Position Summary

The Soderquist College of Business at John Brown University (https://www.jbu.edu/business/) seeks a full-time faculty member with a strong commitment to teaching and the integration of Christian faith to begin by July 1, 2025. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, teaching courses in entrepreneurship and innovation at the undergraduate level. Other responsibilities include academic advising and student mentoring, recruiting for the major, and service on university committees.

Program

The Soderquist College of Business at JBU offers programs in accounting, business, construction management, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, international business, leadership, management, and marketing and provides both undergraduate and graduate degrees. A recent gift by the Walton Family Foundation has allowed JBU to expand programming in data analytics at the undergraduate, graduate, and certificate levels. As of Fall 2024, approximately 330 students were enrolled in undergraduate business programs. Our undergraduate students have achieved a 100% placement rate over the last two years and consistently score in the 90th percentile on national ETS business exams. We also have 146 students enrolled in online and graduate business programs. Four undergraduate programs are offered both on-ground and online, and we offer 8 MBA concentrations online, including healthcare admiration, data analytics, and marketing analytics, and three different masters of science degrees, including one in design thinking and innovation.

Our Northwest Arkansas location gives us access to Fortune 500 companies such as Walmart and Tyson, as well as many business professionals who support the College through networking events, student internships and job opportunities, and service on the SCOB Business Advisory Board (BAB). The College of Business houses the Schmieding Finance and Data Analytics Lab and the Togami Center for Innovation. JBU students have been involved in competitions such as Enactus and the Reynolds Governor’s Cup. In 2017, the JBU Enactus team placed 1st in the regional competition and went on to become the national champions. As recently as 2022, JBU teams placed first in their categories at the Reynolds Governor’s Cup competition. To date, JBU teams have earned over $500,000 in prize money through this competition.

With study abroad programs to Central America, Asia, and Europe, JBU business students gain global and intercultural skills while earning credit. Undergraduate students may earn an MBA in one year upon completing their bachelor’s degree through our 4+1 MBA Program by taking four graduate courses as dual credit that count toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The College of Business employs 12 full-time faculty with an average of 9 years of service, and they use their expertise to provide challenging, practical business education from a Christian perspective, equipping students to succeed in their lifework and impact their world.

Institution

John Brown University’s mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. Founded in 1919, JBU is a Christ-centered, Biblically-faithful, interdenominational university that represents the best of Protestant evangelicalism in our commitment to the following theological principles: the fundamental human need for conversion and lifelong discipleship; the centrality of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for the redemption of human beings; high regard for, and obedience to, the Bible as our authority; and active involvement in a local church, in missions and in ministries that work for Biblical justice and serve people in need. At JBU, we seek to integrate faith and learning, foster holistic Christian formation, promote pragmatic liberal arts education, and prepare people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life. Consistent with its evangelical identity, JBU’s board of trustees has articulated institutional commitments on certain theological issues or university practices. With God’s help, JBU seeks to live out these commitments faithfully and humbly with grace and truth. All employees must affirm JBU’s Employee Expectations and Articles of Faith.

With more than 2,300 students from 35 states and 37 countries, JBU offers approximately 50 undergraduate programs, seven fully online bachelor’s degrees, and 14 graduate degrees in business, education, cybersecurity, and counseling. JBU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds program-specific accreditations from various agencies. More information is available at jbu.edu/accreditation.

JBU has benefited from stable and excellent leadership throughout the organization. President Chip Pollard started in 2004 and has led the organization in consistently meeting enrollment goals, completing two capital campaigns and launching a third, finishing two strategic plans and launching a third, 17 major building projects, encouraging efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and students, and navigating the educational and financial challenges of the pandemic successfully. He served on the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board for thirteen years and as chair for five years. Most of the president’s cabinet has served for over 20 years, and all cabinet members have held volunteer leadership positions in the CCCU, ACSD, CIC, NACUBO, and other higher education associations. JBU’s board of trustees are people of deep Christian faith, generous spirit, and professional expertise, with an average length of service of 11 years. They are deeply committed to maintaining JBU’s mission to educate students to honor God and serve others.

JBU has experienced a season of God’s favor and blessing, for which we are grateful. In the last 20 years, JBU has received over $370 million in gifts and grants and has built or renovated over 90% of the university’s facilities. JBU has just under $4 million of long-term debt on over $300 million of assets. During that same time, JBU’s endowment has grown from about $50 million to over $185 million, much of it dedicated to scholarships and academic programs and to support maintenance costs for new facilities. This financial strength has enabled JBU to retain excellent faculty and staff with consistent compensation increases and funds for faculty and staff development. JBU has not been immune to the economic and cultural challenges facing higher education, but it is positioned better than many institutions to respond.

JBU has received national recognition from many national newspapers and industry journals. For instance, in nine out of the last ten years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has named JBU on its “high honor roll” in its “Great Place to Work” survey. The Wall Street Journal has named JBU to its Best Colleges list since 2019, ranking us the top private school in Arkansas (2025) and top Arkansas university overall (2020, 2022, 2024). We are typically in the top 10% in our category (master’s level universities in the South) in U.S. News and World Report rankings.

JBU is located in Northwest Arkansas, a region predicted to have the third fastest job growth rate in the country behind only Austin, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. Three of the largest corporations in the world are located here—Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt—and there is a growing technology, entrepreneurial, and art business ecosystem in the region. The quality of life is enhanced with a world-class art museum, Crystal Bridges, 25 miles from campus, over 400 miles of mountain biking trails, several state and national historic sites, parks, and large lakes, and a new $33 million whitewater rafting park just five miles south of campus. Siloam Springs has approximately 18,350 people with affordable housing and good private and public schools.

Important Dates

Position begins July 1, 2025. Screening process begins immediately, and continues until the position is filled.

Diversity

JBU desires to increase the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students to honor how all humans are created in the image of God, to reflect better the diversity of the Kingdom of God, to further our Christian commitment to justice, and to increase the quality of our educational experience. JBU is pursuing the goal of teaching and working in an intercultural environment and encourages applications from people interested in serving a diverse body of students. For more information, visit our diversity webpage.

Position Qualifications

• A Master’s degree or higher in Entrepreneurship or a closely related field
• A committed follower of Christ
• Ability to teach undergraduate courses
• A commitment to the integration of the Christian faith and teaching
• A commitment to working with a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff

Preferred Qualifications

• A doctorate degree in Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management or a closely related field
• Experience in launching and/or scaling a business
• Experience with product development and innovation
• Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses
• Evidence of continuous learning (e.g., scholarship, industry certifications, consulting)
• Demonstrated experience with diverse populations
• Willingness to advise student-led organizations

About John Brown University

John Brown University's mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives. We are a Christ-centered, interdenominational university that leads the nation in integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.

Connections working at John Brown University