Dean of the School of Health Professions

School of Health Professions (SHP). This school prepares health professionals through rigorous academic preparation, meaningful clinical experiences, and Christ-centered professional formation. With nationally respected programs and strong connections to healthcare providers throughout the region, the SHP contributes significantly to Samford's reputation for excellence in healthcare education. The next Dean will join a university experiencing significant momentum in enrollment, philanthropy, and academic distinction. The Dean will have the opportunity to strengthen existing programs, support faculty excellence, expand strategic partnerships, advance innovation in health professions education, and prepare graduates to lead with competence, compassion, and Christian conviction in an evolving healthcare environment. This is a distinctive opportunity to lead one of Samford University's flagship schools within the College of Health Sciences and to shape the future of health professions education at one of the nation's leading Christ-centered universities. The School of Health Professions includes the following programs: Undergraduate: Communication Sciences and Disorders Exercise Science Health Sciences Sport Administration Sports Medicine Graduate: Doctor of Physical Therapy MS in Physician Assistant Studies MS in Speech-Language Pathology MS in Performance and Applied Sport Science The Role The Dean of the School of Health Professions serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Health Professions and reports directly to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Dean provides vision and leadership for all academic programs within the school, faculty recruitment and development, student success, accreditation, budget oversight, and external engagement. The Dean will guide a school distinguished by excellence in health professions education, interprofessional collaboration, and fulfilling Samford’s Christ-centered mission through the integration of Christian faith and learning. As a member of the Deans Council, the Dean collaborates closely with colleagues across the university and health sciences disciplines. The Dean will be a visible presence within the Samford community, a trusted advocate for faculty, staff, and students, and a strategic leader who advances the School of Health Profession's reputation, impact, and growth. Above all, the Dean will embody Samford University's Christ-centered mission while fostering a culture of excellence in teaching, scholarship, clinical practice, and service. Preferred Qualifications & Characteristics The ideal candidate will: Exemplify Christian faith and integrity, demonstrating the ability to advance Samford's Christ-centered mission through the work of the SHP. Demonstrate a relational, servant-leadership style that fosters trust, collaboration, and a culture of excellence among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and clinical partners. Hold an earned terminal degree in a discipline represented within the School of Health Professions, with credentials meriting appointment at the rank of professor. Bring significant academic leadership experience, preferably as a department chair, associate dean, dean, or equivalent administrator in higher education. Possess a distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, clinical practice and/or professional service. Demonstrate skills in faculty recruitment, mentoring, retention, promotion, and professional development. Have experience with accreditation processes and continuous quality improvement in health professions education. Foster innovation in curriculum development, experiential learning, and interprofessional education. Demonstrate strong external engagement skills, including partnership development with healthcare organizations, clinical agencies, community stakeholders, and professional associations. Possess a record of successful fundraising, alumni engagement, and advancement activities. Exhibit strong financial and operational acumen, with experience overseeing budgets, facilities, strategic planning, and resource allocation. Communicate effectively and inspire confidence through clarity of vision, authenticity, and collaboration. Duties & Responsibilities In addition to special assignments by the Provost, the Dean will: Provide strategic leadership for the School of Health Professions, articulating and implementing a clear vision that advances academic excellence, enrollment growth, and mission fulfillment. Recruit, support, evaluate, and develop faculty and staff while fostering excellence in teaching, scholarship, clinical education, and service. Oversee accreditation processes, assessment efforts, and compliance with professional and institutional standards. Advance interprofessional education and collaboration throughout the College of Health Sciences. Strengthen student recruitment, retention, professional formation, and career success. Promote innovation in academic programming, clinical education, and community engagement. Manage budgets, resources, personnel, and facilities with transparency, stewardship, and accountability. Build and sustain partnerships with healthcare systems, rehabilitation providers, clinical agencies, schools, community organizations, and professional associations. Advance alumni engagement, donor relations, and philanthropic support for the SHP's programs and strategic priorities. Represent the School with external constituencies while enhancing its regional and national reputation. Serve as an active member of the Deans Council, collaborating with university leadership to achieve institutional goals. Model Christian leadership, integrity, service, and the integration of faith and learning consistent with Samford University's mission and values. About Samford Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford ( samford.edu ) is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls more than 6,500 students from 46 states, Puerto Rico and 12 countries in its 10 academic schools with 450 full-time faculty. Samford is ranked #3 in the nation for career preparation and #7 in the nation for student learning opportunities as listed in The Wall Street Journal (2026). The University is dedicated to the promotion of rigorous academic inquiry in a Christian setting. The University seeks and prefers employee applicants of the Christian faith and offers competitive salaries with a generous benefits package. Application Process Application materials should include a cover letter detailing teaching and professional interests and areas of expertise, a curriculum vitae, a completed faculty application (link below), a faculty applicant Christian Mission Statement (link below), and a list of three references with contact information. Salary is competitive. The successful candidate must pass a background check and must be authorized to work in the United States, as Samford does not provide for visa sponsorship. Samford University is committed to fostering a vibrant learning environment among faculty, students, and staff, and strongly encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to the academic richness of the Samford community. Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2026. “Application for Faculty Position” can be found at: https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/Human_Resources/application-for-faculty-employment.pdf and the “Faculty Applicant Christian Mission Statement” can be found at: https://www.samford.edu/departments/files/academic-affairs/Faculty-Applicant-Christian-Mission-Statement.docx Please submit all materials in PDF format to: FACAPP@samford.edu Subject: Health Professions Dean For questions about the position please contact: Dr. Dawn McCormack, Search Committee Co-Chair mmccorm5@samford.edu Dr. Suresh Mathews, Search Committee Co-Chair smathew1@samford.edu In accordance with applicable federal and state laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments, the University does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, religion, or any other protected status under federal, state or local law applicable to the University, in its education policies, programs, and activities, in its admissions policies, in employment policies and practices, and all other areas of the University. As a faith-based institution, the University is exempted from certain laws and regulations concerning discrimination.