Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Application Process

Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) is assisting East Texas A&M University in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted.

How to Apply

Candidates should submit application materials through the GA&A Candidate Portal.

Application materials should include:

• A letter of interest that clearly states the applicant’s interest and qualifications for the position.
• A current resume/curriculum vitae.

Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged.

The search will be conducted with a commitment to confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

For best consideration, please submit your materials by September 25, 2026.

Inquiries and Nominations

Search Committee

Chair:
Tami Morton, Presiding Officer of Faculty Advisory Council and Assistant Department Head of Curriculum & Instruction

Co-Chair:
Bryan Rank, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Members:

• April Sanders, Acting Dean, College of Education and Dean, College of Innovation and Design
• Mustafa Mashal, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
• Ryan Erck, Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success
• Jayson Douglas, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
• Ashanka Kumari, Associate Dean of the Graduate School
• Sarah Baker, Associate Vice President and Controller
• Melissa Arrambide, Department Head of Education Leadership
• Catrina Soto, Program Director, Veterinary Biomedical Technology
• Antonia Anderson, Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support
• Luis Sanchez, Professor of Music in Piano
• Atefeh Yazdanparast, Department Head of Management and Economics

Search Timeline

• August 2026 | Search Committee Orientation & Listening Sessions
  Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) will meet with the Search Committee and university stakeholders to gather input on the position, leadership priorities, and opportunities for East Texas A&M University's next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
• August–September 2026 | Recruitment & Application Period
  The position profile will be finalized and distributed, advertising and outreach will begin, nominations will be sought, and GA&A will conduct recruiting conversations and review applications.
• September 25, 2026 | Best Consideration Date
  Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by September 25, 2026, for best consideration. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
• Early-October, 2026 | Candidate Review & Selection
  The Search Committee will review the candidate pool and select candidates to advance to first-round interviews.
• Mid-October, 2026 | First-Round Interviews
  Selected candidates will participate in virtual interviews with the Search Committee. Finalists will be identified for further consideration.
• Early November 2026 | Finalist Campus Visits
  Finalists are anticipated to participate in on-campus interviews with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholder groups.
• January 2027 | Anticipated Start Date
  The selected candidate is anticipated to begin serving as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in January 2027.

About East Texas A&M

East Texas A&M University is a public R2 research university and proud member of The Texas A&M University System. Based in Commerce, Texas, the university serves Northeast Texas and a growing regional footprint through an academic enterprise grounded in access, excellence, opportunity and real-world impact.

As the institution continues to strengthen its research profile, expand its reach and align academic programs with the evolving needs of students, communities and the workforce, East Texas A&M is positioned for an important period of academic growth and innovation.

At the center of that momentum is a commitment to combining academic rigor, personal support and hands-on learning. Across its colleges, schools and extended locations, East Texas A&M is advancing student success, faculty excellence, research and scholarship, applied learning, and partnerships that connect the university to the communities and industries it serves.

These priorities create a compelling environment for academic leadership and provide the next Provost with the opportunity to help shape the university’s academic portfolio, strengthen its culture of scholarship, support an exceptional faculty and advance a cohesive vision for academic excellence.

The university’s Lion Made brand captures the outcomes East Texas A&M seeks to create through that work: graduates who are prepared to succeed, confident in their abilities, ready to contribute to their communities and equipped to turn knowledge into action.

For the next Provost, Lion Made represents more than a student-facing message. It reflects an institutional commitment to creating the academic experiences, faculty environment, research culture and support structures necessary for students to thrive.

Who they become is Lion Made.

Momentum & Innovation

$15,000 MBA

New offering, a $15,000 flat-rate MBA designed to expand access to high-quality graduate education.

$9,000 M.Ed.

New M.Ed. pathway launching in spring 2027 to support affordable, high-impact educator preparation.

+1,000 Dual Enrollment Students

Year-over-year growth of more than 50% in dual credit enrollment through partnerships with 12+ school districts.

About Commerce, Texas

Commerce, Texas, is a close-knit Northeast Texas community in Hunt County and the home of East Texas A&M University. Located approximately 60 miles northeast of Dallas, Commerce combines the accessibility and character of a university town with convenient proximity to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan region.

The community offers a distinctive setting for university leadership: a connected college-town environment surrounded by the Blackland Prairie landscape of Northeast Texas, with regional access to employment, cultural, recreational and professional opportunities throughout North Texas.

Commerce and the surrounding Hunt County region retain strong agricultural roots while benefiting from continued economic growth and proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth.

For the next Provost, the location reflects an important dimension of East Texas A&M’s identity. The university serves both rural and urban communities, with its Commerce campus anchoring its Northeast Texas mission while extended locations create connections to the Dallas-Fort Worth region.