The Associate Dean provides assistance to the Dean in the administration of the Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship, which may include, but is not limited to, faculty recruitment and development, faculty mentoring and evaluation, program development, program review, student advisement, budgeting, and indirect supervision of the teaching, research, and service activities of the faculty within the School.

The person hired to fill this position will serve as the Associate Dean of the Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship, and as Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship.  As such, the position will be at least 50% administrative in terms of duties, with teaching and research making up the remainder.  As an Entrepreneurship, Associate Professor, this person will teach courses at either the undergraduate or graduate level as needed.  Successful candidates should already have an established record of publication with a clear focus establishing the basis for a long-term program of scholarship.  This individual will also serve on College and University committees and/or initiatives.

Florida Gulf Coast University is a comprehensive university dedicated to quality education, research, and service. All faculty are expected to be excellent teachers, responsive to changing professional needs; committed to innovative delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning; committed to effective use of technology including distance learning; produce peer reviewed scholarship; and provide service to the College, University and Community. Teaching assignments may be on the main campus or at off-campus sites within our region.

With an enrollment of over 16,000 students, FGCU has a main campus of 800 acres with buildings meeting LEED standards and 400 acres of conserved lands. FGCU is located in beautiful Southwest Florida, known for its beaches, resorts, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation. Located between the cities of Fort Myers and Naples, FGCU is just two hours by car from the major cities of Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Miami, and 15 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport. One of 12 universities in the State University System of Florida, FGCU is a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional University classified for Community Engagement, as well as an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution.

The Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship at FGCU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Entrepreneurship as well as an undergraduate degree in Digital Media Design. The undergraduate Entrepreneurship program is ranked 15th by The Princeton Review and is the highest ranked undergraduate entrepreneurship program in Florida. The School also hosts an Entrepreneurship Living and Learning Community for incoming freshmen, a signature Runway Program Startup Incubator for students and alumni, and a Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program for training and upskilling U.S. Veterans.

Essential Job Duties

• Assists in the leadership and administration within a College in accordance with established guidelines, university policy, and governmental regulations;
• Represents the College in the absence of the Dean and works with the Dean in developing the College’s mission, vision, and goals;
• Works with department chairs, directors, faculty, and other leaders in the College and the University to identify opportunities for development, innovation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary work that benefit faculty and students and raise the visibility of the College and its disciplines in terms of curriculum and co-curricular programming;
• Assists in developing and improving College policies, procedures, rules, and regulations and ensures compliance with existing policies and practices;
• Assists the Dean in establishing and maintaining positive relations with diverse populations and constituencies, including community partners, alumni, donors, supporters, and external agencies;
• Assists with accreditation and faculty matters; oversees and assesses faculty annual performance and reviews; manages scheduling of classes;
• Supports, mentors, and advises faculty in regards to research, teaching, service, and professional development;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Appointment will be made on a 12-month multi-year appointment basis available as early as January 2025. An August 2025 hire will also be considered.

Because applications and materials are subject to public review and retention under Florida’s Public Records Law, please DO NOT send examples of your project/ scholarship unless requested to do so. Therefore, all submitted materials including articles, disks, slides, books, etc., become the property of FGCU and CANNOT BE RETURNED. As applicable, finalists will be notified of the need to submit specific additional materials. Such materials will become the property of FGCU.

Under Florida’s Public Records law, applications will be available for public review upon request.

Required Application Materials:
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Research Agenda
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Five (5) Professional References

The position is listed as “open until filled”, however applications received by September 30, 2024 will receive priority consideration.

Required Qualifications

• A doctoral degree or other appropriate terminal degree in Entrepreneurship, or in a closely related field (e.g., Organizational Behavior) from a program that is AACSB or similarly accredited. Accreditation may vary based on specific degree focus.
• A well-developed program of research that advances the field of entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrated expertise in one of the following areas:
  • Entrepreneurial mindset
  • Entrepreneurial skills, competencies, expertise, or practice
  • Startup finance
  • Differentiation, growth, and scaling
  • Sustainable entrepreneurship

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior administrative experience such as a program coordinator or department chair
• Demonstrated familiarity with experiential learning approaches to teaching entrepreneurship.
• A track-record of successful leadership.
• 3 or more years of experience managing direct reports.
• Experience with class scheduling.
• Experience developing entrepreneurship courses through university approval processes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Experience or commitment to the use of technology in university teaching. Interest in collaborating both within and outside the University in the development and delivery of instruction resulting in improved student learning. Must value continued scholarship and service to the university, with a demonstrated success developing a productive research program.

About Florida Gulf Coast University

With an enrollment of over 16,000 students, FGCU has a main campus of 800 acres with buildings meeting LEED standards and 400 acres of conserved lands. FGCU is located in beautiful Southwest Florida, known for its beaches, resorts, natural beauty, and outdoor recreation. Located between the cities of Fort Myers and Naples, FGCU is just two hours by car from the major cities of Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Miami, and 15 minutes from the Southwest Florida International Airport. One of 12 universities in the State University System of Florida, FGCU is a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional University classified for Community Engagement, as well as an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution. The Daveler and Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship at FGCU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Entrepreneurship as well as an undergraduate degree in Digital Media Design. The undergraduate Entrepreneurship program is ranked 15th by The Princeton Review and is the highest ranked undergraduate entrepreneurship program in Florida. The School also hosts an Entrepreneurship Living and Learning Community for incoming freshmen, a signature Runway Program Startup Incubator for students and alumni, and a Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program for training and upskilling U.S. Veterans.

Connections working at Florida Gulf Coast University