Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Nursing

About the role

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) primary role is to support the School of Nursing’s academic mission by providing leadership, oversight, and direction across undergraduate (BS, ABS, RN-BS) and graduate programs (DNP and PhD).

Responsibilities

• Provides overall leadership and implements the strategic vision across the undergraduate (BS, ABS, RN-BS) and graduate programs (DNP and PhD) to ensure academic excellence and compliance of all programs with applicable accreditation and licensing requirements consistent with an R1 AAU research intensive university.
• Collaborates with Assistant/Associate Deans and Program Directors in the School of Nursing and Academic leaders across the university (Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School etc.) regarding curriculum implementation, operational efficiency, and innovative academic programming.
• Recruits and retains highly qualified tenured/tenure-track, clinical track, and adjunct faculty to achieve excellent educational outcomes for students.
• Works with other Assistant/Associate Deans/Program Directors to assign and balance faculty workload to achieve educational, research, and practice/service goals.
• Works with the Dean and other members of the leadership team to plan, design, implement, and innovate new programs/course offerings for students, alumni, and community members.
• Maintains and strengthens a core commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion to prepare the leaders of tomorrow for service to their local, regional, state, national and global communities.
• Engages with the Vice Provosts and Deans of the Graduate and Undergraduate Schools regarding curriculum, students, enrollment, faculty, and student issues as needed to achieve program outcomes.
• Develops, modifies, and maintains school and academic policies as needed to support educational objectives, achieve accreditation standards, and comply with licensing requirements.
• Works with faculty to obtain external funding from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), or other components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support innovative programmatic expansion and excellence in undergraduate and graduate programs (DNP and PhD).
• Serves on the Associate Deans Councils across decanal units to advance the outcomes and innovate new programs, develop university wide policies, and share/disseminate information with members of the SON as appropriate.
• Maintains oversight regarding curriculum evaluation and implementation. Monitors student performance on state/national licensing exams for quality outcomes.
• Provides oversight to the Office of Student Affairs regarding advising and student services for pre-admitted/admitted students; out-of-state and international student recruitment and retention initiatives as appropriate; provides oversight for any issues that impact student success across programs including student progression, grade changes, grievances, double major requests, Academic Integrity, and student athletic team participation.
• Coordinates with the Office of Student Affairs to provide oversight of scholarships and awards to students consistent with SON and university policies.
• Provides oversight to ensure faculty development for junior/senior faculty to advance in the development of their teaching and classroom performance.
• Works with the Dean and Assistant/Associate Deans and Associate Dean for Research to develop and coordinate faculty mentoring to support faculty in pursuit of promotion in the tenure track and/or clinical ranks to achieve academic scholarship goals consistent with a R1/AAU research intensive program/clinical scholarship to achieve promotion in rank with respect to their faculty appointment.
• Provides overall oversight and guidance for annual evaluation of courses, programs, faculty, students and staff to achieve educational and practice/service goals of the SON.
• Works with the ADR regarding faculty assessment for research and scholarship productivity.
• Provides oversight for simulation and IPE activities for undergraduate and graduate programs.
• Works with the information technology (IT) team and instructional designer regarding the use of computer and information systems to support operation of educational programs and delivery of the curriculum for in class/online activities regarding the use of software.
• Recommend securing and adaptation of new software, resources, and equipment to support effective delivery of the curriculum and services to advance the strategic goals of the SON.
• Coordinates with the Dean and other academic unit leaders in nursing to facilitate and expand practice opportunities and community partnerships to support the academic, research and practice mission for students and faculty in the SON.
• Engages with practice and community partners to secure clinical placements and maintain academic-practice partnership relations.

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (DNP and/or PhD) in nursing with undergraduate/graduate degrees from regionally accredited colleges/universities.
• Registered nurse licensed (or license eligible) to practice in the State of New York.
• CV consistent to hold the rank of Associate Professor/Professor (clinical and/or tenure track) at the University at Buffalo and be a member of the Graduate Faculty.
• Evidence of a sustained and progressive record of academic leadership and scholarly productivity at the national level.
• Prior administrative, teaching, research and clinical practice experience involving the successful management of faculty, students and/or professional staff.
• Ability to lead in a complex organizational environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as an Assistant/Associate Dean or Department chair in an Undergraduate and/or Graduate Program(s).
• Ability to organize, inspire, support, and build effective teams to advance the missions of the SON; listen and build consensus among varied constituents; promote innovation and manage change; respond to and manage difficult conversations to achieve outcomes and improve the School of Nursing.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with the Dean and SON leadership, faculty, staff, and students to advance UB’s mission to become a top 25 public research university.
• Prior experience supporting and/or developing and implementing new academic programs.
• Experience developing and sustaining collaborative partnerships.
• Strong communication skills across students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners to achieve strategic outcomes.

Benefits

We are particularly looking for candidates who can operate effectively in a diverse community of students and faculty and share our vision of helping all constituents reach their full potential. We are committed to developing an excellent and diverse community of scholars and students engaged in education, research, and service. We encourage applications from women, members of historically marginalized groups, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.