Description
Dean, Eriksson College of Education
Austin Peay State University invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations for the role of Dean of the Eriksson College of Education. The University seeks a forward-thinking educator and administrator who is passionate about preparing the next generation of teachers, leaders, and change agents across Tennessee’s education landscape and beyond. The new Dean will join Tennessee’s fastest-growing public university and have the opportunity to build upon Austin Peay’s positive momentum as a leading institution in the region.
Located in Clarksville, Tennessee, Austin Peay State University (APSU) is a thriving campus serving more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students, marking its largest enrollment year in Fall 2025. APSU is classified as a Master’s Large Research institution by the Carnegie Foundation, offering doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s, and associate programs, with many programs offered fully online. Austin Peay also serves as a hallmark institution in its service to first-generation students, making up nearly 40 percent of the University’s enrollment, and its commitment to access and pathways to high-quality education for all. Austin Peay has a strong relationship with the United States military and is one of only two universities with its own facility on an Army installation – at Fort Campbell – which serves more military-affiliated students than any other university in Tennessee, currently comprising over 30 percent of APSU’s total student body.
Austin Peay is known as a hub for academic excellence in the region, dedicated to fostering intellectual development, civic responsibility, community engagement, and creative expression through its student-centered approach to education, robust academic programs, and an exceptional faculty and staff. The University is composed of seven distinct colleges: College of Arts and Letters (CoAL), College of Behavioral and Health Sciences (CoBHS), College of Business (CoB), Eriksson College of Education (ECoE), College of Graduate Studies (CoGS), College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CoSTEM), and University College.
Austin Peay lays claim to more than 1,600 faculty and staff. The more than 680 faculty (full- and part-time) are known for their dedication to teaching, student growth and development, mentoring, scholarship, and service. Over 900 (full- and part-time) staff members partner in the academic enterprise and embrace their roles as co-educators. The student-faculty ratio is 14:1, and the average undergraduate class size is 24 students.
With a population of more than 189,000, Clarksville is Tennessee’s fifth-largest city and is located just 45 minutes from Nashville, along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. It is one of the fastest-growing and youngest cities in the country and has been highlighted for its business-friendly ecosystem with talent attraction, relocation appeal, and an engaged community investment climate. As of 2024, Clarksville has been ranked among the top 4 “Cities Where Millennials Are Buying Homes” by REALTOR.com, was recognized in “The South’s Best Cities on the Rise” by Southern Living and was named “No. 1 Best Place to Live” in 2019 by Money magazine.
The Martha Dickerson Eriksson College of Education (ECoE) is a nationally recognized educator-preparation college at Austin Peay, serving more than 800 undergraduate and graduate students seeking undergraduate educator concentrations and teaching licensure, master’s, and doctoral degrees across education and leadership disciplines. The College prepares dynamic teachers and educational leaders to positively impact communities and schools in the 21st century by modeling reflective practices and connecting theory to student-centered learning.
Across two departments, the ECoE offers comprehensive preparation for aspiring students seeking teaching and educational leadership careers, the Department of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Educational Specialties. ECoE has seen strong enrollment growth, with graduate enrollment up over 44 percent across the past two years and undergraduate teacher-certificate pathways increasing by over 11 percent. Students are taught by more than 30 full-time faculty and 20 part-time instructors and lecturers and supported by 10 staff members who embrace their roles as co-educators and share a deep commitment to student success. Over the past five years, the College has been awarded in excess of $3.8 million in research funding, and the faculty continue to be exceptional in their scholarly pursuits. In 2018, the College launched the nation’s first registered teacher apprenticeship, Grow Your Own Teacher Residency, which was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2022, making Austin Peay’s ECoE a national leader in equipping students to become successful teachers and working with school districts to address teacher shortages. Through the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), the College is nationally accredited for ensuring excellence in teacher preparation and educational leadership programs.
Reporting to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the Eriksson College of Education (ECoE) is the chief executive officer for the College, responsible for providing visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the College’s academic initiatives, programs, and services, and ensure alignment with the goals of the University’s strategic plan and institutional priorities. The Dean manages an operating budget of over $6 million and oversees a talented team of leaders including the Associate Dean of Assessment and Accreditation, the Associate Dean of Recruitment and Partnerships, two Departments Chairs, the Director of Teacher Education and Partnerships, the Director of Full Spectrum Learning, and the Director of Communications for the College.
The Dean will have the opportunity to develop and implement a comprehensive vision and strategy for ECoE that strengthens the impacts of educator and leadership preparation in a rapidly evolving educational and technological landscape. The Dean will lead efforts to align financial priorities with the College’s needs, foster data-informed decision making, and cultivate solutions to strengthen operational resiliency and opportunities for innovation. The Dean will provide strategic guidance to student recruitment and enrollment management that focuses on attracting, retaining, and graduating future educators and leaders who are prepared to meet the needs of Tennessee’s and the nation’s educator and leadership workforce. The new Dean will be a visible and engaged leader who embraces the opportunity to build and deepen relationships with educational institutions, non-profits, and community and government agencies to bring resources, partnerships, and new collaborations to the College and its programming.
The ideal candidate for the role of Dean of the Eriksson College of Education will be a visionary leader with a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges facing higher education, particularly in the context of teacher preparation and educational leadership. The Dean will be a leader with a distinguished academic record, who commands the respect of the scholarly community across education and/or leadership pedagogies, and merits appointment as a tenured professor at Austin Peay.
A doctoral degree is required, along with the earned rank of Professor with tenure. A minimum of five years of academic administrative experience is required, along with preferred experience at the Dean, Associate Dean, or Department Chair level.
The successful candidate will bring significant academic administrative experience across complex institutions like Austin Peay, including experience with undergraduate and graduate education. The ideal candidate will bring experience with service to public institutions and be a leader inspired by Austin Peay’s significant contributions as a member of Tennessee’s public higher education system. The next Dean of ECoE will bring to the position a highly relational approach, outstanding communication skills, authenticity, self-confidence balanced with humility, integrity of the highest order, a strong work ethic, and a clear understanding of the modern university.
The full leadership profile is located here: https://dsgco.com/search/22615-austin-peay-state-university-dean-of-the-eriksson-college-of-education
This is a full-time position to be performed on site in Clarksville, Tennessee. Salary is competitive, commensurate with experience, and accompanied by a generous benefits package.
Nominations and applications should be submitted electronically as soon as possible. The Austin Peay Dean of ECoE Search Committee will begin to evaluate applications in December 2025. Although applications will be welcomed until the time a new Dean is selected, candidates should submit materials by Monday, December 1st, 2025, to ensure full consideration. DSG Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, led by Julie Tea, Managing Director, and Kate Phillips, Senior Associate. Submit a compelling cover letter and CV/resume by filling out our Talent Profile here: Austin Peay Dean of the Eriksson College of Education. For nominations and inquiries, please contact: APSUEdDean@dsgco.com. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Austin Peay State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs, and activities sponsored by APSU. Policy 6:001
