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Inviting Applications and NominationsDean of the Collegeof Arts and SciencesNamed as one of the Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities for 2021 by College Consensus, FortValley State University seeks a visionary, courageous, and skilled leader to be the next DEAN OF THECOLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. The next Dean will have the opportunity to lead a strong college ofarts and sciences that is eclectic and diverse in its research, creative activity, and program offerings.Take a virtual tour of the University at fvsu.vrtoursrvr.com.VISIT FVSU.EDU TO LEARN MORE.Myers McRae Dean Search College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University1
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITYLocated in Central Georgia, FVSU is a comprehensiveinstitution offering 37 undergraduate and graduatedegree programs. One of the University System ofGeorgia’s three public historically black universities,FVSU is the state’s only 1890 Land Grant Institution.Dr. Paul A. Jones has served as President since 2015.Founded in 1895, FVSU combines the personalattention and family feel of a small, private collegewith the level of research funding found at large publicuniversities. The University’s 1,365-acre main campusin Fort Valley has the second largest acreage of anyGeorgia university.FVSU advances its mission and educational goalsthrough three academic colleges: Agriculture, FamilySciences, and Technology; Arts and Sciences; andEducation and Professional Studies. In fall 2020, theUniversity enrolled 2,827 undergraduate and graduatestudents.The diverse faculty provide a supportive, yetchallenging learning environment that encouragesinnovation and inspires lifelong learning and therealization of aspirations. Students benefit fromstrong mentoring by accessible professors. The closeknit campus community encourages personal andacademic growth and establishes lifelong ties thatextend well beyond graduation.Ninety-two percent of the student body is fromGeorgia, and nearly 64 percent of the students arefemale. More than 83 percent of the students attendthe University full-time.Myers McRae Dean Search FVSU has been recognized four consecutiveyears as the top public historically black college inGeorgia. This #1 ranking includes U.S. News andWorld Report, 2019 and 2020 Best Colleges rankings,and the Washington Monthly, 2019. In 2018, DiverseIssues in Higher Education listed FVSU as a top 10producer of African Americans with bachelor’s degreesin mathematics, engineering technology, familyand consumer sciences, computer and informationsystems, psychology, and history in the state ofGeorgia.The National Science Foundation provides morefunding for science, technology, engineering, and mathresearch at FVSU than at any other public teachingcollege in Georgia, putting it in the top 10 for NSFfunded STEM research among all colleges in the state.Fort Valley State University has produced graduateswho have literally changed the world, serving aspioneers and trailblazers in civil rights, education, lawand government, human rights, and public policy.COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCESThe College of Arts and Sciences is a center of liberalstudy, intellectual exploration, scientific advancement,and artistic expression. The College houses eightacademic departments: Behavioral and Sciences;Biology; Business Administration and Economics;Chemistry; Language and Liberal Studies; MentalHealth Counseling; Mathematics and ComputerScience; and Visual and Performing Arts and MediaStudies. Among the College’s most recent programCollege of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University2
additions are a major in Supply Chain Logistics andminors in Cybersecurity and Applied Statistics.The College is also home to the highly acclaimedCooperative Developmental Energy Program (CDEP),which has increased the number of minorities andwomen working in private and public sectors of theenergy industry. The nationally renowned programproduces engineers, geoscientists, and physiciststhrough dual degree programs.The largest academic unit of the University, theCollege serves nearly 1,700 students and offers 17majors leading to a bachelor’s degree. The facultymembers and staff of the College provide an engagedand supportive learning environment, creatingopportunities for intellectual growth and personaldevelopment.The College has established several significantpartnerships in Georgia, including Sheryl UnderwoodRadio, iHeart Radio Macon, the Grand Opera House,the Tubman Museum, and the Georgia Departmentof Family and Children Services. It also has aMemorandum of Understanding with Robins AirForce Base, the largest employer in the state; CentralGeorgia Technical College; and Georgia MilitaryCollege.For more than 15 years, the College has hostedthe Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation(LSAMP) Program. The program works to increase thenumber of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degreesawarded to populations historically underrepresentedin these disciplines.Additionally, FVSU Mathematics faculty andstudents play an important role each year in apre-college outreach program of the CooperativeDevelopmental Energy Program’s Mathematics,Myers McRae Dean Search Science, and Engineering Academy (CDEP-MSEA).The early intervention program introduces minorityand female 9th grade students to the fields ofmathematics.Through the collaboration of FVSU’s Mathematicsprogram with CDEP’s dual degree program, studentsobtain a B.S. degree in Mathematics from FVSU anda second B.S. degree in Engineering, Geosciences, orHealth Physics from Georgia Tech, the Universityof Nevada Las Vegas, Penn State University, theUniversity of Texas-Austin, the University of Texas PanAmerican, and the University of Arkansas. Studentsin the dual degree program are fully supported withscholarship funds from more than 25 collaboratingenergy companies and government sources, includingExxon Mobile, Chevron, Conoco Inc., and the U.S.Department of Energy.FVSU MissionFort Valley State University, founded in 1895, is anHBCU and 1890 Land-Grant institution providingexcellent academic programs that integrate qualityinstruction, research, extension, and student learningexperiences responsive to the needs of a culturally andeconomically diverse student population equipped toexcel in the 21st-century global community.FVSU VisionFort Valley State University aspires to be theUniversity of choice for students, faculty, staff,and future employers, recognized nationally andinternationally for its excellence in teaching, research,service, exemplary academic programs, and globallycompetitive students.College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University3
THE OPPORTUNITYThe College of Arts and Sciences is the largest ofthe three colleges within the University. Facultyprovide the core curriculum for all undergraduateprograms at FVSU. The College will require a Deanwith the leadership skills to harness the resources ofa diverse curriculum, rich history of performance,and the enthusiasm and undaunted pride of the largercommunity to chart the path towards its ambitious andbold future. This academic leader should have provenexperience in strategic planning and implementationand a commitment to student success, facultydevelopment, and program innovation.The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (Dean)is part of the academic team dedicated to supportingFVSU’s mission of meeting the higher education needsof the state, region, and nation through innovativeteaching and applied research. Reporting to theProvost and Vice President for Academic Affairs(Provost), the Dean works closely with the Deans’Council and the President’ s Cabinet to assist in themanagement of the College of Arts and Sciences.The Dean guides the direction of the Collegethrough strategic planning and leadership and servesas the College’s chief academic and administrativeofficer. The Dean is charged with ensuring theCollege’s academic programs, research, facultydevelopment, and student outcomes are of the highestquality and continue to grow. The Dean must bringadministrative acumen and nimbleness in strategicallyallocating resources to advance the College’s mission.The Dean also serves as CAS’ s chief externalrepresentative to the broader community and withother university leaders.Myers McRae Dean Search As the College looks towards the future, it seeksa courageous and savvy leader who will craft acompelling vision that leverages its diverse strengths,and manages the College organizationally andfinancially. The Dean will support faculty and staff,will be actively engaged in building communityrelationships and advocating for the College withinthe University, and will effectively build a strongcollaborative group of faculty and staff.PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Serves as a liaison between the College and the Officeof Academic Affairs. Leads the implementation of the University’s strategicplans at the college level. Works closely with the other college deans and theProvost to formulate and implement the academicobjectives of the College within the context of themission and objectives of the University. Partners with University Advancement to cultivateand steward donors as needed. Conducts annual evaluations of the work of facultymembers within the College. Provides written recommendations concerning theretention, promotion, and tenure of faculty membersto the Provost. Prepares an annual report on the progress toward theobjectives of the College and the University, includingrecommendations related to funding and futureneeds. Performs other duties as assigned by the Provost andVice President for Academic Affairs.College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University4
QUALIFICATIONSCandidate must have an earned doctorate from aregionally accredited university with a degree in adiscipline represented within the College of Artsand Sciences. Distinguished scholarly credentialsand stature appropriate for the rank of Professorin a department in the College are required.Other requirements include: Demonstrated ability to manage change Participatory management and leadership style thatencourages and values input from others Ability to lead teams to achieve established goals Proven academic leadership, administrative ability,and experience Knowledge of online/distance learning technologies Knowledgeable, or the ability to becomeknowledgeable, of the academic requirements ofacademic programs beyond those in the arts andsciences Commitment to high standards in education,research, and outreach Ability to develop and maintain productiverelationships with on- and off-campus constituencies Experience in program reviews, assessment, andspecialized accreditation An established record demonstrating the recruitmentand retention of high-quality faculty and staff Excellent oral and written communication skillswith a high level of competency related to varioustechnologies (i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint,BANNER, etc.) utilized in an academic setting Experience in budget, planning, personnel, andstudent mattersOlufunke Fontenot, Ed.D.Provost and Vice President for Academic AffairsDr. Olufunke (Funke) Fontenot has served as the Provost and Vice President forAcademic Affairs at Fort Valley State University since November 1, 2021. Shejoined FVSU in 2019 first serving as the interim Chief of Staff for the University,providing advice and counsel to the President, serving as a liaison between thePresident and other officials and critical constituencies, and managing the Officeof the President. Dr. Fontenot also ensured that projects and presidential strategicinitiatives moved forward.Dr. Fontenot brings a wealth of experience into this academic leadershipposition, with nearly 40 years in higher education. She previously served as theinterim Regional Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of SouthFlorida—St. Petersburg (USF-P). In that position, she managed an academic affairsbudget of over 36 million and had direct oversight responsibility for academicprograms, faculty hiring, development, and tenure and promotion. Prior toUSF-P, Dr. Fontenot served as Associate Provost and Associate Vice President forAcademic Affairs, and interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Albany State University. At GeorgiaCollege and State University, where she worked for 14 years, Dr. Fontenot served in multiple roles, including,Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, interim Dean of the College of Education, interim Chair of theDepartment of Government & Sociology, and interim Chair of the Department of Modern Languages & Cultures. Dr.Fontenot was a tenured full professor of criminal justice at Georgia College and State University and Albany StateUniversity. She also served in numerous leadership positions at Savannah State University and Claflin College.Fontenot received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University),Ile-Ife, a licensure to practice law from the Nigerian Law School, a Master of Letters in Law degree from CambridgeUniversity (Cambridge, England), a Master of Law degree from Yale Law School (international law), and a Doctor ofEducation degree in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania.Dr. Fontenot has served on the boards of several nonprofit and educational organizations, including the SavannahChapter of American Red Cross.Myers McRae Dean Search College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University5
Metropolitan Central GeorgiaFort Valley State University is in the Central Georgia metropolitan area, which encompasses the state’s fourthlargest city, Macon, as well as several growing cities and progressive small towns. Other features of the areainclude Robins Air Force Base, one of the state’s largest employers; the #11 rated public school in Georgia, theAcademy of Classical Education, and the nationally recognized Houston County School System; and outstandinghealthcare along with the second largest hospital in Georgia.Central Georgia offers endless activity opportunities for families and individuals alike. A wide range of fine andcasual dining, live music venues, festivals, water parks, golf courses, museums, historical sites, farmer’s markets,touring Broadway shows, kayaking, indoor rock climbing, and more provide an appealing quality of life.The City of Fort Valley has been honored as one of 10 Georgia “Cities of Excellence,”and it isconsidered one of the state’s “best managed and most livable cities.” It offers tree-lined streetsand beautiful historic homes and boasts a cost of living below the state and national average.Beyond the Metro Central Georgia area, Atlanta, one of the nation’s largest cities, andHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are easily accessible by I-75. If looking for timeat the beach or enjoying the cool mountain air, the Georgia coastline or Blue Ridge Mountainsare only a three-hour drive away.APPLICATION & NOMINATION PROCESSConfidential applications/inquiries are welcomed, and nominations are invited.Applications1) Application packet must include:a) A letter of interest that addresses the responsibilitiesand qualifications of the positionb) C urrent curriculum vitaec) At least four references with full contact informationincluding e-mails (References will not be contactedwithout consent from applicant.)2) Submit application packet (preferably as PDFs) toFVSU-CAS22@myersmcrae.comAdditional information will be requested upon receiptof application.For best consideration, submit application packetby March 14, 2022.NominationsSubmit nominations to:FVSU-CAS22-nominate@myersmcrae.comwith complete contact and e-mail information forthe individual being nominated.Jennifer Barfield, Senior Vice President, andEmily Parker Myers, CEO, of Myers McRaeExecutive Search and Consulting, are assistingFort Valley State University with this search.(478) 330-6222MyersMcRae.comFort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, oremployees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.Myers McRae Dean Search College of Arts and Sciences at Fort Valley State University6
American, and the University of Arkansas. Students in the dual degree program are fully supported with scholarship funds from more than 25 collaborating energy companies and government sources, including Exxon Mobile, Chevron, Conoco Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy. FVSU Mission Fort Valley State University, founded in 1895, is an
