Dean - School of Transportation & Heavy Equipment

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Dean of the School of Transportation and Heavy Equipment, STHE, reports directly to the Vice Provost and serves as the unit's senior academic leader. The School includes programs in Automotive Service Technologies and Diesel and Heavy Equipment. The Dean provides strategic leadership for the School's personnel, academic offerings, resources, and facilities. As a member of the University's Academic Council, the Dean represents the School and the institution with internal and external stakeholders and advances its academic mission and priorities.

SCHOOL SUMMARY:

The School of Transportation and Heavy Equipment is a workforce-driven academic unit that prepares students for immediate, high-demand careers in the automotive and heavy equipment industries. The School serves approximately 255 students as of Fall 2025. With 9-degree paths spanning automotive service technologies and diesel and heavy equipment, STHE delivers hands-on learning in industry-aligned facilities with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Programs are co-designed with national industry partners - including but not limited to Ford, General Motors, Caterpillar, Komatsu, and North American Equipment Dealers Association - and most incorporate paid internships with sponsoring dealerships, ensuring students graduate with verified technical competencies and direct employer connections. Multiple programs hold specialized accreditation through the ASE Education Foundation and the AED Foundation. Through these deep industry partnerships and a strong graduate employment rate, STHE advances student success while meeting critical workforce needs in transportation and heavy equipment sectors regionally and nationally.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Advance academic programs and services within the School in alignment with OSUIT's applied learning mission and emerging workforce trends.
• Ensure the achievement and maintenance of specialized program accreditations while supporting institutional accreditation and continuous improvement efforts.
• Lead the recruitment, hiring, supervision, evaluation, and professional development of faculty and academic staff in accordance with School, institutional, and system priorities.
• Cultivate an inclusive, collaborative culture that promotes collegiality, professional accountability, innovation, and positive morale.
• Drive program vitality and industry relevance by championing entrepreneurial approaches to enrollment, curriculum, and partnership development.
• Direct school-level planning and execution of operational priorities, ensuring alignment of policies, procedures, and initiatives with OSUIT's strategic plan.
• Safeguard the School's fiscal health through responsible stewardship of resources, enrollment management, and pursuit of external funding and partnerships.
• Champion student recruitment, retention, and completion efforts, with attention to access, workforce alignment, and measurable outcomes.
• Oversee the integrity of academic records, operational processes, facilities, equipment, and other School assets while maintaining safe and effective learning environments.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with industry, alumni, community leaders, and workforce stakeholders to enhance experiential learning and graduate employability.
• Represent the School and OSUIT in professional, industry, community, and system-level engagements.
• Partner with institutional units across academic affairs, student services, fiscal operations, advancement, and communications to advance shared school and university priorities.
• Serve as an active and engaged member of the Academic Council, Provost Council, and other assigned committees in support of institutional shared governance.
• Perform additional duties as necessary to support the evolving needs of the School and OSUIT.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Should possess the credentials necessary to qualify as a faculty member for one of the School's programs; graduate degree(s) highly preferred. Individuals with alternate combinations of credentials and/or experience may be considered.

Experience: A history of demonstrating ethical and professional behavior. Five or more years of progressive experience in collaborative management and leadership; experience in higher education administration preferred. Postsecondary teaching experience preferred. Demonstrated success in collaborating with distinct constituencies.

Skills and Abilities: Ability to plan, organize and fulfill complex initiatives. Knowledge of and experience in working with technology. Ability to research and interpret federal, state and institutional policies. Understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing higher education; comprehension of land-grant colleges and universities preferred. Ability to effectively engage community and industry leaders and alumni. Ability to maintain high standards of work, initiative, commitment, ethics, professional responsibility and judgment. Understanding of qualitative and quantitative data analysis, budgeting and reporting. Ability to work effectively with and promote various populations. Superior interpersonal skills-including the ability to effectively recognize and resolve complex problems in a constructive manner.

Communication Skills: Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills. Must possess excellent interpersonal skills, exercise decorum in all interactions with stakeholders, and be able to effectively recognize and mitigate conflict.

Licensure/Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver's license.

Working Conditions: Ability to work some evenings and weekends, as needed. Travel required. Normal office physical environment; ability to lift up to 25 pounds.