The College of Business & Economic Development seeks a dynamic, forward-thinking leader for its distinguished School of Management (SoMGT). The Director of the School of Management serves a role similar to that of a Department Head in many business school organizational structures. The Director ensures the alignment of the school's goals with the broader objectives of the university, fostering a productive and supportive environment for both students and staff. The Director is the chief administrative officer of the School of Management and is responsible for planning strategic direction, staffing, budgeting, designing and revising curriculum, implementing continuous improvements, completing AACSB accreditation requirements, overseeing Assurance of Learning processes, and documenting annual accomplishments.
Successful candidates will demonstrate strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills and foster innovation and growth in the School of Management at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. USM is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral University with Higher Research Activity and, as such, the Director is expected to promote research productivity and foster an environment conducive to impactful, externally funded research among faculty and students. The Director position is a full-time, 12-month administrative appointment. Appointment to the Director position comes with tenure.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates will possess an earned doctorate degree (Ph.D., D.B.A.) with a concentration in management or a related field from an AACSB-accredited institution and meet College eligibility requirements for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or above. Candidates must have a record of scholarship that qualifies as "Scholarly Academic," and they must be able to demonstrate evidence of excellence in scholarly research, collegiate teaching, and institutional/professional service. Candidates must also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preferred applicants will meet the Minimum Qualifications and also be able to demonstrate experience with (1) academic leadership, (2) AACSB accreditation, and (3) a commitment to both applied and general training programs (at the undergraduate and graduate levels).
Founded in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM or “Southern Miss”) opened its doors as a small teachers’ college. Today, the University has grown into a comprehensive doctoral and research-driven institution with a proud history and an eye on the future. With a diverse student body of approximately 14,000 students representing 72 foreign countries, all regions of the United States, and every corner of Mississippi, the University celebrates diversity in every sense of the word. USM is a powerhouse for economic activity in Mississippi, contributing more than$663 million in economic output to the state of Mississippi and employing 6,597 individuals across all its locations.
As the state’s only dual-campus university, USM serves students on campuses In Hattiesburg and Long Beach, in addition to teaching and research sites throughout south Mississippi, including the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs and the John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, and through its growing online offerings.
As the premier research university of the Gulf South, USM takes pride in being classified as an R1: Doctoral University – Very high research activity category by th...e Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The category includes universities engaged in the highest level of research activity. A proven leader in innovation, Southern Miss is generating real-world solutions through transformative research.
Within USM, the College of Business and Economic Development (CBED) was founded as the Division of Commerce in 1947 to train veterans returning from World War II. The School of Business Administration was established in 1964, along with the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program. The Master of Professional Accountancy first appeared in the 1971-1972 catalog. The College's name was changed to the College of Business Administration in 1975, and AACSB first accredited it in 1976, followed by separate accounting accreditation in 1982. The College's name was changed to the College of Business and Economic Development in 2018 as part of a university-wide reorganization.
CBED currently consists of five schools (School of Accountancy, School of Finance, School of Leadership, School of Management, and School of Marketing) and two support units (Center for Student Success and Office of Professional Development and Career Success). CBED offers 15 undergraduate programs, 9 graduate programs, and 12 certificate programs. As of fall 2023, CBED had a total enrollment of 2,309 students, including 1,858 undergraduate and 451 graduate students, and 71% of those students are from Mississippi. Approximately 86% of our students come from states within the Gulf Coast region. On average, about half of CBED undergraduate students transfer to USM from local junior and community colleges.
