Dean of Students is not a degree-free gig. At the very least, you need a master's degree plus experience dealing with students in some capacity. This could mean working in a college's registrar's or bursar's office or in some other academic department, perhaps even counseling. A bachelor's degree and a master's (in Educational Leadership, for example), and a doctorate is a triple threat and will take you far. Here are some other things that will help you be top dog on campus:

• Stellar writing and speaking skills. Is that, um, like, clear?
    
• Budget management. If you have to close out your checking account and start all over because you can't balance your register, this is not the job for you.
    
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
    
• No flying solo. You must be able to collaborate with others to achieve common goals. Your students are depending on you.
    
• Decent computer skills.

Oh, and you should probably actually like college students.

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