The University

Judson University is a top-ranked evangelical Christian university located in Elgin, Illinois—just over 30 minutes from downtown Chicago with a Baptist foundation. It represents the Church at work in higher education, preparing students to become fully developed, responsible people who glorify God in their relationships, work, and civic engagement.

With 1,000+ students from 43 states and 28 countries, Judson offers a diverse and globally engaged learning environment. The University provides more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, and adult-professional programs, blending liberal arts foundations with strong professional preparation. Judson is known for its strong student‑centered environment, with 99% of students receiving financial aid, and a mission‑aligned commitment to equipping graduates to shape the world through faith, scholarship, and service.

Judson’s Christian identity is rooted in its evangelical and Baptist heritage, shaping an educational model that encourages students to become articulate proponents of Biblical Christianity, active leaders in church and society, advocates for the sovereignty of God, and effective ambassadors for Christ. Its campus culture emphasizes discipleship, ethical leadership, and vocational excellence across all programs.

Under the leadership of President Gene C. Crume Jr., Judson has advanced a strategic plan that includes enrollment growth, expansion of academic programs, and strengthened donor investment—raising more than $11.8 million in gifts in support of University initiatives.

The success of the Business programs is a key pillar of Judson University’s academic portfolio and central to its strategic aspiration of becoming “Chicago's most prominent business school by 2031 and one of the top ten Christian business school in the country by 2037.”

Known for its Christ‑centered educational approach and strong practitioner‑faculty model, the College prepares students to become ethical, purpose‑driven business leaders who integrate professional excellence with Christian values. This mission aligns with Judson’s broader identity as an evangelical Christian university committed to equipping students for leadership, service, and effective citizenship.

The Department of Business

The Department of Business offers undergraduate majors in Accounting, Marketing, and Management, supported by a growing suite of minors and certificates—including Social Media Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Event Planning, Human Resource Management, and Nonprofit Marketing. With nearly 200 majors and minors and a strong enrollment pipeline from students initially drawn to Judson’s athletics program, the College serves as one of the University’s most dynamic academic units.

The program benefits from Judson’s highly diverse student population—13% international and 30% Latino—reflecting a broad and vibrant community that mirrors the global business landscape. Students benefit from a campus culture rooted in Christian discipleship and a University mission that emphasizes intellectual growth, career readiness, and formation of character.

Judson’s business faculty bring substantial real‑world experience, averaging 10 or more years working in the industries they teach, a distinctive strength that gives students direct access to practitioner insight and professional networks. The curriculum blends classroom learning with career development opportunities, including professional skills courses in networking, communication, resume writing, and elevator pitching. Departments also play an active role in facilitating internships, employer relationships, and job placements.

As part of its commitment to innovation, Judson is exploring strategic additions such as Finance and Entrepreneurship majors, along with expanded curricular options in economics, business law, business communications, and cross‑disciplinary programs with architecture (e.g., Architecture Practice Management). In parallel, Judson will undertake a comprehensive revamp of its existing MBA program to better align with this vision, strengthening its relevance, rigor, and responsiveness to the needs of today’s business environment. Together, these initiatives are designed to enhance Judson’s competitiveness, support accreditation aspirations, and meet the evolving demands of regional employers—especially consulting firms, manufacturers, investment groups, and small business ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

The Distinguished Professor of Business will play a central role in building, modernizing, and championing Judson’s business program. The position is intentionally structured to give the incoming leader significant bandwidth—teaching just one course per semester—so they can focus on the broader mandate of strengthening academic offerings, building employer partnerships, and amplifying Judson’s reputation across Chicago and beyond. There is a need for someone who can create new pathways for students: internships downtown, relationships with investment firms, professional skill building, and stronger bridges between the undergraduate and graduate programs. This individual will serve not only as a professor, but also as a mentor, program architect, external representative, and thought partner to the President and donor.

- Teach one course per semester and mentor students.

- Lead curriculum modernization across business disciplines.

- Strengthen program cohesion between undergraduate and graduate business offerings.

- Develop Chicago-area partnerships and employer relationships.

- Serve as a public ambassador for Judson.

- Engage directly with major donors.

Metrics and Measures of Success

- Enrollment growth in business majors

- Employment and internship outcomes

- Media visibility and public engagement

- Program profitability and student satisfaction

- Alumni and employer engagement

- Introduction of new majors (Finance, Entrepreneurship)

Key Relationships

Internal: Department Chair, Business faculty, University Advancement, Career Development, Students

External: Chicago-area corporate partners, Christian higher education networks, Donors, Alumni

The Candidate

Judson is seeking a nationally credible, mission aligned leader who can elevate the Roeser College of Business and Innovation at a pivotal moment of institutional transformation. The role requires a candidate who brings both intellectual depth and practical experience—someone who has built programs, shaped curriculum, and influenced external stakeholders.

Judson needs a leader who is respected in industry, able to “sit at the table” with business and civic leaders, and embody the entrepreneurial, builder-oriented spirit the University wants to model for students. This individual should be energized by the opportunity to craft new programs, strengthen existing offerings, and establish Judson as a premier choice for business education.

The ideal candidate will also be comfortable operating within a faith driven academic environment, engaging donors, inspiring students, and helping reposition Judson’s business school for greater visibility and long term growth. Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

- Academic leadership or strong professional achievement.

- Ability to elevate business curriculum and develop new majors.

- Industry credibility and Chicago-area networks.

- An entrepreneurial mindset and ability to build programs.

- Experience engaging donors or external partners.

- Commitment to a comprehensive lifestyle reflective of biblical principles.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will combine academic credibility, industry experience, and a deep faith commitment. While formal academic credentials remain important—particularly the ability to teach and potentially qualify for tenure—the University is equally open to seasoned executives, scholar practitioners, and hybrid leaders who bring real world insights and networks. Because the faculty bring substantial professional experience and Judson aims to raise the business school’s visibility quickly, the ideal candidate is likely someone who has demonstrated success in business leadership and public engagement. Alignment with Judson’s evangelical Christian mission is essential, as is the ability to collaborate with donors and external partners. Chicago area connections are strongly preferred, though not mandatory, as the University seeks to deepen its ties with the region’s business ecosystem. Commitment to student success, mentorship, and experiential learning that supports strong retention, graduation, and career placement outcomes. Additional qualifications include:

- Significant leadership experience in business, entrepreneurship, consulting, finance, nonprofit management, or related sectors, with a record of real‑world impact.

- Ability to leverage professional networks to support internships, applied projects, employer engagement, and job placement, aligned with KPIs related to employment rates and internship attainment.

- Proven capacity to elevate program profile and visibility through public engagement, speaking, writing, media presence, or industry leadership.

- Data‑informed mindset with interest in outcomes such as enrollment growth, employer satisfaction, alumni engagement, and graduate success metrics.

- Clear alignment with Judson University’s evangelical Christian mission and ability to integrate faith, learning, and vocation in teaching and leadership.

Education

Candidates must hold, at minimum, an undergraduate degree in business or a closely related field; an advanced degree (MBA, MS, or doctorate) is strongly preferred, consistent with AACSB faculty qualification guidelines.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.