Dean, College of Social Sciences and Education

Overview

California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications from bold and committed academic leaders interested in serving as the Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Education. The successful candidate will join CSUB at an exciting time of transition as the newly appointed University President and Provost lead CSUB into a new era as Kern County’s University and strengthen the impact of the University in promoting access to education and propelling economic development as a Hispanic Serving Institution.

CSUB is centrally located on a 375‑acre site in the southern San Joaquin Valley and serves more than 10,000 students on the main campus and at the Antelope Valley site. It offers 57 undergraduate and graduate programs and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

• Provide operational leadership and oversight of all academic programs, ensuring compliance with university policies, accreditation standards, state and federal regulations, and professional guidelines.
• Oversee budget development, financial planning, allocation, and monitoring to ensure effective stewardship of college resources and long‑term fiscal sustainability.
• Manage space, facilities, technology, and operational infrastructure to support academic programs and student services.
• Oversee course scheduling, enrollment management, program reviews, and curricular processes to ensure efficient and student‑centered academic operations.
• Review and process faculty and student petitions, grievances, and issues, exercising sound judgment and ensuring timely and equitable resolution.
• Provide leadership for the preparation of annual reports, college communications, accreditation submissions, and other required documentation.
• Develop, implement, and revise policies and procedures that enhance effectiveness, promote operational integrity, and advance the college’s mission.
• Ensure coordination and implementation of college‑wide student support initiatives, advising strategies, and student success programs.
• Oversee staff supervision, including hiring, training, delegating work, evaluating performance, and promoting professional growth.
• Ensure integration of college goals with broader university priorities and maintain accountability for achieving strategic outcomes.

• Develop and implement a long‑term strategic vision for the college that aligns with CSUB’s institutional mission and priorities in student success, equity, research excellence, and regional impact.
• Lead academic planning and program development, including creation, revitalization, or consolidation of programs to meet workforce needs and expand interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
• Strengthen assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement processes to ensure high‑quality, student‑centered outcomes across all programs.
• Advance evidence‑based strategies to enhance retention, persistence, and graduation rates, with attention to first‑generation, transfer, and underserved student populations.
• Promote innovative teaching, applied learning, community‑engaged scholarship, global and intercultural experiences, and integration of technology into pedagogical practices.
• Serve as a key participant in university‑wide academic planning, representing SSE on strategic committees and councils, and ensuring alignment with campus‑wide goals.
• Lead long‑term planning efforts with the Social Sciences & Education Dean’s Advisory Council and ensure meaningful faculty governance participation in academic decision‑making.

• Recruit, hire, and retain excellent and diverse faculty and staff committed to equity‑minded teaching, advising, scholarship, and student success.
• Foster a culture grounded in transparency, shared governance, professionalism, and inclusive decision‑making.
• Mentor and support faculty in research, creative activity, external funding efforts, and scholarly engagement, promoting the teacher‑scholar model.
• Oversee faculty evaluation, tenure, and promotion processes and ensure clear standards,…