Stephen F. Austin State University - Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Applied Business

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

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 Entrepreneurship and Applied Business serves approximately 767 students and, when fully staffed, includes 18 faculty and one staff member. Its interdisciplinary portfolio spans entrepreneurship, applied business, hospitality, sports business, and business communication. Entrepreneurship is an area of particular momentum at SFA: in 2026, the University’s entrepreneurship academic program and Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship were named the nation’s top emerging entrepreneurship program by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The University is investing further in this growing entrepreneurship ecosystem through the new $40 million Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship, a state-of-the-art facility designed to support innovation, collaboration, experiential learning, and engagement with the business community. The next Chair will have a distinctive opportunity to help shape the Department’s direction and identity, strengthen connections across its academic areas, and expand experiential learning and external partnerships.

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

• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and other constituents. 
• 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. 
• 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

• Prior academic leadership experience, specifically experience that includes faculty, administrative, and budgetary matters. 
• Experience working and collaborating within a cross/multidisciplinary academic environment. 
• Experience in developing and growing academic programs, curricula, and/or courses. 
• Experience in promoting student success, specifically in experiential learning, industry interactions, and other extracurricular learning activities. 
• Experience in developing external funding (including grants and fundraising) for both faculty development and academic programming. 

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 SFAChairEntre@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.