"Dean of the School of Nursing"

Job Details

Position Summary

The Dean serves as the School’s chief academic and administrative officer, reporting directly to the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

The Dean is responsible for providing vision and leadership for the School of Nursing, which includes ensuring overall academic program quality; achieving and maintaining accreditation; developing, administering, and evaluating the program’s curriculum and teaching modalities; fostering faculty research and scholarship; overseeing budgetary and fiscal matters; fundraising; developing new programs and clinical partnerships; and managing enrollment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

University of Georgia is conducting a national search with the assistance of WittKieffer Inc., an executive search firm. Applications, nominations, and inquiries can be directed to Ryan Crawford, Diane Smith, and Randi Miller at UGA-NursingDean@wittkieffer.com.

Posting Details

Posting Number: F2506P

Working Title: Dean of the School of Nursing

Department: SRVPAA-SR VP Acad Affrs & Prov

About the University of Georgia: Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Advertised Salary: Competitive Salary

Anticipated Start Date: 01/01/2026

Job Posting Date: 10/10/2025

Job Closing Date: Open until filled

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

Position Details

Classification Title: Dean AC

Faculty Rank: Professor

Contract Type: Fiscal (12 mo.)

Tenure Status: Negotiable

Minimum Qualifications

• A demonstrated record of strategic leadership and the skills required to oversee establishing and evolving a new school.
• An earned doctorate (Ph.D. or DNP) from an accredited institution with at least one of the candidate’s graduate degrees being in nursing.
• Academic and professional accomplishments that are sufficient to merit appointment at the rank of professor.
• Current nursing licensure and eligibility for nursing licensure in the state of Georgia and appropriate professional and clinical certifications in nursing.
• At least three (3) years of teaching experience in a nursing education program leading to a BSN or graduate degree.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• The ability to promote scholarly excellence and ensure outstanding academic programs.
• An understanding of the trends impacting healthcare, the nursing profession, and nursing education, and the ability to engage internal and external constituents to ensure the School of Nursing is postured for success in a dynamic environment.
• A leadership style that is collegial, collaborative, and committed to shared decision-making and strong management skills, including experience with budgets and personnel.
• Detail-oriented, organized, a proactive problem solver, and an effective communicator.
• The ability to successfully raise funds and to establish strong relationships with donors, alumni, public officials, and the nursing and healthcare community.
• The ability to play a key role in University leadership, advocating for the School, forging advantageous and strategic connections across colleges, and working collaboratively with other deans and campus units to further the goals and objectives of the School and University.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the mission, vision, and strategic direction for the new UGA School of Nursing.
• Lead the accreditation process to ensure regulatory compliance and approval with the goal of enrolling the first UGA class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students in fall 2027. This effort will include curriculum design, development, and approval, including, as appropriate, alignment with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Essentials; Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) approval; Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) approval; SACSCOC accreditation; and NCLEX-RN requirements
• Attract and retain students, enrolling an initial undergraduate junior-year cohort of roughly 60 students and expanding in the years following the charter class.
• Establish a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and research-oriented Ph.D. programs in nursing to train future nurse educators and researchers.
• Understand the needs of programs across undergraduate and graduate levels to advance the success of all students.
• Oversee all School operations and personnel, including recruiting new full-time, part-time, and adjunct faculty, administrators, and staff; developing the School’s bylaws, policies, and committee structure for appointment, evaluation, promotion, tenure, and governance, consistent with University System of Georgia and UGA policies and procedures; and establishing and managing the budget, including during the school’s formation before credit-hour revenue has been realized.
• Establish external partnerships and agreements with clinical training sites in Athens and surrounding areas and identify opportunities for other partnerships that advance the University’s mission, leveraging UGA’s land-grant and extension identity and presence throughout the state of Georgia through Health Extension programming, the Clinical and Translational Science Alliance, and other community engagement programs.
• Cultivate relationships with state and community partners, supporters, donors, and public officials as needed to establish and grow the new School, including but not limited to generating public and/or private financial and non-financial support for the School.
• Clearly communicate the School’s vision and mission to internal and external audiences.
• Establish the new School’s presence within the nursing academy, serving as the primary representative of the School of Nursing at the national level, and build and maintain relationships with public, corporate, and non-governmental organizations in the nursing field to advance the mission of the School.
• Promote collaborations and interprofessional education opportunities with other academic disciplines, including leveraging UGA’s newly founded School of Medicine and broader health sciences expertise, including the College of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, School of Social Work, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, and comprehensive One Health portfolio, with life sciences, plant sciences, medical sciences, and veterinary medicine.

Percentage Of Time: 100

Applicant Documents

Required Documents: 1. Resume/CV 2. Cover Letter