Dean of Faculty, Wesley Seminary

POSITION SUMMARY

The Dean of the Faculty serves as the chief academic and faculty leader of Wesley Seminary, providing vision, leadership, and oversight for academic quality, faculty development, curriculum, and program innovation. The Dean partners closely with the EVP, the Chief Academic Officer (CAO), and the Director of Academic Services to ensure that the Seminary’s academic programs are missionally grounded, academically rigorous, innovative, and responsive to the needs of the global Church and Christian community, with special emphasis on the Wesleyan denomination and the broader Wesleyan-Arminian tradition.

This role is primarily academic and strategic, with a focus on people, programs, and educational excellence. The Dean shares responsibility for academic innovation, institutional representation, and academic partnerships while collaborating cross-functionally to support the Seminary’s broader mission and strategic priorities.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP

The Dean of the Faculty reports to the Executive Vice President of Wesley Seminary. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Essential duties and responsibilities of the position include the following:

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Provide leadership for a healthy, collaborative, and mission-centered faculty culture.
• Oversee faculty recruitment, hiring, mentoring, evaluation, promotion, and annual reviews.
• Encourage faculty growth in teaching excellence, scholarship, and professional development.
• Support faculty spiritual formation and missional engagement.
• Lead faculty meetings and facilitate shared governance processes.
• Collaborate with recruitment leadership to utilize faculty at strategic points in the recruitment process.

Academic Quality and Curriculum Oversight

• Provide oversight for curriculum development, review, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure academic programs meet graduate theological education standards and reflect Wesley Seminary’s mission and theological commitments.
• Lead program assessment processes in collaboration with the faculty and Academic Services.
• Support innovative teaching practices and pedagogical excellence.

Program Innovation and Development 

• In coordination with the CAO and in partnership with the EVP, identify, design, and launch new academic programs, credentials, and delivery models to drive enrollment growth and meet the ministry's evolving needs.
• Encourage faculty participation in program innovation and emerging ministry needs.
• Provide academic leadership in shaping proposals for new programs and program modifications.

Academic Strategy and Planning

• Serve as a key contributor to Seminary-wide academic strategy and long-term planning.
• Advise the EVP on academic trends, faculty capacity, and strategic opportunities.
• Participate in decisions and activities related to program growth, consolidation, or closure.

Institutional Representation 

• Represent Wesley Seminary in denominational, church, and selected external academic contexts where academic leadership and faculty voice are essential and can contribute to enrollment.
• Serve as an ambassador for the Seminary’s academic vision and mission in collaboration with the EVP, CAO, and the VP of Enrollment.

Academic Partnerships 

• Assist in cultivating and sustaining academic partnerships with seminaries, universities, churches, and ministry organizations.
• Provide academic oversight and faculty engagement for partnership initiatives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to ensure partnerships are academically sound and missionally aligned.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Academic Services to ensure strong alignment between academic vision and academic operations.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Advancement, Learning Innovation, IT, and University partners to support student success, enrollment growth, and program sustainability.
• Serve as a bridge between faculty and administrative teams, ensuring effective communication and integration of academic priorities.

Accreditation Support (Academic Leadership Role)

• In collaboration with the CAO (responsible for accreditation execution and reporting), provide academic leadership and faculty oversight for accreditation processes (ATS, HLC, and related bodies).
• Review and validate academic components of accreditation reports.
• Prepare faculty for accreditation visits and evaluations.

Teaching and Scholarship

• Teach in areas of expertise as appropriate (typically limited to 1–2 courses annually).
• Maintain scholarly engagement consistent with faculty rank and Seminary expectations.

Other Responsibilities

• Fulfill additional academic leadership responsibilities as assigned by the EVP, consistent with the scope and purpose of the role.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

Provide leadership and supervision to any part-time or full-time:

• Faculty
• Assistant Dean 
• Academic Program Directors
• Faculty Administrative Assistant

QUALIFICATIONS

According to Indiana Wesleyan University’s employment policy, all employees must possess a strong Christian commitment and adhere to the standards outlined in the IWU Community Lifestyle Statement.

Education 

• Terminal degree (Ph.D., Th.D., Ed.D., D.Min., or equivalent) in theology, ministry, religious studies, or a closely related field.

Experience

• Demonstrated excellence in teaching at the graduate level.
• Academic leadership experience (e.g., Program Director, Department Chair, Associate Dean, or equivalent).
• Experience in curriculum development and program assessment.
• Familiarity with ATS standards and theological education accreditation.

Personal and Professional Qualities

• Deep Christian faith aligned with the mission and values of Wesley Seminary and The Wesleyan Church.
• Collaborative, relational, and servant-hearted leadership style.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Commitment to Kingdom diversity, global Christianity, and accessible theological education.
• Visionary and innovative mindset balanced with academic rigor and integrity.