College of Charleston Announces New Graduate School Dean

Scott P. Kissau has been named the new dean of the Graduate School and associate provost for research at the College of Charleston.

Kissau brings to the College an exceptional record of academic leadership in graduate education and research development. He currently serves as associate dean of research and graduate education in the Cato College of Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he has provided strategic oversight for more than 35 graduate programs, including two of the university’s largest doctoral programs and its largest graduate certificate program.

Under his leadership, external research funding in the college more than doubled, from $6.7 million in FY19 to nearly $13.8 million in FY24. He developed comprehensive faculty mentoring and grant-writing initiatives, established new research support structures, launched an annual research symposium for faculty and graduate students and led efforts to strengthen graduate recruitment.

Prior to his current role, Kissau served as associate dean of undergraduate education and academic affairs; chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary and K–12 Education; and director of foreign language teacher education at UNC Charlotte. He is a respected scholar whose research spans graduate education, teacher preparation, language instruction and faculty development, with an extensive record of publications, national presentations and professional recognition.

Kissau holds a Ph.D. in Education, a Master of Education in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in French and German Translation from Queen’s University (Canada).

Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a commitment to student success, faculty excellence and research innovation. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen graduate education and the research enterprise at the College of Charleston.

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