East Tennessee State University (ETSU), located in the Appalachian Highlands of Tennessee, invites applications and nominations for an experienced, creative, student-focused, and dynamic academic leader to serve as Dean of the College of Health Sciences. We seek a visionary leader who will foster the College’s leadership role in the state, region, and nation as they lead a dynamic faculty in their quest for innovation and excellence in education, research, and clinical practice.
The incoming Dean will become an integral member of a diverse, progressive leadership team of deans focused on regional health improvement through the unified branding of ETSU Health. ETSU Health includes the newly restructured College of Health Sciences, the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, the College of Nursing, and the College of Public Health. Together, they enroll 4,000 students and offer 35 different degree programs, including 12 clinical and research doctoral degrees, and have achieved national recognition for their interprofessional education programs and practice partnerships spanning more than three decades. With a commitment to preparing graduates to practice in rural and underserved areas, ETSU Health is on the front lines of building the future healthcare workforce for the region and nation.
The College of Health Sciences is newly restructured to feature two schools with six departments, a research center, and a research doctoral program. The School of Clinical Sciences includes the Departments of Allied Health Sciences, Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, Counseling & Human Services, Rehabilitative Sciences, and Social Work. The School of Human Performance and Sport Science includes the Department of Exercise Science, the Center of Excellence in Sport Science and Coach Education, and MS and PhD programs in Sport Science and Coach Education. The College enrolls over 1,500 students in 20 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master's, and clinical and research doctoral levels. Clinical activity within the college is expanding in volume and scope with over 6,000 community members receiving care last year.
Roles and Responsibilities
We seek a nationally recognized leader who respects the complex nature of interprofessional education and practice across settings and specialties. The Dean is expected to cultivate a healthy work environment by embracing a culture of transparency and shared governance, assuring the well-being of the College through the allocation of funds, space, and other resources to support the College mission. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Health Sciences, responsible for promoting and sustaining excellence in teaching; curriculum and program development and evaluation; faculty research and scholarship; faculty and staff recruitment, employment, professional development, and evaluation; student success and support services; and support excellent healthcare delivery in the region through the Division of Clinical Affairs and ETSU Health practice networks.
The Dean will support and develop strong interprofessional collaborative relationships with other Colleges within the University, external academic institutions, local and regional health systems, healthcare providers, and community partners. They will provide leadership for strategic planning and policymaking, represent the College on university governance committees, and ensure compliance with internal and external policies, accreditation, and certification requirements. The Dean will also set the conditions for interdisciplinary research growth consistent with ETSU’s ambition to be one of the premier R2 research universities in the nation.
Qualifications
Required qualifications include an earned doctorate in a field represented by one of the academic departments in the college; scholarly achievement consistent with appointment as a tenured full professor in an academic department in the college; at least 10 years of evidence of professional leadership and progressive administrative responsibilities in university administration; and licensed or license-eligible in their healthcare discipline, if licensure is usually required for practice in that field.
Ideal candidates will demonstrate a record of progressive, innovative, and effective academic leadership and administrative experience; strong record of funded research and scholarship; teaching and curriculum experience in undergraduate and graduate clinical health science education, including doctoral education; evidence of exceptional communication skills; demonstrated ability to engage in collaborative, constructive approaches to decision making; ability to develop and maintain partnerships with internal and external community stakeholders, including donor and alumni relations; commitment to diversity and inclusion; demonstrated advocacy for faculty research, scholarship and practice that crosses the care continuum; and ability to provide strong fiscal management and oversight and guide development activities. Additional characteristics include experience in rural healthcare, vulnerable populations, distance education, trauma-informed care and education, and collaborating with public and private sectors of healthcare communities for grant funding and partnership opportunities.
University and Region
East Tennessee State University is a regional state-supported institution serving nearly 14,000 students yearly. It is located in Northeast Tennessee in Johnson City (population 72,514), with a million people within a 75-mile radius. The area abounds in scenic mountain beauty and places of historical interest and is prized for outdoor recreation, festivals, and cultural experiences.
Application Process
Parker Executive Search is assisting East Tennessee State University in the search for the Dean of the College of Health Sciences. The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume/CV, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted before September 23, 2024. Please submit applications directly to Parker Executive Search. For additional information, please contact:
Porsha Williams, Vice President
Jacob Anderson, Senior Principal
Julia Butler-Mayes, Ph.D., Executive Recruiting Coordinator
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875
Atlanta, GA 30328
(770) 804-1996 ext.: 111
janderson@parkersearch.com || jbutler-mayes@parkersearch.com
ETSU is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring all our students, faculty, and staff work in an environment of openness and acceptance. Successful candidates should have a demonstrated commitment and contribution to fostering and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. East Tennessee State University (ETSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.