Associate Dean of Education and Program Director

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University invites applications for a combined academic leadership role serving as Associate Dean of Education (50%) and Program Director (50%). The Program Director role may include SPED MA program or BA/MA Elementary Education program.

• Provide vision and direction for Bethel’s education programs, ensuring high-quality curriculum, assessment, and student learning outcomes.
• Serve as the unit leader for teacher education programs.
• Champion inclusive excellence and culturally responsive teaching and learning.
• Lead assigned academic programs in alignment with Bethel’s mission and strategic priorities.

• Supervise and support program directors, department chairs, and teams focused on licensure, placements, partnerships, and data.
• Lead department faculty and staff hiring, development, and retention, fostering a healthy, collaborative, and mission-aligned culture.
• Actively advance efforts to build and sustain a diverse department.
• Oversee and advocate for program budgets and resources across education programs.
• Navigate and resolve complex faculty and student issues with wisdom, care, and confidentiality.

• Coordinate and oversee state accreditation and reporting processes to ensure programs remain in good standing, including:
• • Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB)
  • Board of School Administrators (BOSA)
• Serve as an institutional representative for assigned programs with accrediting bodies and regulatory partners.

• Represent Bethel’s education programs with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead residency-based or clinically focused preparation programs in close partnership with PK–12 schools and educational organizations.

• Partner with admissions, marketing, program leaders, and student success teams to support enrollment growth, retention, and timely student completion.

• Minimum 5 years of college-level teaching experience, preferably at the rank of Associate Professor or higher
• At least 3 years of significant academic leadership experience, preferably including:
• • Department chair or program director roles
  • Hiring, developing, and retaining diverse faculty and students
  • Successfully achieving and maintaining accreditation
• Experience within PK–12 systems and/or PK–12–higher education partnerships
• Experience with residency, apprenticeship, or clinically based programs (preferred)
• Demonstrate evidence of a strong commitment to quality working relationships, exhibiting warmth, excellence, and Christ-like behavior in performance of their work
• Experience managing budgets and hiring personnel
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Familiarity with learning management systems (e.g., Moodle, Blackboard, eCollege) preferred
• Evidence of Christ-like leadership marked by warmth, integrity, excellence, and collaboration

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments.  As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. Please be aware that, due to specific legal and operational considerations, we are unable to consider applicants who live in and work from the following states: AK, CA, CO, CT, Washington DC, HI, IL, IN, MA, MD, MT, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VT, and WA. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. 

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.