Dean, McCombs School of Business

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) seeks applications and nominations for Dean, McCombs School of Business. UT Austin is one of the nation’s premier public universities. It is the top public university in Texas, the flagship of The University of Texas System and the fifth largest university in the nation. Founded in 1883, the University’s main campus is home to a community of 55,000 students, 4,800 faculty and more than 10,000 staff.

As McCombs’ chief ambassador, the Dean plays a key leadership role in advancing the mission, operations and service of a national leader in business education and research. McCombs’ size and quality make it one of the most influential business schools in the country — receiving the highest marks in nearly all the business specialty areas for undergraduates and graduates — as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Its BBA and MBA programs are consistently ranked top 10 and top 20, respectively, alongside its Accounting program, which is frequently ranked #1 in the country for undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs. Each year, McCombs educates more than 6,000 undergraduate, MBA, MPA and PhD students. McCombs is recognized this year as number 10 worldwide for faculty research by the Financial Times and one of the country’s top producers of Fortune 500 CEOs, with a growing network of more than 400 corporate partners and more than 100,000 living alumni around the world.

UT has retained Ron Brown and Mollie Moore of Heidrick & Struggles, a national executive search firm, to assist with this important search. Confidential applications, inquiries and nominations should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this page.

Nomination and Application Procedure

The University of Texas at Austin invites inquiries, nominations and applications for the position of Dean, McCombs School of Business. Interested candidates should confidentially submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest (Adobe PDF files preferred) to UTMcCombs@heidrick.com.

The University of Texas at Austin is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to building a diverse faculty and staff. The University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is one of the nation’s premier public universities. It is the top public university in Texas, the flagship of The University of Texas System and the fifth largest university in the nation. Founded in 1883, the University’s main campus is home to a community of 55,000 students, 4,800 faculty and more than 10,000 staff. The University is a leader in energy, business, AI and national security, attracting more than $1.14 billion for research in FY24. By virtue of its public mission, culture of innovation, location, size and rich history, it is one of the most influential universities in the world.

The McCombs School of Business is a national leader in business education and research and a premier source of future business leaders and ideas transforming industry and society.

In a competitive and crowded business school landscape, McCombs is one of the few national leaders in both research and education — receiving the highest marks in nearly all the business specialty areas for undergraduates and graduates — as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Its BBA and MBA programs are consistently ranked top 10 and top 20, respectively, alongside its Accounting program, which is frequently ranked #1 in the country for undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs. McCombs is recognized this year as number 10 worldwide for faculty research by the Financial Times and one of the country’s top producers of Fortune 500 CEOs, with a growing network of more than 400 corporate partners and more than 100,000 living alumni around the world.

McCombs’ size and quality make it one of the most influential business schools in the country. Each year, McCombs educates more than 6,000 undergraduate, MBA, MPA and PhD students. Approximately 10,000 professionals also participate in executive education programs held at McCombs’ AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center as well as other venues. With a broad, diversified portfolio of programs and research areas, the school is comprised of 140 faculty scholars and more than 200 professional instructors across six academic departments. In addition to teaching and developing McCombs students, these exceptional faculty, renowned for their research, serve on editorial boards of top journals in their disciplines, lead McCombs’ 28 Centers and Institutes focused on research, teaching and corporate partnerships, and serve on boards as well as in part-time leadership roles in industry, including with Microsoft and Amazon, among others. Leveraging UT Austin’s strengths across other academic units, McCombs is a leader in cross-disciplinary collaboration, notably building on significant new investments in medicine, engineering and computer science.

Finally, situated in Austin’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem with a strong legacy of connection to Texas’ major industries, McCombs is a powerful economic engine for the state. As the region continues to see explosive growth — with more than 9,000 high-tech, semiconductor, energy, computer and software companies, as well as quickly growing biosciences, defense, multi-media, film, music and logistics and distribution industries — McCombs plays an invaluable role as hub for research and partnerships, as well as an essential producer of talent for the thousands of companies that now call Austin home.
Position Title: Dean

Location: Austin, TX

Reports To: Executive Vice President and Provost

Direct Reports: Senior Associate Dean; Chief Operating Officer; Associate Dean, Research; Chief Development Officer; Chief Marketing and Communications Officer; Chief Career and Alumni Engagement Officer and the Assistant to the Dean.

Position Summary: The McCombs School of Business seeks an innovative, visionary Dean to lead a new chapter of ambitious growth towards its goal to become the world’s premier public business school.

This Dean will join at an auspicious moment for the University and for McCombs:

  • Three years into a five-year strategic plan, McCombs has experienced remarkable success growing and elevating its research enterprise, academic programs and external engagement.
  • As of August 2025, it raised $642 million against a campaign goal of $575 million.
  • Construction is underway on Mulva Hall, a new, world-class academic building set to open in 2028. McCombs exceeded its $150 million goal, raising $172 million for this 373,000 square foot hub, which will serve as the extraordinary new home for its undergraduate programs and a convening space for students, alumni, scholars and business leaders.
  • Recognized by the Financial Times this year as a top-10 institution in the world for research, McCombs is fueled by an energetic, well-balanced cohort of high-impact faculty.

The next Dean will have a rare opportunity to build upon this momentum, inheriting a school that is well-positioned to grow as a leader in research and business education. As the school’s chief academic and administrative officer, the Dean will lead strategic planning and resource development and elevate McCombs to new levels of excellence.

As McCombs’ chief ambassador, the Dean will elevate the school’s external visibility and marketing strategy to a wide range of partners, donors, and business leaders. The Dean will also steward the school’s role as a leader on the UT Austin campus. Under a new governance structure that includes a 14-member President’s Faculty Advisory Board, Deans across the university — and McCombs in particular — carry enormous influence on the life and direction of the university. The Dean will develop strong working relationships with senior University leaders, driving increased collaboration across academic disciplines, as well as close coordination with University development, government and community relations.

This leader will bring a successful track record of hiring and developing top academic and professional talent. Fostering a world-class community of scholars, practitioners and staff, the Dean will be aggressive and ambitious in recruiting and retaining leaders across McCombs’ core disciplines as well as in emerging areas of academic inquiry.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished, collaborative and forward-thinking leader with a proven record of strategic and operational success in a research-driven environment that also highly values teaching. They will be adept at making connections between the school’s signature research areas, donors and industry leaders and will bring a proven ability to skillfully align diverse stakeholders across the University to advance McCombs’ goals.

Responsibilities

  • Leadership and Vision: In collaboration with the faculty, McCombs Deans’ Advisory Council (composed of accomplished business leaders, alumni and corporate representatives) and University leadership, the Dean designs and articulates an inspiring, long-range vision for success, develops strategies to catalyze a strong undergraduate and graduate student experience, ensures the excellence of faculty research and teaching, and maintains an appealing workplace for staff.
  • Fundraising: The Dean has primary responsibility for developing, implementing and expanding McCombs’ fundraising activities, in conjunction with the long-term plans of the School and the University. This includes cultivating new and existing relationships with a diverse range of individual and institutional donors, as well as strategic partners.
  • Academic Excellence: As McCombs’ academic leader, the Dean is responsible for meeting school and University goals in all areas of enrollment, graduation rates, degrees conferred, sponsored research and the recruitment, appointment, promotion and tenure of faculty in McCombs.
  • Strategic Partnerships: The Dean is responsible for managing McCombs’ multidisciplinary engagement across campus, as well as building external partnerships with alumni, national and international businesses, government leaders and research institutions.
  • Operational Leadership: The Dean is responsible for managing all aspects of McCombs’ financial and human resources, including oversight of the budget, the allocation, stewardship of and planning for academic facilities, and effectively building, retaining and harnessing high-performing teams.

Culture Impact

  • Mission-Alignment and Excellence: The Dean must demonstrate clear passion for the University’s commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research and public service. The Dean should also embrace the University of Texas’ ethos that “what starts here changes the world.”
  • Commitment to Academic Integrity and Freedom of Speech: The Dean should align with the University of Texas’ visionary Statement on Academic Integrity and the Chicago Statement on Free Speech. These encompass UT Austin’s commitment to advance the common good through the free exchange of ideas and the quest for truth.

Academic Credentials

  • A terminal degree in a relevant field and academic qualifications that meet the standards for appointment as a full professor with tenure at McCombs are highly desired.

 

 

 

 

Faculty Members:

  • Robert Chesney (Chair), Dean, School of Law
  • John M. Griffin, James A. Elkins Centennial Chair and Professor of Finance, Department of Finance
  • Lisa De Simone, Professor, Department of Accounting
  • Laura Starks, George Kozmetsky Distinguished University Chair and Professor of Finance, Department of Finance

External Representatives:

  • Philip Canfield, BBA ’89, Chief Executive Officer, Ariet Capital
  • Ryan Moss, BBA ’97, Managing Partner, Whitebridge
  • Del Williams, BBA ’83, J.D. ’85, General Counsel, Hillwood Alliance Group LP

Ex Officio from the Provost’s Office:

  • Tasha Beretvas, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, is an ex-officio member of the committee from the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
Resources
Search Contact

Ron Brown
Partner
Mobile: +1 303-909-5099

Mollie Moore
Senior Associate
Mobile: +1 859-576-1278

Email