AGB Search is pleased to assist the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions with this leadership search.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by March 5, 2026, to the AGB Search application portal at: Dean, Watts College.

Arizona State University invites applications and nominations for the next Dean of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions (Watts College).

Arizona State University seeks a visionary, dynamic, and collaborative leader to serve as the Dean of the Watts College, with responsibility for four schools: School of Community Resources and Development, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, School of Public Affairs, and School of Social Work; more than 30 research units, and numerous undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Current student enrollment in the Watts College is over 7,000 students and annual research expenditures are in excess of $34M for FY25.

The next Dean of Watts College will provide academic and administrative leadership for the College by facilitating enrollment growth and the success of in person and online student populations at the undergraduate and graduate levels aligned with the ASU Charter; catalyzing interdisciplinary research initiatives and partnerships; and engaging federal, state, community partners, alumni, and donors to grow resources in support of students and faculty. The Dean of the Watts College reports to the Executive Vice President and University Provost and is a member of the Provost’s Deans Council. The successful candidate will be an academic innovator with the ability to engage faculty, students, staff, and the wider community in envisioning 21st century models of education, research and engagement.

About ASU

Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 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.

About Watts College

Arizona State University’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is a highly ranked, comprehensive college of public service. Our four schools and over 30 research centers, offices and labs are advancing relevant educational programs and evidence-based solutions to address some of the world’s most challenging social issues.

Academic excellence and accessibility
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is home to one of the university's most inclusive learning environments — high percentages of students coming from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, students who are the first in their family to go to college and those facing high-financial need. Among our students are nearly 300 veterans, and we serve international students coming from 59 countries. Last year, we awarded over 2,500 degrees. Many of our students win local and national awards, and study concurrently in ASU's Barrett, the Honors College. We are proud to work closely with community partners to meet emerging workforce needs, and our commitment to hands-on, service learning helps prepare the next generation of public servants. Our highly ranked programs are available in person or online — we offer degrees in Arizona at ASU's Downtown Phoenix campus, ASU's West Valley campus, in Tucson and Yuma, and at the Hainan-Arizona State University International College (HAIC) in Hainan, China.

Local impact, social embeddedness
ASU is an anchor institution, vital to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Regardless of where they study, the Watts College of Public Service’s students are close to the partners we serve. Public service is a cornerstone of our academic programs, research endeavors and student experiences. We bring a spirit of experimentation and systems-level thinking to the shared challenge of creating and maintaining public goods.

Solutions-oriented research
Our research is use-inspired, integrating theoretical and applied approaches to find solutions to complex social issues. Our unique structure — expertise across a broad range of areas — complements our entrepreneurial approach. We are deeply embedded in the community, forging partnerships that take on projects with local, national and international impact.

Community for good
At Watts College, students, faculty and alumni come together to change the world for the better. We don’t just study public service. We live it. From fortifying families and neighborhoods to shaping policy and leading organizations, our people make a difference every day. We learn from one another, lift one another up and share a common purpose: to create communities where everyone can thrive.

When we work together, our impact lasts. That’s the power of a #CommunityForGood

Essential Functions

Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President and University Provost, the Dean will provide academic and administrative leadership for the Watts College, representing it inside and outside the University. The Dean must be committed to working with the Provost, the other Deans and University leaders, and the faculty to achieve University academic goals for excellence in research and learning, and to further goals for inclusion and impact. Responsibilities include budget, strategic planning, resource development, personnel decisions, student academic affairs, faculty, staff and student development, promotion of research, and planning and implementation of degree programs.

Required Qualifications

An earned doctorate in a Watts College discipline or related field;

A record of distinguished scholarly research and professional accomplishments that merits appointment as a full professor with tenure, and

Previous service in an academic leadership role (dean, department chair, associate dean, associate director or equivalent), ideally within parks, recreation, nonprofit leadership, tourism, public affairs, social work, community planning, criminal justice or other public service oriented disciplines including strategic planning, personnel management, and budgeting.

Desired Qualifications

Commitment to the ideals of ASU’s mission and Charter: access, excellence and impact, and the ability to foster an atmosphere of belonging for students, staff and faculty.

An empathetic leadership style and a commitment to a culture of transparency.

Demonstrated commitment and ability to advance the academic excellence of schools and programs, building on accomplishments and developing strategic opportunities for the future.

Experience leading curricular reform, launching new programs or centers, organizational restructuring and strategic growth, especially relevant in a college to meet changing social and fiscal challenges.

Demonstrated commitment to promoting the provision of dynamic student experiences in and out of the classroom (online, in person and hybrid modalities) that lead to success beyond the classroom and graduation.

Attuned to emerging technologies such as AI and their implications for academic as well as the professions for which students are preparing.

Experience fostering a robust research environment and supporting faculty research excellence through strengthening existing centers, identifying new opportunities, and facilitating collaboration among cross disciplinary teams.

A proven record of success in attaining federal research funding and the ability to support faculty in navigating the changing external funding landscape.

Proven record in fiscal management and resource allocation.

Commitment to engaging and supporting staff and faculty at all levels, across all career tracks, including faculty promotion, tenure, and renewal; staff career development, retention efforts, mentoring, and professional development.

Experience supervising executive and senior leaders.

Proven capacity to build and sustain relationships across sectors: academia, government, tribal nations, nonprofits, private sector, community organizations, foundations, donors, alumni, and external stakeholders.

Demonstrated ability engaging with alumni and developing relationships to foster philanthropic support.

A commitment to public service and community well-being with demonstrated success in developing partnerships and solutions to address real-world problems.

Excellent communication skills and the ability to serve as a connector and conduit for information between University leadership and the Watts College, including advocating for Watts College priorities.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by March 5, 2026, to the AGB Search application portal at: Dean, Watts College. Candidates are requested to submit the following:

1. A curriculum vitae

2. A letter of interest that addresses how the candidate's experience and qualifications connect with the required/desired qualifications and priorities as expressed in this position profile; and

3. Contact information for five references (to be contacted with candidate's permission at a later date).

Nominations and expressions of interest in the Dean, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions position are encouraged. Please direct them to ASUDeanWattsCollege@agbsearch.com or to the AGB search consultants listed below:

Kimberly Templeton, JD, Principal kimberly.templeton@agbsearch.com C: 540.761.9494

Concetta Stewart, PhD, Principal concetta.stewart@agbsearch.com C: 908.341.2178

Anne Hoffman, Executive Search Associate anne.hoffman@agbsearch.com C: 805.490.9161