Director of Kelley Center

Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota invites applications for the full-time, twelve-month position of Director of the University’s Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship. This is a faculty position that carries significant course release time for overseeing the Center’s portfolio of responsibilities.

As the Kelley Center approaches the twentieth anniversary of its founding, the new director is challenged with continuing to realize a bolder and more expansive vision for the Center. This vision includes embracing and advocating for an understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship that is both expansive and inclusive, and that impacts not only the university community, but the Great Plains region as well. The start date is flexible, but no later than August 16, 2023. Rank and salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The university’s new School of Business, Innovation and Leadership opened on campus in the spring of 2022. The new building offers state-of-the-art technology to enhance teaching and learning. The DWU Business program has been redesigned to offer students a highly relevant, project-oriented curriculum and the business faculty have emerged as leaders in piloting new student learning environments. A spirit of entrepreneurial thinking permeates the business program and the broader university community. The Director of the Center will work collaboratively with the business program where the agendas and programming of the Center and the business program align but will also pursue an agenda that transcends the business program.

The successful candidate will:

Hold a graduate degree (or the equivalent—with a possible exception for individuals with extensive, successful, documented professional experience).
Have relevant, successful, professional experience working in one or more business environments.
Have an expansive understanding of innovation and problem solving and recognize the importance of creative thinking across a wide variety academic disciplines and human endeavors.
Embrace the opportunity to work collaboratively with the university’s undergraduate business programs (both on campus and at remote locations) and the university’s McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service.
Have experience in business development.
Have taught successfully, preferably at the college level, or have comparable communication/sales experience that promises to translate effectively into the teaching environment.
Have experience with curriculum design, ideally in both higher ed and business settings.
Be comfortable with, or willing to learn, the use of digital technologies to enhance student engagement and learning.
Be firmly committed to high quality teaching and to active, project-based, and applied learning.

Ongoing responsibilities associated with this position include the following:

Overseeing the portfolio of educational programs associated with the Kelley Center. These programs include the university’s Learn & Earn program (an immersive, accelerated pathway to an associate degree and professional career that integrates a paid, professional work experience and is offered at remote sites across the Great Plains); a required course for all students in financial literacy; a major and minor in entrepreneurial leadership; a variety of non-credit bearing professional development training programs for local and regional employers.
Engaging in both face-to-face and remote business development activities across the Great Plains. This includes working with business and civic leaders in rural communities to cultivate Learn & Earn sites and listening to business, industry, and community leaders regarding the sort of education and professional development experiences their employees and citizens need (e.g., certificates in project management, data analysis, etc.).
Cultivating and sustaining relationships with both offices and organizations in the region that support entrepreneurial work.
Working regularly and collaboratively with university administrators (i.e., in the program building and development process) and offices (e.g., admissions, registrar, financial aid, advancement).
Developing strategic plans for the Center and filing regular reports on the Center’s work and progress.
Serving as a representative for the Kelley Center locally, regionally, and in philanthropic endeavors (as requested and directed).

Applications for the position should include a letter of interest detailing the candidate’s qualifications for and interest in the position, a curriculum vitae (or resume), and the names and contact information (including phone numbers and email addresses) of four professional references. Original transcripts and background check will be required before the university makes an appointment.

Please submit materials electronically via email to hr@dwu.edu. Please write Kelley Center in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) is a private, comprehensive university affiliated with the United Methodist Church granting both bachelors and master’s degrees. The University’s mission is to provide a transformative learning experience that cultivates enduring intellectual growth, ethically grounded leadership, intentional faith exploration, and meaningful service. The University serves approximately 1,000 students from across the nation and around the world, including a significant number of first-generation students from the Great Plains region. Dakota Wesleyan’s profile is on the rise both regionally and nationally. U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Dakota Wesleyan as a best value school in the Midwest and as one of the best regional colleges in the Midwest. In the past decade, university donors have made possible a new health science center; a black box theater and alumni welcome center; a 90,000 sq ft sport and wellness complex; a new residence hall; and the new School of Business, Innovation and Leadership. In 2018, Dakota Wesleyan introduced its Digital DWU initiative. This initiative focuses on creating learning opportunities for students that will prepare them to succeed in the digital world they will enter upon graduation. The initiative provides all students with iPads and supports faculty in utilizing technology to create a more engaging and inclusive educational experience for all students.

DWU is located in Mitchell, South Dakota, a community of 15,000, nestled in the heart of one of the country’s finest outdoor recreation areas. Mitchell is the sixth largest city in South Dakota and home to the world’s only Corn Palace. The University is within an hour’s drive of Sioux Falls, one of the Upper Midwest’s largest statistical metropolitan areas. It is within a six-hour drive of several major metropolitan areas (Omaha, NE; Minneapolis, MN; Kansas City, MO).

Dakota Wesleyan reserves the right to modify all job postings and job descriptions.

Dakota Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity employer and provider. DWU is a tobacco free campus.