Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Department Chair

About the role

VCU School of Nursing invites candidates to apply to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Department Chair position. This senior academic leader provides strategic, operational, and visionary oversight of all pre-licensure and undergraduate academic programs and the Department of Family and Child Health Nursing. The Associate Dean ensures academic excellence, program integrity, and curriculum alignment with the School’s mission and national and professional standards. The role oversees faculty orientation, development, mentoring, and workload planning; supports student success initiatives; manages clinical partnerships; and collaborates closely with School leadership to advance academic, research, practice, and community engagement priorities.

Core Leadership Responsibilities

• Fosters a positive work environment grounded in strong communication, collaboration, and consensus-building within the department and across the organization.
• Establishes program and department-related goals and initiatives that support the overall mission of the school and university.
• Provides guidance to program directors to ensure academic integrity and teaching excellence within programs.
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in preparation of internal and external administrative reports.
• Assists with the recruitment and retention of qualified faculty and staff.
• Leads organizational-level orientation for new faculty and staff.
• Develops annual faculty work plans, including teaching assignments, for all faculty within the department.

Required Background And Expertise

• Full-time senior faculty rank (Associate Professor or Professor)
• Currently licensed or eligible for licensure to practice nursing in Virginia, with a minimum of two years’ experience in direct clinical care
• Earned doctorate in nursing or related discipline (at least one graduate degree must be in nursing)
• Demonstrated teaching experience in nursing programs
• Demonstrated leadership and mentorship experience in academic programs
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU

Preferred Experience And Expertise

• Tenured or tenure-eligible
• Academic administrative experience
• History of external funding for research, scholarly, or academic projects