Director of the School of Applied Professional Studies and Professor AY 2027-28
Announcement of Vacancy
Campus: Polytechnic campus
Job # 191680
Position Description
The College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for the position of Director of the School of Applied Professional Studies (SAPS), a senior academic leadership opportunity for an accomplished, forward-thinking scholar, educator, and leader whose academic accomplishments merit appointment as Professor with tenure.
The Director of the School of Applied Professional Studies advances the Schools mission through collaborative leadership across ASUs Polytechnic and Tempe campuses, as well as ASU Online. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, the Director will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership to CISAs most career-connected and professionally oriented school. The Director works in partnership with faculty, staff, program leaders, and university colleagues to strengthen academic quality, support faculty success, design, sustain, and enhance programs, and advance student learning and success. This is an opportunity to lead a dynamic academic unit at the forefront of interdisciplinary and professional education.
Arizona State Universitys School of Applied Professional Studies serves more than 2,500 students through 18 undergraduate and graduate degrees, preparing them to lead, communicate, design, research, and manage in complex professional environments. Its programs span organizational leadership, project management, technical communication, user experience, professional studies, applied science, communication, and military and veterans studies, all connected by a shared emphasis on adaptability, collaboration, ethical judgment, inquiry, and applied problem-solving. Through interdisciplinary coursework, research-informed practice, and hands-on learning, students develop the ability to understand people and organizations, translate ideas into action, manage projects and teams, communicate effectively, and design better experiences, preparing them for leadership across a wide range of evolving careers.
Prospective candidates are invited to visit the Search Profile for additional information about the school and this opportunity.
This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, 12-month faculty appointment. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027, with the potential for an earlier start date in January 2027. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. This position requires physical presence on one of ASUs campuses in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
About the School of Applied Professional Studies
The School of Applied Professional Studies is where career-connected learning, industry-focused education, and academic innovation intersect. Its programs are designed for learners seeking to complete bachelor’s degrees, transition from associate degrees, pursue graduate study, earn specialized certificates, or move into new professional pathways.
Guided by ASU’s distinguished faculty, who have earned recognition both nationally and internationally, and in collaboration with industry and educational allies, our comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate offerings, as well as certificate and non-degree workforce development initiatives, provide opportunities for personal development, career mobility, and the advancement of knowledge.
This is a school with a compelling mission, strong academic foundation, and significant opportunity for
continued growth, visibility, and impact.
To learn more about the School of Applied Professional Studies, please visit
https://cisa.asu.edu/school-of-applied-professional-studies.
About the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts
ASU’s College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) seeks student-centered faculty who engage students in practical, interdisciplinary learning, and demonstrate a commitment to community engaged scholarship and service. Faculty in CISA are innovators in teaching and learning, preparing students to lead with purpose and make meaningful contributions in a dynamic world.
CISA is a leader in applied and career-connected learning, with continuous innovation in teaching, curriculum development, veteran initiatives, and AI integration. CISA has more than 9,500 students at all levels and 370+ faculty members with 87 programs across three campuses and online. We understand there are many paths to achieving a university education. We build degree programs and pathways that are flexible and relevant, providing opportunities for students to discover their passion, develop lifelong transferable skills, and enjoy employment success. CISA is committed to ASUs Charter of inclusive excellence, access, and impact, where all faculty, staff, and students can thrive.
Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 Most Innovative School in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 12 years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Repeatedly ranked No. 1, ASU has topped more than 30 lists in the last three years: No. 1 in the U.S. for global impact (Times Higher Education) and No. 1 in the U.S. for sustainable practices (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines.
Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest-quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations.
To learn more about ASU and the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts visit http://about.asu.edu/
and http://cisa.asu.edu.
Essential Functions
The Director of the School of Applied Professional Studies will:
1. Lead the operational, academic, financial, and personnel aspects of the School with a vision
that resonates with ASUs Charter and Design Aspirations for the New American University.
2. Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, program leaders, college and university partners to
advance curricular innovation, student success, and academic quality.
3. Foster faculty and staff success.
4. Represent and advocate for the school within CISA, across ASU, and with external partners
through community engagement, fundraising, outreach, and partnership development.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D., Ed.D., or terminal degree.
Record of scholarly, teaching, and service excellence warranting appointment as Professor with
tenure at ASU.
Evidence of successful academic administrative leadership at the level of Department Chair,
School Director, Associate Dean, or equivalent.
Desired Qualifications
We welcome applications from candidates whose experiences and aspirations align with the Schools
mission and future direction. Competitive candidates may demonstrate some or all of the following:
1. Evidence of alignment with ASUs Charter and Design Aspirations, especially commitments to
access, excellence, inclusion, student success, and public impact.
2. A record of collaborative decision-making.
3. A record of adaptive leadership responsive to technological, social, workforce, and higher
education change.
4. Experience creating, strengthening, managing, or securing funding for applied, experiential,
career-connected, workforce-oriented, or industry-partnered learning initiatives.
5. Evidence of meaningful support for faculty and staff development, advocacy, mentoring,
recognition, and career advancement.
6. A record of advancing student success across a variety of learning environments.
7. An active research or scholarly agenda in an area that complements the Schools existing
strengths.
Application Instructions
To apply, candidates must submit the following materials electronically through Interfolio
(https://apply.interfolio.com/193370):
1. A letter of interest that:
o Describes (a) the breadth of experience that will contribute to leading the school; and
(b) how the ASU Charter and Design Aspirations are reflected in past work and future
plans.
o Provides a statement on leadership philosophy that addresses the needs of faculty,
staff, and students.
o Describes your scholarly research agenda.
2. Current curriculum vitae.
3. Information for three professional references (name, organization, position title, e-mail, phone
number).
The initial application deadline is October 30, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order received until the position is filled. If you have position-related questions, please contact Vanessa Fonseca-Chavez at vfonseca@asu.edu. For application process-related questions, please contact Lindsay Rij at Lindsay.Rij@asu.edu.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Official transcripts are required prior to employment.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
A background check is required for employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran
status, or any other basis protected by law.
See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.
In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASUs Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf.
You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.
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