McMurry University Dean of Business Search Prospectus
The Search for a Dean of Business at McMurry University President Sandra Harper and the Board of Trustees of McMurry University invite applications and nominations for Dean of Business at the University s first endowed school. A significant gift has launched a campaign for $10 million to provide the resources necessary to put into place the leadership for what will ultimately be a re-envisioned business school at McMurry University. In this new position, the Dean will report to Dr. James Hunt, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, and will be responsible for coordinating all of the business school s operations. The Dean will be expected to assume office in July 2016 or shortly thereafter. 1
ABOUT MCMURRY UNIVERSITY Founded in 1923 as a United Methodist institution, McMurry University is a vibrant and comprehensive center of higher education. Located in Abilene, Texas, McMurry has a national reputation for excellence and value through the achievements of its faculty, students and graduates. The University enrolls more than 1,000 students and has an average class size of 16. No graduate assistants teach courses and over 77% of McMurry s professors have achieved the highest degree in their academic field. Offering a diverse curriculum, students at McMurry can choose from 45 majors in the arts, business, education and the sciences, as well as pre-professional programs in medicine, dentistry, engineering, law, pharmacy, physical therapy and others. The University s Servant Leadership program has been on campus for 25 years. The program s courses and service opportunities focus on moral decision making, reasoning, and practical application in the development of sensitivity to ethical issues for global society. Students gain hands-on experience as they apply those concepts and techniques throughout extensive work with local non-profit entities in the Abilene community. McMurry has over 40 clubs and organizations and 19 intercollegiate athletic programs. The student body is engaged with the community and averages over 24,000 hours of annual service. McMurry s beautiful campus is located on 52 acres in Abilene, a city of over 118,000 friendly people. Guided by its core values, which are Christian faith as the foundation of life, Personal Relationships as the catalyst for life, Learning as the journey of life, Excellence as the goal of life, and Service as the measure of life, McMurry s students are equipped to exceed expectations and go on to make their mark through scholarship, leadership and service. 2
ABILENE McMurry University is located in Abilene, Texas, a premier site in the historic American west. 165 miles west of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Abilene s major industries include ranching and energy. Numerous attractions make Abilene a family-friendly community, including: Abilene Zoo: Home to more than 1,000 animals from around the world, the Abilene Zoo features King Cobras and Giraffes as well as dozens of Texas species. Frontier Texas: Located in historical downtown Abilene, Frontier Texas is a western heritage center that allows visitors to relive the Old West through the magic of state-of-the-art technology. The Storybook Sculpture Project: 17 sculptures created in conjunction with the Children s Art & Literacy Festival adorn public spaces, creating and inviting and friendly atmosphere. The National Center for Children s Illustrated Literature: the NCCIL celebrates the artistic achievements of children s book authors and illustrators through exhibits of their original artwork. The Center for Contemporary Arts: The Center provides enriching and educational experiences for the region s communities through the promotion and support of artists. The Grace Museum: A fine arts museum with a focus on Texas artists. Buffalo Gap Historic Village: The BGHV collects, preserves, and exhibits the natural history and material culture of the West Texas region from 1875 to 1925. For more information visit www.abilenevisitors. com. 3
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THE BUSINESS SCHOOL AT MCMURRY UNIVERSITY As McMurry University approaches its centennial anniversary it has engaged in a project to re-envision the business school, with assistance from a new endowment. The newly endowed business school will provide a re-envisioned business curriculum to McMurry students by integrating theory and practice in order to prepare them to be ethical, thoughtful and capable leaders. The dean will lead a business school that will be integrated into the life of Mc- Murry s liberal arts curriculum, and guided by the values and principles of liberal arts education. With a focus on entrepreneurship as the overarching theme of the educational program, students will gain a firm foundation in financial literacy and learn to apply their skills through experiential learning opportunities. The business school at McMurry University will ensure that students are effective writers and speakers and are able to think critically and effectively solve problems. As a business school steeped in the liberal arts, students will engage with other disciplines at McMurry and will have a greater understanding of the broader world in which business is enacted. This will include an infusion of experiences that lead to a better understanding of international issues in business and beyond. Through the focus on entrepreneurship, the graduates will be self-starters, ready to take on the challenges of new jobs or creating new opportunities of their own. They will be able to work in teams to develop new ideas and solve problems, will be capable of meaningful self-assessment and reflection, and will possess a deep appreciate of the human element of business. Graduates of the business school will be known as leaders who can be trusted and respected. Current concentrations in the business school include accounting, computer information systems, finance, general business, heritage and cultural tourism, marketing, and management. Students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration or a Bachelor in the Science of Accounting degree. Students have numerous extracurricular opportunities, including the student-led investment fund. Recently, the Board of Trustees allocated $1,000,000 from the university s endowment to fund a portfolio of domestic equities, entirely assembled and managed by McMurry business students. 5
Leadership Agenda for the Next Dean of Business at McMurry University The dean of the newly re-envisioned business school at McMurry University will provide administrative and academic leadership for the school. In addition to the duties of academic planning and staffing, the dean will be responsible for fundraising efforts, the development of corporate partnerships, the creation of internship opportunities, and serving as the spokesperson for the business school in the Abilene community and beyond. Faculty Development As McMurry University embarks on the development of its newly re-envisioned business school a key priority for the dean will be faculty development. This will include the hiring of new faculty in core fields, as well as facilitating development opportunities for faculty members to pursue on an ongoing basis. Making Connections External relations will be of paramount importance to the dean. To that end, the dean will pursue relationships with local and regional business for internships and placement for recent graduates. Additionally, the dean will also pursue other partnerships for both fundraising opportunities, and for extracurricular projects. Implementing the New Vision The newly re-envisioned business school will play a key role in the liberal arts life of McMurry University. The visioning of the school includes a curriculum that is interlaced with the principles of the liberal arts. The dean will implement the vision of a business education integrated with the liberal arts. Collaborating Across McMurry The dean of the business school will work to establish collaborative relationships across McMurry University. This will ensure the possibility of interdisciplinary teaching and research opportunities for the faculty, as well the hybrid programs for student learners that meet the needs of the job marketplace in the 21 st century. 6
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS An advanced degree in a discipline represented in the school of business is required, with a strong preference for a doctorate. OTHER PREFERRED CHARACTERISTICS Qualifications for eligibility for tenure and rank at full professor Experience in connecting with the business community A record of increasing administrative responsibility A commitment to the teacher/scholar faculty model Experience in a small private or public liberal arts institution Evidence of a collaborative and congenial leadership style Strong communication skills Experience with online and graduate education Experience with, or knowledge of the operational responsibilities of a department chair APPLICATION AND NOMINATION PROCEDURE The University is being assisted by Academic Search, Inc. and will be conducted in strict confidence until finalists are brought to campus. Applications, nominations and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence to McMurryDoB@ academic-search.com. Applications should consist of a substantive cover letter that specifically addresses how the candidate s experiences match the required qualifications and desired characteristics. A complete application packet will also include a curriculum vitae, and a list of five professional references with full contact information; references will not be contacted without explicit permission from the candidate. The position is open until filled, but only applications received by February 8, 2016 can be assured full consideration. Confidential conversations with consultants Jessica Kozloff (jsk@academic-search.com) and Eric Richtmyer (ewr@academic-search.com) may be arranged by contacting them at their respective emails or by calling 202-332-4049. 7
For more than three decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services exclusively to institutions of higher education. Academic Search was founded on the principle of strengthening higher education leadership through professional search services. We are the only search firm in the nation with a formal relationship to a premier leadership development program. As the subsidiary of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), Academic Search provides substantial financial support to a number of leadership identification, development, and support programs across all sectors of public and private higher education. For more information, visit www.academic-search.com. 8