Dean, College of Education

Teacher education is foundational to Missouri State’s identity and legacy. The next dean will build upon that strong tradition while positioning COE to address emerging challenges and opportunities in educator preparation, educational leadership, workforce development, community partnerships, applied scholarship and student success.

The dean will guide and inspire COE while working collaboratively with, and advocating for, faculty, staff and students by promoting excellence in teaching, scholarship and service; encouraging faculty development; prioritizing student learning; facilitating student recruitment and retention; building partnerships with K-12 schools and other external organizations; engaging in fundraising and alumni relations; and demonstrating sound fiscal management. As chief administrative officer of COE, the Dean will provide professional, intellectual, and administrative leadership with a focus on student success, educational innovation, and Missouri State’s public affairs mission. The appointee is expected to begin July 1, 2027.

The Opportunity

The next Dean will have the opportunity to:

•    Lead one of Missouri’s premier educator preparation colleges and expand its impact across the state and region.
•    Strengthen Missouri State’s leadership role in addressing educator workforce needs through innovative pathways, partnerships and program delivery models.
•    Advance excellence in educator preparation, educational leadership and student support professions through strong academic programs.
•    Expand partnerships with school districts, community colleges, educational agencies and community organizations.
•    Enhance enrollment growth and student success across undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.
•    Support faculty scholarship, grant activity and applied research as Missouri State advances its aspirations for R2 Carnegie classification.
•    Advance innovative uses of educational technology, artificial intelligence and evidence-based practice in teaching, learning and professional preparation.

Leadership Priorities

The successful candidate will marshal the talents of COE’s faculty and staff and work collaboratively across the university to advance COE through the following priorities.

1. Student Success, Educator Development and Career Readiness
Prioritize student learning, persistence, belonging, and completion across all programs. Support clinical experiences, licensure success, professional preparation and career placement. Ensure students are prepared to serve effectively in educational and community settings.

2. Excellence in Educator Preparation and Academic Innovation
Provide leadership for nationally recognized educator preparation programs while encouraging innovation in curriculum design, instructional delivery and assessment. Ensure programs remain responsive to evolving educational needs, state requirements and workforce demand while maintaining rigorous academic standards.

3. Strategic Enrollment Growth and Workforce Development
Strengthen enrollment through collaborative recruitment, retention and completion strategies. Expand pathways into the education profession through partnerships with school districts, community colleges, dual-credit initiatives, and innovative certification opportunities. Align academic offerings with state and regional workforce needs.

4. Community, School District and Professional Engagement
Cultivate strong relationships with PK-12 school districts, educational agencies, community organizations, alumni, donors and policymakers. Expand opportunities for collaborative programming, professional development, clinical placements, educator support initiatives and mutually beneficial partnerships.

5. Faculty Excellence, Development and Scholarship
Recruit, develop, and retain outstanding faculty. Foster a collegial environment that values excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and engagement. Support interdisciplinary collaboration, mentoring, professional development, grant activity and applied research that contributes to educational practice and student success.

6. Innovation, Visibility and Missouri State’s R2 Aspirations
Strengthen COE’s reputation as a leader in educator preparation, educational leadership and community engagement. Build upon existing strengths in externally funded projects, applied scholarship and community partnerships. As Missouri State advances its aspiration for R2 Carnegie classification, the Dean will play an important leadership role in expanding research activity, external funding and national visibility.

About Missouri State’s College of Education

The College of Education is one of six academic colleges at Missouri State and enrolls approximately 1,700 students. COE includes two academic schools with nearly 60 full-time faculty:
•    Teaching, Learning, and Developmental Sciences
•    Special Education, Leadership, and Professional Studies

COE’s undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs prepare professionals across a broad range of educational settings. Graduate offerings include an education doctorate, and COE is a member of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate. 

The Dean also provides leadership and oversight for several distinguishing units that enhance COE’s impact and visibility:
•    Greenwood Laboratory School (K-12)
•    Child Development Center (Infant – 5 yrs)
•    Agency for Teaching, Leading and Learning (ATLL)
•    Center for Rural Education
•    Bear POWER
•    Project Access

Missouri State is the leading producer of teachers in Missouri. Through strong partnerships with school districts and educational organizations, COE plays a vital role in supporting educational excellence and workforce development across the state. 

About Missouri State University

Missouri State University is a multi-campus, comprehensive public university with a statewide mission in public affairs. With more than 24,000 students, the university offers more than 100 undergraduate and 60 graduate-degree programs. 

The university’s distinctive public affairs mission is grounded in three pillars:
•    Ethical leadership
•    Cultural competence
•    Community engagement

Through this mission, Missouri State prepares students to engage thoughtfully with the complex challenges facing their professions, communities and society. The next Dean will play an important institutional leadership role in advancing this mission through educator preparation, scholarship and community partnerships. 

The university’s main campus is located in Springfield and includes six academic colleges: Agriculture; Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; and Natural and Applied Sciences.

For more information, visit Missouri State University.

About Springfield and the Region

Springfield is the third-largest city in Missouri with a metropolitan population exceeding 500,000. It is noted for its thriving economy, excellent schools, superior health care facilities, beautiful neighborhoods, active arts community, exciting entertainment scene, temperate climate and outstanding recreational opportunities. Located in the southwest region of the state, Springfield is surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Ozarks hills, streams and lakes. Springfield is ranked among the 100 Best Communities for young people, is in the top 40 cities for quality of life and is home to two top-100 integrated health systems in the nation. For more information about the City of Springfield and to see photos of the city, please visit www.liveinspringfieldmo.com.

Qualifications and Leadership Characteristics

The university is seeking an individual with the vision and leadership qualities necessary to continue to enhance the future of an already strong COE.

Required Qualifications
•    Earned doctorate or terminal degree in education or related field.
•    Academic credentials appropriate for appointment as a full professor.
•    Significant academic leadership experience.
•    Demonstrated record of achievement in teaching, scholarship and/or academic administration.
•    Evidence of effective fiscal, personnel and organizational management.
Preferred Qualifications
•    Experience as a dean, associate dean, department head/chair or comparable academic leader.
•    Experience with educator preparation approval processes and continuous improvement.
•    Experience leading partnerships with PK–12 school districts, educational agencies or community organizations.
•    Successful record of enrollment growth, program development or organizational innovation.
•    Demonstrated success in fundraising, alumni engagement and external relations.
•    Record of securing or supporting external grants and sponsored programs.
•    Experience with online, hybrid, professional or graduate education.
•    Demonstrated understanding of educational technology, artificial intelligence and emerging trends affecting educator preparation and educational practice.

Beyond these qualifications, the university seeks a leader who is student centered, collaborative, strategically minded, externally engaged and committed to shared governance. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to build trust, communicate effectively, foster innovation, advocate for education and inspire excellence across COE and the university.

Application Process
Applicants should upload the following materials as separate documents (PDF format preferred):
•    A detailed cover letter, addressed to the search committee, describing the candidate’s qualifications and leadership vision for COE, particularly the opportunities and priorities identified in this announcement.
•    A current curriculum vitae (CV).
•    A list of five professional references, including email addresses and a brief description of the candidate’s professional relationship with each.

The search committee expects to select a new dean early in 2027, with the successful candidate assuming full-time responsibilities on July 1, 2027. The salary will be competitive and commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

For more information about the position, please contact the co-chairs of the search:
Dr. Melissa Bledsoe
Dean, Darr College of Agriculture
MelissaBledsoe@MissouriState.edu

Dr. Shawn Wahl
Dean, Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
ShawnWahl@MissouriState.edu

Although the search remains open until the position is filled, for full consideration, candidates should submit all application materials by Monday, November 30, 2026. 

Nominations are not required to be considered for this position. Leaders who know of outstanding candidates are welcome to submit confidential nominations by sending the nominee’s full name, position, institution/organization and email address to ShawnWahl@MissouriState.edu.

Employment will require a criminal background check at University Expense.
Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Institution.