Texas Woman’s University (TWU) invites applications and nominations for an innovative, experienced leader to serve as the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Now is a particularly exciting time. The university has achieved extraordinary accolades in academics, discovery, and service, is embarking on an unprecedented comprehensive capital campaign, is poised to significantly grow its healthcare programming, and is adding an aviation school to address a glaring commercial pilot shortage. Just two years ago, the Texas Legislature established the Texas Woman’s University System as the first university system in the nation with a woman-focused mission. The Provost is responsible for advancing the university’s curriculum, providing leadership for the faculty, overseeing research, and developing strategic, innovative programs that complement Texas Woman’s mission and strengths. The provost will report to the position of chancellor and president, held by Carine M. Feyten, PhD, and will serve on her cabinet.
For a copy of the full Prospectus, click TWU EVP and Provost
Founded in 1901 as a women’s college, the university has grown its mission of serving marginalized populations in higher education over the past 120-plus years. For four consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report recognized TWU — a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution — as having one of the top five most ethnically diverse student bodies in the nation, and in 2023 ranked the university among the nation’s best for social mobility. Additionally, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal recognized the university as a top pick in 2023, and the Wall Street Journal ranked the university 7th in the nation for overall student experience. Also in 2023, Texas Woman’s earned the coveted Seal of Excelencia, a certification that demonstrates a university’s commitment to accelerating Latino student success. Less than 1% of colleges and universities have earned this distinction.
The nation’s largest woman-focused university system, TWU produces leaders in the fields of education, the arts, sciences, business, nursing, and the health professions. Students have described their experience on the picturesque, flagship Denton campus as “a private feel at a public cost.” It is the only public, general academic university in Texas to offer doctoral degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, dance and multicultural women’s and gender studies. Men account for about 10% of the student population.
Since becoming a system in 2021, the university plans to form independent universities for its health science centers in Houston and Dallas. Denton, just north of the DFW area, is consistently named one of the nation’s best college towns, and Dallas and Houston have world-class museums, performing art centers, entertainment districts and professional and collegiate sports venues. As a whole, the university has a $1.8 billion annual economic impact on the state.
The College of Arts and Sciences, with more than 3,700 students, is the largest of the five colleges at Texas Woman’s. It offers most of its programs on the Denton campus. The areas of studies include arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. The College of Health Sciences offers programs in Denton, Dallas, and Houston as well as online. Its academic programs include occupational therapy, physical therapy, communication sciences, dental hygiene, health studies, kinesiology, and nutrition and food sciences. The College of Nursing offers programs on all three campuses, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. The College of Professional Education includes programs in library and information sciences, family sciences, teacher education, and reading. The College of Business offers programs in accounting, business administration, finance, management, human resource management, marketing, and healthcare administration. It offers innovative seven-week terms.
Texas Woman’s faculty and staff are steadfast advocates of an experiential teaching and learning environment where students engage in campus, workplace, and community activities that can help shape their sense of purpose, their appreciation for building meaningful personal and professional relationships, and their tenacity to overcome life’s challenges.
Texas Woman’s approach to research is unique. They focus on the changes that research can make in everyday lives — how community challenges can be addressed, business problems can be solved, and quality of life can be improved. In workplaces, hospitals, schools and communities, their research is put to practical use every day.
As a Carnegie-classified doctoral research university, TWU encourages undergraduate and graduate students to actively participate in faculty-led research — whether it’s developing programs to reduce violence against women, working with veterans and their families, expanding access for children with autism or identifying more effective ways to treat cancer cells. From basic to applied research, their faculty and students focus on finding innovative ways to solve problems at state, national and international levels.
Texas Woman’s takes a student-focused approach. They have created a learn-by-doing culture across all disciplines that encourages student engagement, fosters discovery, and promotes leadership at all levels. Students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and discover talents and skills they might have otherwise overlooked. Through a myriad of activities, organizations, leadership opportunities and a dedicated network of support services, students take part in a transformational process that encourages them to be lifelong learners, passionately engaged with their communities, devoted to service, and committed to a lifestyle of health and wellbeing.
Leadership Opportunities for the Provost includes:
- Academic Leadership and Excellence
- Faculty Development
- Strategic Planning and Vision Alignment
- Budget and Resource Management for Sustainability
- Research, Innovation, and Technology Integration
- Foster Student Success
- External Relations and Partnerships
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Serving as the Chief Executive Officer in the absence of the Chancellor and President
- Serving on the Chancellors cabinet, participating in strategy development, and establishment of policies for the institution
- Maintaining a visible and transparent profile on all campuses and with external constituencies and engaging actively with the faculty, staff, and student communities
- Providing visionary leadership for academic programs, academic policy, curriculum, budget allocation, strategic planning, academic planning, and research and outreach programs
- Overseeing faculty and academic staff recruitment and development activitie
- Providing advisory recommendations to the Chancellor and President on all academic appointments, tenure, and promotion matters, and ensuring that such processes comply with the terms of faculty agreements
- Providing academic input to institutional enrollment management efforts
- Coordinating periodic academic program reviews, accreditation, and working with deans and chairs in the review, study, and development of the curriculum and in the improvement of instruction
- In concert with the Chancellor and President, exploring and developing additional revenue streams to contribute to the academic programs of the University
- Developing and maintaining productive relationships with external constituencies, government agencies, corporate partners, alumni, donors, advisory board members, and other stakeholders
- Working in close cooperation with the academic Senate and other faculty governments bodies
- Collaborating effectively and collegially with all departments in the university
Required Qualifications:
- An earned doctorate and academic credentials that merit full professor and tenure in one of the university’s academic units
- Demonstrated academic affairs supervisory experience at the level of dean of a college or school or above
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated experience in improving academic excellence and student success outcomes (enrollment, persistence, graduation rates, sense of belonging) and an understanding of associated best practices
- Experience with developing innovative academic curricula and programs at the undergraduate and graduate level
- Data-driven and outcomes-oriented
- Evidence of outstanding organizational, interpersonal, and advocacy skills
- Evidence and commitment to open and transparent governance that includes actively sharing information with the campus community as well as implementing processes that ensure transparency
- Experience with institutional or academic unit-level accreditation processes
- Experience allocating resources across departments and programs to support academic and research priorities
- Success in cultivating and expanding community and business partnerships
- Innovative, entrepreneurial, and opportunity-focused
- Ability to balance entrepreneurial approaches to educational markets with academic rigor and student satisfaction
Nominations and Expressions of Interest:
Anthem Executive is pleased to assist Texas Woman’s with this national search. To express interest, you are requested to submit the following:
A letter of interest stating how your experience is applicable to the position and its opportunities, responsibilities, and requirements expressed in the leadership profile; a curriculum vitae or resume; and five professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers. (References will not be contacted without your prior authorization.)
While letters of interest may be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible to assure full consideration. Anthem and the University reserve the right to end or extend the expression of interest, application, and nomination process at any time. Expressing interest is the first step in receiving consideration and does not make one an applicant for the position.
Materials should be submitted electronically to:
Nominations are also encouraged and should be directed to:
Texas Woman’s University, an AA/EEO employer, supports diversity. Men and women, and members of all racial and ethnic groups, are encouraged to apply. All offers of employment will be contingent on the candidate’s ability to provide documents which establish proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. All positions at Texas Woman’s University are deemed security sensitive requiring background checks and verification of all academic credentials.