Professor and Chair of Management and Entrepreneurship

Job Description

The Department of Management and Entrepreneurship in the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University is seeking a leader with a strong record of achievement for the role of Department Chair to support and promote the work of faculty in the department. As a nationally ranked R1 institution we seek an individual who will build on the departments long-standing scholarly excellence in research teaching and industry engagement. The Chair will be expected to sustain and enhance the culture of collegiality within the department support the professional development of departmental faculty and contribute to fulfilling the Universitys land-grant mission. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1 2026; however a later start date may be considered.

Supported by an Associate Department Chair (a role currently filled by Dr. Laura DOria) the successful candidate will oversee a department of 39 supportive and productive faculty members (19 tenure-track and 20 term) With research interests spanning the areas of Management and Entrepreneurship our faculty have published research in a wide variety of top journals including the Academy of Management Journal Academy of Management Review Journal of Management Journal of Applied Psychology Journal of Business Venturing Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal Strategic Management Journal and Organization Science. The department offers undergraduate degrees in Management Entrepreneurship Human Resource Management and Healthcare Management with over 740 declared majors in these areas. It is also the administrative home to the colleges online Bachelor of Business Administration degree and the International Business minor. The department also offers a Masters in Entrepreneurship and vibrant PhD programs in Management as well as Entrepreneurship. Committed to its mission vision and values the department is guided by its current strategic plan.

The chair reports to the dean and works with the dean and associate deans to coordinate the overall management of the department. The chair regularly interacts with senior university leaders college-level leadership college staff students alumni and industry partners including a departmental executive advisory council. Candidates must demonstrate experience and aptitude in strategic planning and facilitating communication to support success for all faculty and students. As an academic leader the candidate must have a record of high-quality research and demonstrate a broad knowledge and appreciation of the fields of management and entrepreneurship.

The chair is responsible for personnel matters including faculty recruitment development and advancement teaching assignments departmental governance collaborative engagements and external relations. The chair also oversees central administrative operations of the department including curriculum course delivery assessment and accreditation. The chair works with staff in development marketing and communications student services and career services to advance the department and colleges goals.

Required Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in management entrepreneurship or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• An exemplary record of achievement in scholarship including a record of publications in top management and/or entrepreneurship journals at a level sufficient to qualify for appointment as a full professor in the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University.
• Meet the colleges standards to be scholarly academic qualified under the AACSB Accreditation Standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Administrative experience in the higher education context including faculty mentoring curriculum development strategic planning and personnel management.
• Familiarity with trends in business education.
• Capability to engage productively with business professionals.

Iowa State University

In addition to being classified as a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University Extensive Iowa State is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top public universities in the nation. Over 31000 students are enrolled and are served by over 6200 faculty and staff. Committed to its land-grant mission the University is organized into eight colleges including the Graduate College. The University provides a broad array of academic degree programs including more than 100 bachelor degree programs one Professional degree (the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine offered through the College of Veterinary Medicine) over 100 masters programs over 80 Ph.D. programs and over 60 certificate FY 25 Iowa State secured over $329.9 million in external research funding. Iowa State has over 310000 living alumni including over 45000 living graduates of the Ivy College of Business.

The Universitys strategic plan is based upon four pillars: innovative solutions education experience community engagement and knowledge & discovery. Intersected and interwoven throughout the pillars are its land-grant university hallmarks of teaching research service and extension. Most importantly the pillars give structure and direction on how the university will make a difference for its state and world in the years ahead.

The Ivy College of Business

The Ivy College of Business is a college on the move with highly ranked undergraduate and graduate programs and several new degrees. Bringing together world-class faculty staff programs and facilities to deliver business education for a rapidly changing world the College prepares students for a future of progress and positive impact on the world. Building upon this foundation the College is in the midst of a strategic plan with a focus on three strategic priorities: advancing innovative high-quality and high-impact programs; increasing the quality and impact of scholarly research; and expanding opportunities for community business and global engagement. The Ivy College currently enrolls over 5400 undergraduate and graduate students who are taught mentored and supported by 162 faculty and 89 staff. The College offers 13 undergraduate majors 11 masters programs and a doctoral program.

It is comprised of six departments: Accounting Finance Management and Entrepreneurship Marketing Supply Chain Management and Information Systems and Business Analytics. Each department boasts preeminent scholars who publish in the top journals in their respective disciplines.

Tied to the Ivy Business College is the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship which serves the ISU campus with educational workshops experiential learning students ventures incubation and business support as well as the Small Business Development Center which offers startup assistance to students faculty and the community. The center has earned prestigious national and international recognition including the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Exceptional Contributions in Entrepreneurship Research (2024) the NASDAQ Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (2022) the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities Entrepreneurial University of the Year (Americas) (2023) and the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurships Model Program Award (2021). The larger entrepreneurial ecosystem at Iowa State University under the Vice President for Economic Development & Industry Relations includes a 500 acre Research Park that houses more than 100 companies a year-long startup accelerator and a top-tier technology transfer research foundation. The university is ranked #9 in the world for undergraduate entrepreneurship by The Princeton Review.

The City of Ames

Ames Iowa is a growing community of 65000 located approximately 30 minutes north of Des Moines and ranked the #1 Best College Town in America in 2018 (24/7 Wall St. 2018) ranked #15 on the Top 100 Best Places to Live in 2020 () and ranked the healthiest city in the State of Iowa in 2020 (USA Today). Ames has 35 parks 55 miles of bike and pedestrian trails golf courses lakes and an aquatics center for outdoor recreation. Anchored by the beautiful Iowa State Campus Ames is a great place to live work and raise a family. It is also affordable and easy to get around.

The Des Moines metro area is located 30 minutes south of Ames. It is a vibrant and growing metropolitan area that offers an affordable cost of living and an attractive urban location (ranking #16 for Best City for Young Professionals in 2022; West Des Moines ranked #31 out of 250 cities for Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-2026). Des Moines has bike trails walking trails parks and lakes for outdoor recreation. Cultural events and festivals regularly draw all ages to Des Moines downtown area.

Application Process

Buffkin / Baker an executive search firm is assisting the university in the search. Inquiries of interest nominations and applications should be submitted electronically by February 23rd 2026 in confidence to:

Mr. Martin M. Baker Managing Partner

Ms. Chelsie Whitelock Associate Partner

Buffkin / Baker

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race color age ethnicity religion national origin pregnancy sexual orientation genetic information sex marital status disability or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity 2680 Beardshear Hall 515 Morrill Road Ames Iowa 50011 Tel. email

Required Experience:

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