Job Details

Associate Dean for Graduate Student Success (Graduate College)

Position Number: 6590651
Location: Kennesaw, GA
Position Type: Deans - Other

Associate Dean for Graduate Student Success (Graduate College)

Job ID: 290561
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

For more than 60 years, Kennesaw State University has been known for its entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community. A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State is located just north of Atlanta and combines a suburban setting on two metro-Atlanta campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta. As one of Georgia's largest universities, Kennesaw State offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to over 50,000 students. Our high-impact research and Division I athletics also draw students from throughout the region and across the globe. A member of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2) committed to becoming a world-class academic institution positioned to broaden its academic and research missions and expand its scope on a local, regional, and national level.

Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. As part of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State exemplifies the power and promise of a student-centered, research-driven university. In addition, Kennesaw State supports the University of Georgia's core values of accountability, excellence, integrity, and respect. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision. Kennesaw State is launching a new strategic plan in 2024-2025. For more information, visit https://www.kennesaw.edu/.

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Department Information

The Graduate College contributes to the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the greater Atlanta area as well as Georgia, the region and beyond by fostering impactful and accessible graduate education. From enrollment to matriculation, from coursework to research and internships, from graduation to new job opportunities, the Graduate College is building a robust success-oriented environment that encourages students to aspire higher.

The Graduate College partners with the academic colleges and Kennesaw State University's robust student support units to provide a quality experience for all graduate students. We engage in evidence-based and holistic approaches to student success through the academic lifecycle for all graduate students. The Graduate College's professional staff works to ensure student success by anticipating the needs of the University's graduate programs, faculty, and students, raising the quality of graduate education, improving financial support for graduate students, and fostering professional development. From assisting with initial enrollment through guiding students toward the completion of their degrees, to preparing for careers after graduation, the Graduate College staff supports and advocates for graduate students throughout their journey.

Job Summary

Kennesaw State University is now accepting applications for an administrative faculty position as a tenured Professor and Associate Dean of Graduate Student Success in the Graduate College with a preferred start date of January 1, 2026. This is a twelve-month contracted position. This position is for work to be performed in the state of Georgia.

The Graduate College is undergoing unprecedented growth, 32% over the last five years, and poised to build a state-of-the-art infrastructure for graduate student success and needs a dynamic, visionary leader to help expand its impact on Kennesaw State University's 5,000+ graduate students. In collaboration with the Dean, the Associate Dean will create and implement a strategic plan to increase retention and on-time graduation rates through growth in graduate student support in four areas: academic, professional, career, and health and well-being.
Reporting to the Dean and a member of the Dean's Leadership Team, the Associate Dean for Student Success will have a distinguished record of recognized excellence and experience that will result in strong leadership. The associate dean is responsible for providing high quality evidenced-based support services to all graduate students. The associate dean further coordinates the team's efforts to provide support related to planning, resource coordination, evaluation, and advocacy of graduate student issues and the assessment and reporting thereof, in line with the university's strategic plan.

Responsibilities

Leading the Graduate Student Success Program and Team to coordinate, design and deliver workshops and events appropriate to graduate student success
Creating systems to establish and scale the pipeline for prestigious external awards to graduate students
Expanding the Doctoral Faculty and Doctoral Student Mentoring programs
Reviewing and improving GTA training, addressing specific needs for GTAs and Instructors of Record across disciplines, including review and coordination of staffing for the course, GRAD 9001 or equivalent
Collaborating with faculty and college leadership on innovative academic and graduate student success programs
Overseeing data-informed assessment of retention, time-to-degree, completion, and placement
Serving as a spokesperson and advocate for graduate student success
Working with Strategic Communications to amplify graduate-student-related success stories
Fulfilling other duties as assigned

Teaching assignments will be based on earned degrees and SACSCOC Faculty Credentials Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

A terminal degree, or the foreign equivalent, with an academic background and appropriate credentials to be a tenured Professor in one of the University's academic departments or schools
A minimum of three years progressive academic leadership experience at the College or University level and career success appropriate to the Associate Dean's role
Successful experience building or leading major initiatives in graduate student success

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with Fellowship advising (strongly preferred)
Experience in Graduate Education (strongly preferred)
Administrative and leadership experience in Graduate Education (strongly preferred)
Experience fostering collaborations across departments, colleges, and/or institutions
Record of mentorship of faculty and graduate student research and creative activities
Successful budget management
Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise and mentor faculty and staff
Experience with data-informed decision-making
Familiarity with higher education legal issues, including Clery, FERPA, and HIPAA
Experience with student databases, CRMs, and learning systems
Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing others within the organization
Excellent verbal and written communication skill

Required Documents to Attach

CV
Cover Letter
Unofficial Transcripts (Official Transcripts and Official International Course-by-Course Evaluations Due Upon Hire)
Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of at least 3 references

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Apply Before Date

Review of applications will begin immediately. For full consideration, please apply by October 26, 2025.

Contact Information

For questions about this faculty opening, please contact Dr. Alison Keefe, akeefe@kennesaw.edu, 470-578-4469.

For technical support or assistance completing a job application, please contact the Shared Services Center at (877) 251-2644 or support@usg.edu.

For questions about a specific job posting at Kennesaw State University, please contact the search chair listed under the contact information section on each posting. For general questions about faculty jobs please email facultyjobs@kennesaw.edu.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information on this policy, or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, eeo@kennesaw.edu.

Background Check

Per the University System of Georgia background check policy, all final candidates will be required to consent to a criminal background investigation. Final candidates may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. Applicants for positions of trust with screening results which confirm a disqualifying criminal history will be immediately disqualified from employment eligibility.

All applicants are required to include professional references as part of their application process. Some positions may require additional job based screenings such as motor vehicle report, credit check, preemployment drug screening and/or verification of academic credentials. https://www.usg.edu/hr/assets/hr/hrap_manual/HRAP_Background_Investigation_Employment.pdf

To apply, visit https://careers.hprod.onehcm.usg.edu/psp/careers/CAREERS/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=43000&JobOpeningId=290561&PostingSeq=1