Company Description:
About the University of Texas at El Paso:
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, opportunity, and community engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 25,000 students, 85% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.
Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. A family-oriented community that is one of the safest large cities in the U.S., the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable with an average home value of $224,000 in 2025, and Texas has no income tax. The region's rich culture includes a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, a new children's museum and science center, the state's longest-running symphony orchestra and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. Sports fans will enjoy Division I college athletics, Triple-A baseball affiliate the El Paso Chihuahuas and professional soccer team El Paso Locomotive FC, and outdoor enthusiasts will be drawn to year-round hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in nearby state and national parks.
About the Department:
An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the UTEP Department of Music, as part of the College of Liberal Arts, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance, music education, conducting, theory and composition, commercial music, and music technology. The Department provides performance opportunities through a full complement of instrumental and vocal ensembles, as well as chamber and specialty ensembles. The Fox Fine Arts Music Building houses a 450-seat performance hall, a state-of-the-art piano lab, commercial music recording studios, computer lab, practice rooms, and teaching spaces to accommodate the more than 300 music majors it enrolls annually. The Center for Arts Entrepreneurship, housed in the Department of Music and led by two-time Grammy winning artist, Zuill Bailey, provides 21st-century arts economy training to students across the college and beyond. The Department maintains professional collaborations with community partners such as the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Winds, El Paso Opera, and El Paso Pro Musica. The broader UTEP campus offers excellent resources for the advancement of research and creative activities.
Job Description:
The University of Texas at El Paso seeks a visionary leader and experienced administrator with an outstanding record of scholarship/creative activity to chair the Department of Music at the rank of Full Professor beginning in the Fall of 2026. Among other responsibilities, the Chair will:
- lead the department in fiscal, curricular, and accreditation matters.
- mentor faculty colleagues in a thriving unit at an R1 university.
- collaborate with other units in the Fine and Performing Arts, the College of Liberal Arts, and the university at large.
- develop long-term strategic plans for the department in alignment with UTEP's mission and status as an R1 university.
- build upon strong partnerships with music and arts organizations in the El Paso/Ciudad Jurez region.
Requirements:
- A terminal degree in music.
- A demonstrated record of achievement in administration.
- An exemplary record of research/creative activity and teaching characteristic of the rank of Full Professor.
- Exceptional communication and management skills.
Additional Information:
In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment.
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu, or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312.
For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu.
To the extent that this position involves research, work, or access to critical infrastructure as referenced in Executive Order GA-48, being hired for and continuing to be employed in this position requires the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.
Application Instructions:
Applicants must submit the following:
(1) Letter of interest summarizing previous administrative experience, academic leadership, and fundraising activity, as well as research/creative activity, service, and teaching interests/accomplishments
(2) Current Curriculum Vitae
(3) Statement of Academic Leadership Philosophy
(4) Complete contact information for three current professional references
Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.
For questions about the position, please contact: Dr. Dominic Dousa (ddousa@utep.edu), Search Committee Chair
