Unit: School of Nursing
Department: Family and Community Health Nursing
Mission
We champion health and well-being through the power of nursing
education, discovery and practice.
Role Purpose and Scope
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.
This 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. The
position works closely with the Dean, the Associate Dean for
Graduate Programs, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA), the
Associate Dean for Research, Scholarship and Innovation (ADRSI),
and the Associate Dean for Practice and Community Engagement
(ADPCE) to support the School’s mission and facilitate
communication across the organization.
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 (PDs) to ensure academic
integrity and teaching excellence within programs.
Collaborates with the ADAA 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.
Evaluates staff, full-time faculty, part-time faculty, and
adjunct faculty within the department (with input from the ADRSI,
ADPCE, and PDs as appropriate).
Mentors department faculty and ensures opportunities for
faculty development.
Addresses faculty, staff, and student matters within programs
and the department in alignment with university and school
policies.
Manages program and department resources effectively to support
operational excellence.
Represents the department in interactions with university and
community stakeholders as needed.
Maintains teaching, research/ scholarship, and service
responsibilities aligned with area of expertise and as outlined in
agreement with the Dean.
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
Personal Characteristics
- Strong communicator with the ability to engage faculty, staff,
students, and academic leaders
- Approachable and visible leader with an empowering, open‑door
style
- Supportive of a broad range of experiences, ethical, and a
trustworthy professional who models integrity and maturity
- Innovative and engaging leader who inspires respect, clarity,
and enthusiasm
- Creative problem‑solver with initiative and adaptability in
leading change
- Consensus builder and collaborative team player with strong
follow‑through
- Organized and analytical with excellent time‑management and
political acumen
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: Yes
Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Rank: Open
Tenure: Open
Months: 12 months
Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for
VCU’s robust
benefits
package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual
and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning
and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,
employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities
for career development and advancement, and more.
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Demmie Pennix and Terry Jones
Contact Email: dpennix@vcu.edu
and tjones69@vcu.edu