Reporting Official: Board of Trustees of Southern Arkansas University

Overview:

Southern Arkansas University seeks a visionary President with the professional background and the personal strengths to continue the growth and achievements of the University System in this era of change and opportunity in higher education.

The Southern Arkansas University System is comprised of two independent campuses: Southern Arkansas University, a regional comprehensive university, and SAU-Tech, a comprehensive two-year institution. The System President serves as chief operating officer of the Southern Arkansas University campus in Magnolia, and the SAU-Tech Chancellor reports to the President.

Responsibilities:

Provide visionary leadership and general management to SAU’s campuses.
Promote academic excellence, scholarly activity, and innovation across all disciplines.
Oversee responsible financial management, ensuring sustainable growth and resource allocation.
Provide vision and leadership for University Advancement initiatives, including an upcoming comprehensive institutional advancement campaign.
Strengthen international partnerships and collaborations, enhancing SAU’s global footprint.
Forge and nurture bipartisan relationships with local, state, and national government leaders, advancing SAU’s agenda and securing support for its mission.
Engage intentionally with the community, building partnerships that enrich the University and its surrounding region.
Lead strategic planning initiatives, positioning SAU for future success.
Lead efforts to recruit students, enhance the student experience, and promote student success.
Provide direct supervision to the SAU-Tech Chancellor, physical plant, and intercollegiate athletics (SAU is a member of the NCAA Division II and the Great American Conference).
Encourage data-informed, transparent decision-making processes across administrative and academic units.
Be highly visible and approachable, fostering an environment of shared governance and open dialogue across all University stakeholders.

Qualifications:

Doctoral degree from an accredited university

Minimum of five years of experience in senior leadership within higher education, demonstrating a track record of innovation and excellence.

Demonstrated record of teaching excellence and scholarly activity.
Experience with accrediting agencies.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to advocate for the vision and mission of SAU to various stakeholders.
Demonstrated success in raising funds, managing university finances, and enhancing institutional profiles.
Proven ability to work effectively within the political landscape, advocating for the university’s interests.
Strong commitment to academic freedom, institutional integrity, and the role of SAU in serving as a regional comprehensive university system.

Characteristics:

A visionary and thoughtful leader with ambitious goals for SAU.
Demonstrates personal integrity and promotes a culture of trust through shared governance, transparency, and ethical decision-making.
A champion for academic freedom, community engagement, and student success.
An excellent communicator who will be able to rally support and foster pride within and beyond the University community.
Values the tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and cultures arising from a campus community that is multi-ethnic, international, and richly varied.
Dedicated to fostering a sense of family and belonging, ensuring SAU remains a nurturing environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
All SAU faculty and staff demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and diversity of the University community and excellence in interpersonal behaviors and effective collaboration with colleagues. Joining the SAU family requires a commitment to our culture of Continuous Quality Improvement.

Application and Nomination Process:

Application packet must include the following:

Detailed cover letter addressing the duties and qualifications
Current curriculum vitae
Complete contact information (names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers) of five references (These references will not be contacted without the applicant’s consent). Non-listed references may be contacted at the final stages of the search after consent is received from the candidate.

For best consideration, submit application materials to presidentialsearch@saumag.edu by April 1, 2024. The search continues until the position is filled. If there are any technical difficulties with submission call the SAU IT helpdesk at 870-235-4083.

Information about the position may be obtained at https://web.saumag.edu/presidential-search/.

All applications are public information under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Inquiries about the position may be made to:

Roger Giles, Vice President for Administration
(870)235-4008
rwgiles@saumag.edu

Nominations: Submit nominations to presidentialsearch@saumag.edu or at https://web.saumag.edu/presidential-search/ with complete contact and e-mail information for the nominated individual.

About the Southern Arkansas University System Institutions

Southern Arkansas University is a quality, comprehensive, regional university in Magnolia, AR. SAU provides quality four-year undergraduate programs offering baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, master’s degrees, and a doctoral degree. SAU is a member of the NCAA Division II and Great American Conference. Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, Arkansas, with a population of 11,162. Magnolia is approximately 55 miles east of Texarkana, 80 miles northeast of Shreveport, and 140 miles south of Little Rock. Magnolia is in the heart of an agri-business, industrial, timber, and oil-producing area. In fall 2023, SAU’s total enrollment was 5,127. More information about SAU can be found at http://www.saumag.edu.

Southern Arkansas University Tech is located in East Camden, AR. It is a two-year comprehensive college specializing in technical training and offers the first two years of a university transfer program. SAU Tech is a two-year public college founded in 1968 and today has an average enrollment of over 1,800 students. SAU Tech offers NJCAA men’s and women’s basketball, softball, and baseball and provides students with housing options and full student life. Cheerleading, the Tech Scholars Program, and the Tech Choir are all options for SAU Tech’s students. SAU Tech employs around 160 staff and faculty and is located inside Highland Industrial Park in East Camden, Arkansas. SAU Tech operates under the governance of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Arkansas University System. More information on SAU-Tech can be found at http://www.sautech.edu.