Dean of Honors College

South Carolina State University, a public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution, seeks a visionary, student-centered academic leader to serve as Dean of the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College. Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean provides strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the University’s community of high-achieving students. The Dean advances academic excellence, undergraduate research, leadership development, and student success; strengthens the honors curriculum and co-curricular programming; leads the recruitment, retention, and graduation of academically talented students; and aligns the College’s work with the University’s mission and its strategic plan, The Garnet and Blueprint 2030.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic vision and leadership for the Honors College, including developing, implementing, and updating the Honors College strategic plan aligned with university priorities.
• Develop, implement, and assess the honors curriculum, including honors courses, seminars, and capstone or thesis requirements, in partnership with academic departments and through established faculty governance processes.
• Expand undergraduate research, creative activity, and experiential learning, including faculty-mentored research, study abroad, internships, and student presentations at conferences.
• Lead strategic initiatives to recruit, admit, retain, and graduate high-achieving students, in coordination with Enrollment Management and Admissions.
• Advise and mentor honors students and prepare them for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships and for admission to graduate and professional programs.
• Recruit, support, and recognize faculty who teach and mentor in the Honors College, and collaborate with deans and department chairs on honors course staffing and scheduling.
• Build a vibrant honors community through leadership development, civic engagement, service, and co-curricular programming, including living-learning opportunities developed with Student Affairs and Housing.
• Supervise College personnel and manage the College’s administrative operations, budget, and scholarship resources.
• Pursue external support through grants, scholarships, alumni and donor engagement, and corporate, government, and community partnerships, in collaboration with Institutional Advancement and Sponsored Programs.
• Establish performance measures, use data to monitor program effectiveness, prepare reports for the provost, and support institutional assessment and SACSCOC accreditation activities.
• Represent the Honors College within the University and externally, including in regional and national honors organizations.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, applicable regulations, and established academic and financial procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

• Earned doctorate or other terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration, academic leadership, or academic program management.
• Knowledge of undergraduate education, curriculum development, student success strategies, and assessment of student learning.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational, communication, and budget and fiscal management skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators, alumni, and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of and commitment to the mission of South Carolina State University and land-grant institutions.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience leading an honors college, honors program, or comparable academic initiative.
• Success mentoring students for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships and for admission to graduate and professional programs.
• Experience with student recruitment, retention, undergraduate research, fundraising, or grant development.
• Familiarity with National Collegiate Honors Council standards and best practices in honors education.

Advertised: 03 Nov 2026 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: 30 Dec 2026 Eastern Standard Time

Back to search results Apply now Refer a friend