Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Stephen F. Austin State University in its search for Chair of the Department of Management and Marketing. 

For full consideration, please apply by November 13, 2026.

Shape the Next Chapter of a Growing College of Business

The Nelson Rusche College of Business at Stephen F. Austin State University is investing in its future. Building on sustained enrollment growth, expanded faculty investment, and renewed institutional support, the College is strengthening its leadership team to advance academic excellence and student success. Recent retirements and promotions, together with the appointment of Dean Jason Reese, provide a unique opportunity to assemble a leadership team that will help shape the College’s next chapter. A loyal donor base, dedicated development support, and funding for strategic initiatives give the next Chair of the Department of Economics & Finance the resources to innovate, pursue new opportunities, and move priorities forward.

Collaboration is central to this vision. Faculty and administrators are working across departments to advance shared priorities while leveraging the unique strengths of each academic unit. The next Chair will play a significant role in that work, leading the Department while contributing to the broader direction of the College.

The Department of Management and Marketing serves approximately 396 students, and when fully staffed, includes 15 faculty and one staff member. The Department offers programs in management, marketing, human resource management, and international business, with a strong emphasis on connecting academic learning with professional experience. Students engage in applied learning through industry partnerships, study abroad, team competitions, and student organizations such as the American Marketing Association (AMA), the Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM), and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). The next Chair will build on these strengths while fostering an engaged faculty culture, strengthening academic programs, and expanding opportunities for collaboration within the Department and across the University.

Reporting to the Dean, the Department Chair serves as the academic and administrative leader of the department while maintaining faculty responsibilities in teaching, scholarship, and service. This full-time, twelve-month faculty appointment provides strategic leadership for academic programs, faculty development, student success, budgeting, assessment, and external engagement while advancing the mission of the University.

As a member of The University of Texas System, SFA offers a highly competitive benefits package, including fully paid employee-only medical coverage, robust retirement options, and tuition assistance for employees and eligible family members.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide strategic leadership for the department consistent with the mission of the College and University. 
• Foster excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. 
• Lead academic program development, assessment, and continuous improvement. 
• Recruit, mentor, evaluate, and support faculty. 
• Develop course schedules and manage faculty workload. 
• Oversee departmental budgets and resources. 
• Promote collaboration among faculty, students, and university partners. 
• Represent and advocate for the department internally and externally. 
• Support student success while building relationships with alumni, employers, and community partners. 
• Promote a collaborative, collegial, and inclusive academic culture.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Sound judgment and effective decision-making skills.
• Ability to establish objectives, assess needs, and evaluate effectiveness.
• Ability to manage departmental budgets and resources effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, facilitate shared decision-making, and work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and individuals holding diverse perspectives.
• Demonstrated ability to align decisions and initiatives with program, college, institutional, student success, and resource priorities; lead change; identify opportunities for improvement; and navigate complex or sensitive issues.
• Ability to effectively supervise and support faculty and staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Terminal degree in a discipline represented within the department, allowing the individual to teach within the department.
• Sufficient experience to warrant a tenured appointment in one of the disciplines within the department.
• Strong record of research and other scholarly achievements.

The College’s Tenure & Promotion Policy is available upon request.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in academic administration (department chair, program director, graduate program director, center director, or other significant leadership roles). 
• Experience supporting student success through academic assessment, accreditation, continuous improvement, and academic program quality management.

About Stephen F. Austin State University

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA), the newest member of The University of Texas System, began more than a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’s oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has evolved into a comprehensive regional institution comprising six colleges and offering the academic breadth of a larger university with the personalized attention of a liberal arts experience. 

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, SFA serves more than 11,000 students and plays a vital role in advancing educational access and opportunity across East Texas. The University is distinguished by its strong commitment to first-generation student success and its ability to connect academic programs with the needs of the region’s workforce and industries. 

Set within a 421-acre campus in a pine forest environment, SFA integrates natural resources, applied learning, and community engagement into the student experience. Its broader footprint, including research centers, clinical facilities, and specialized program sites across more than 1,200 acres, supports hands-on education and applied research across disciplines.

About the Nelson Rusche College of Business

The Nelson Rusche College of Business prepares the next generation of business leaders through academic excellence, experiential learning, and meaningful engagement with industry. Accredited by AACSB International, the College offers undergraduate and graduate programs across a broad range of business disciplines while maintaining a student-centered environment where faculty play an integral role in teaching, mentoring, scholarship, and service.

Building on a period of sustained growth and strategic investment, the College continues to expand academic programs, invest in faculty, and create new opportunities for students. Enrollment has increased over the past three years, new faculty positions are being added, and university leadership continues to invest in innovative academic programs and student success initiatives. Supported by engaged alumni, loyal donors, and a collaborative leadership team, the College offers an exceptional environment for academic leaders who want to make a lasting impact.

Living in the Area

Nacogdoches, Texas offers a distinctive East Texas setting defined by natural beauty, a strong sense of community, and a high quality of life. Surrounded by pine forests and scenic landscapes, the area provides access to outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, gardens, and nearby lakes, while maintaining the amenities of a vibrant university town.

The region is known for its affordability and accessibility, making it an attractive place to live for individuals and families alike. Nacogdoches offers a welcoming, close-knit environment with strong public and private school options, a growing local economy, and convenient access to larger metropolitan areas such as Houston, Dallas, and Austin.

SFA contributes significantly to the cultural and intellectual life of the region. The university hosts a wide range of performances, exhibitions, and community events throughout the year, including concerts, theatre productions, and visual arts programming through its College of Fine Arts. These offerings, combined with the natural setting and pace of life in East Texas, create a unique environment that blends professional opportunity with personal quality of life. 

To Apply 

For full consideration, please apply by November 13, 2026.

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications. 

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to SFAChairMgmt@acesrch.com.
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.

Institutional Information
Stephen F. Austin State University, an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and Educator, is committed to excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, creed, color, age, national origin, religion or physical or mental disability as required by law. If, because of an impairment or disability, you need accommodation during any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at 936-468-2304.