Chief of Staff to the Office of the Provost

Statement from the Office of the Provost

• Message from the Provost

  As the Chief Academic Officer at Texas State University, the Provost's role is to advance excellence across the university’s academic landscape by supporting faculty, enhancing student academic success, and ensuring a strong foundation for impactful teaching, research, and innovation. Working closely with five Vice Provost offices—Academic Planning, Policy and Budgets; Faculty Success; Academic Success; Academic Innovation; and the University Library—the Provost prioritizes collaboration to meet the evolving needs of our academic community.

  The Office of Academic Planning, Policy and Budgets is integral to aligning resources with strategic goals, supporting initiatives like Academic Affairs and College Budgets, and steering Academic Resource Planning and Academic Policy. This office also oversees Strategic Academic Initiatives. These functions ensure that the university’s mission and financial sustainability are at the forefront of academic decision-making.
  The Office of Faculty Success, which includes oversight of the Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Development, and Tenure and Promotion, is key to fostering an environment that values faculty achievement and supports career growth. This commitment to faculty success not only strengthens teaching and research but also enhances the student experience, ultimately contributing to the university’s reputation and mission.

  The Office of Academic Success focuses on essential services such as Academic Advising and Transitions, Experiential and Academic Initiatives and supports student-centered initiatives that enhance retention and academic achievement. This office also assists the Texas State Round Rock Campus, expanding the university’s reach and accessibility to diverse student populations.

  Additionally, the Office of Academic Innovation ensures curricular excellence by managing institutional accreditation, program accreditation and assessment, supporting innovative curricular and academic program development and commencement, and academic program review, thus upholding the university’s commitment to quality education.

  Together with the Vice Provost for University Libraries, the Wittliff Collections, and the leadership of the academic deans, the Provost's office works to elevate the university’s academic impact, ensuring that Texas State University remains a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and societal contribution.

• About the Office of the Provost

  Dr. Pranesh B. Aswath joined Texas State University as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost on February 1st of 2024. He is a Fellow of National Academy of Inventors, American Society of Materials and Society of Tribology and Lubrication Engineers. He is an accomplished scholar with over 150 journal publications and has graduated over 20 Ph.D. and 40 MS-Thesis students.  

  At Texas State University, in addition to direct oversight of the Division of Academic Affairs, Dr. Aswath’s sphere of influence includes the Office of Research, TXST-Round Rock, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Student Success and Global Engagement. He works closely with President Kelly Damphousse and Executive Vice President for Operations and CFO Eric Algoe in executing the mission of the university.

  Texas State University has over 40,000 students with 800 tenure track faculty, 550 full time non-tenure line faculty and about 600 adjunct faculty and is one of the largest universities in Texas. Texas State University welcomed over 8000 First-Time In College (FTIC) and over 2500 transfer students in Fall 2024. With a stated mission of achieving Carnegie R1 status by 2027, it is an exciting time to be part of a growing educational enterprise.

  Visit Texas State University’s Provost’s webpage: https://www.provost.txst.edu/

• Role of the Chief of Staff

  • Description of the Role

    Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Chief of Staff is of critical importance in the efficient operation of the Office of the Provost, and he/she will play an important role in assisting the provost in running the academic operations of the university. Some of the important aspects of this role are to help the provost on strategic initiatives while managing special projects and supporting the provost leadership team in their roles. The Chief of Staff will also operationalize the provost’s vision by managing committees, providing strategic and analytical support, managing the day-to-day operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness and optimizing the use of available resources. The Chief of Staff will also assist the provost with preparing communication, drafting speeches, and presentations, and will assist with the provost’s social media presence. The Chief of Staff will work closely with the Office of Institutional Research to generate the data that is essential for the effective operation of the Provost’s Office. Outstanding candidates with experience managing a complex academic enterprise such as a Provost office are encouraged to apply for the role of Chief of Staff to the Provost and EVP for Academic Affairs.

  • In This Role, You Will:

    • Assist the provost to prioritize and make the best and most efficient use of time by fielding incoming requests, issues, and decisions, helping the provost prioritize which responses and actions are needed.
    • Oversee many of the special projects in the Provost office and ensure that the key stakeholders are on schedule and on task.  In addition, may own some of the special projects at the direction of the provost.
    • Manage the overall rhythm of key governance processes and recurring leadership meetings in which the provost regularly participates.
    • Stay informed of emerging issues to provide strategic and analytical support for the provost. Gather information and completes analyses to prepare potential solutions and specific recommendations for the provost's consideration. Information gathering will include speaking with members of the TXST community, including faculty and staff.
    • Work closely with the Chief of Staff to the President to ensure smooth operation of the university and is a liaison between the Provost Office and the President’s Office.
    • Serve as the provost's writer, which includes preparing talking points for all the provost's meetings as well as internal and external communications (research and draft articles, speeches, presentations, reports, emails and content for websites and social media). Help the provost stay in touch with and communicate regularly with key internal and external stakeholders (e.g., attending meetings on the provost's behalf, moving interactions forward between key meetings and discussions that are with the provost). Ensure excellence in all work products and interactions with the public. 
    • Work closely with the provost’s executive support staff to create and manage various tracking systems that will enable the provost to work with economy of effort and time including maintaining and regularly following up on a master action list.
    • Work with the provost’s direct reports to identify and resolve obstacles to the prompt resolution of major issues and decisions of direct interest to the provost.
    • Help bring issues to the surface and ensure that they are considered, appropriate action is taken, and the results are communicated throughout the organization as appropriate and in a timely manner.
    • Perform other duties as assigned.

  • Professional Qualifications and Personal Qualities

    The successful candidate should have the following qualifications:

    Required Qualifications:

    • Seven (7) years of demonstrated experience as a chief of staff, deputy, or senior advisor to an executive.
    • Strong understanding and in-depth knowledge of higher education policies, governance, and academic environment.
    • A collaborative problem solver, with the ability to work effectively with diverse personalities and interests to efficiently arrive at effective solutions. 
    • Strong organizational skills and very methodical with excellent follow-through.
    • Ability to understand and work to effectuate the broad, strategic goals of TXST.
    • Must have a high level of integrity and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
    • Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced and changing environment with the ability to focus on priorities, strategies, and vision. 
    • Advanced written, oral and presentation skills to effectively present complex information and influence outcomes to audiences of all levels. 
    • Ability to support and contribute to the Provost’s vision for the university, helping to translate that vision into actionable strategies. 
    • Demonstrated ability to contribute to a positive work environment.
    • Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies inside and outside the institution.
    • Bachelor’s degree. 

    Preferred Qualifications:

    • Experience in crisis management and ability to manage sensitive issues within a large organization.
    • Master's/Doctoral degree.

    Personal Attributes:

    • Discretion and Integrity: High level of integrity and the ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
    • Adaptability: Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment, responding effectively to new challenges and opportunities.
    • Cultural Competence: An understanding of the cultural dynamics within a large university.
    • Visionary Leadership: Ability to support and contribute to the provost's vision for the university, helping to translate that vision into actionable strategies.

  • Application Portal

    Apply Now!

• About Texas State University

  • Hopes and Aspirations High

    TXST's Strategic Vision
    
    In 2023 we launched Hopes & Aspirations High, an ambitious vision with five bold strategic imperatives — elevate student success, Run to R1, increase enrollment, grow the Round Rock Campus, and become an employer of choice. And, we have made tremendous progress in positioning ourselves to achieve this vision in a very short time.

    
    Elevate Student Success
    
    Student success remains at the heart of everything we do at Texas State University. Improving student success metrics is a top pillar of the Hopes & Aspirations High vision for TXST’s future.

    
    Run to R1
    
    Texas State University is a national research university on the path to achieve the R1 Carnegie classification. The process will include earning access to the state’s National Research University Fund.

    
    Increase Recruitment and Enrollment
    
    President Damphousse created the Division of TXST Global to implement strategies to increase enrollment among international, transfer, master’s and online students.

    
    Becoming an Employer of Choice
    
    A critical goal of Hopes & Aspirations High is to become an employer of preference for faculty and staff.

     

    Learn more about the Hopes and Aspirations High here!

  • Texas State University 125

    THE LEGACY OF TOMORROW
    
    Offering 99 bachelor’s, 91 master’s and specialists, and 16 doctoral degree programs through the following colleges: Applied Arts, McCoy College of Business, Education, Fine Arts and Communication, Health Professions, Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, University College, The Graduate College and Honors College. 
    
    The university’s students are diverse, closely reflecting the demographics of the State of Texas. TXST was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in 2011, earned the Seal of Excelencia in 2022, and has the 14th largest Hispanic enrollment among public universities in the U.S. TXST has long served a significant number of first-generation and Pell-eligible students.
    
    WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED
    
    At our university, we recognize that faculty and staff serve as the building blocks to the foundation of our work with students. Texas State is proud of our competitive benefits from health plans, wellness leave, life insurance and retirement programs provided to keep our Bobcats healthy and happy. 
    
    By joining Texas State University, employees gain access to work in one of the best public universities in the country and the opportunity to live in one of America’s most beautiful towns. All employees have access to our competitive benefits package on day one of their employment at Texas State.
    
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