donation from neighboring Fidelity Investments. Bryant will build out the 250,000-square-foot building as the new home of the College of Business to include classrooms, entrepreneurial innovation space, a financial markets center, and state-of-the-art labs which will engage students in design thinking, professional sales, AI, and data analytics. The facility will also include faculty and administrative office space and meeting and gathering spaces.
Since its founding, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, STEM fields and the liberal arts. Located on a 435-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,650 undergraduate and graduate students from 41 states and 40 countries. Business students comprise approximately 80% of the student body. Thus, the College of Business is one of the largest undergraduate business schools on the eastern seaboard. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and ROI and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual and Barron’s. The College of Business is AACSB accredited and is recognized as a member of the Consortium for Undergraduate International Business Education (CUIBE). The university sponsors a NCAA Division I athletics program competing in the America East Conference.
The College of Business integrates business specialties with the depth and breadth of a large business school and the individualized attention and sense of community of a small college. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in business administration, data science, entrepreneurship, and international business. The Graduate School of Business offers advanced degrees in business administration, business analytics, data science, taxation, and accounting and provides students with practical experience, a deep knowledge base in their field, and access to Bryant’s deep business contacts both nationally and internationally.
Read the Leadership Profile for additional information.
Principal Accountabilities
The Dean will join a leadership team poised for growth and innovation. The Dean will be expected to be a strong advocate for the university and for the College of Business and will work collegially to enhance Bryant’s commitment to liberal arts and the new School of Health and Behavioral Sciences. The College of Business is prepared to implement a newly adopted strategic plan that enables the college to create a bold and innovative new curriculum, enhance student success and outcomes, and foster a culture of shared success among its faculty, staff, and students.
The Dean will have a track record of success as a creative and innovative senior leader and will lead on-going College of Business discussions about long-term strategy for the college and the university. A commitment to a teaching-oriented institution is important for the Dean, but Bryant values the research agenda of many members of the faculty and seeks a Dean who will balance support for excellence in teaching, research and student engagement. While maintaining its teacher-scholar model, the College of Business has been successful in recruiting exceptional young scholars in recent years and the Dean should support continued recruitment and retention of such talent. The Dean will work collaboratively with leaders across campus to ensure a diverse, inclusive, and equitable campus community.
The Dean will be a visible and successful external leader who will establish and maintain relationships to enhance the university’s position in the region while expanding Bryant’s national and international reputation. The Dean will work closely with the office of University Advancement to further develop Advisory Boards to integrate business leaders with the planning and execution of business programs designed with hands-on learning experiences in preparation for careers in a data-driven world.
Further, the Dean will revitalize efforts at fundraising by individual philanthropy, grants and other externally funded opportunities to enhance the reach, reputation, and prestige of the university.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a terminal degree in business or a related field with an academic record that makes them appointable to the College of Business faculty. They should have a record of accomplishment in a leadership role in higher education, should demonstrate commitment to student-centered pedagogy, student success and research, and should be ready to fully engage on a leadership team that values collaboration, innovation, alumni engagement, and commitment to excellence.
Working Environment
Bryant University recognizes that its position as a leader in higher education is greatly determined both by the diversity of its campus community and its intellectual endeavors. Its commitment to link academic and social diversity for the benefit of the learning and living environment reflects its belief that excellence and diversity are mutually reinforcing objectives. We are committed to building an equitable and inclusive campus community, one that values individual difference and fosters greater understanding of the many facets of diversity and other distinctive characteristics that make us different. We encourage applications from candidates with an appreciation for and understanding of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Learn more about our ongoing commitment to building a community of inclusive excellence.
Physical Capacities

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number STA02557
Work Hours
Open Date 01/29/2024
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Applicant Special Instructions
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.
WittKieffer is assisting Bryant University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by March 20, 2024.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal .
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Jeff Compher and Sheila Murphy
[email protected]

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