Senior Associate Dean for Research

Vanderbilt University

School of Nursing

Senior Associate Dean for Research

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Vanderbilt University in its search for Senior Associate Dean for Research.

For full consideration, please apply by July 22, 2026.

This is a rare opportunity to provide visionary research leadership at one of the nation’s most historic and resource-rich nursing institutions. The next Senior Associate Dean for Research (SADR) will join the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN), a nationally recognized leader in nursing research, education, practice, informatics, and scholarship, at a moment of transformation and momentum. With a bold new Manhattan, NY campus launching and a cutting-edge interdisciplinary research hub under development on the Nashville campus, VUSN is investing in the future of research and academic excellence. In this dynamic academic setting, the next SADR will have a rare opportunity to expand the School’s research enterprise, build and amplify its national leadership in nursing science, and shape the next generation of nurse scholars.

The incoming SADR will step into a thriving, collaborative environment at a School ranked No. 4 among the best graduate nursing schools by U.S. News & World Report, with top-ranked DNP and MSN programs, a highly engaged faculty, and robust research infrastructure, that includes the Center for Research Development and Scholarship (CRDS) and a fully supported Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Faculty benefit from dedicated research time, expert statistical and grant development support, and a collegial, forward-thinking culture that values inquiry, mentorship, and innovation.

Vanderbilt University offers a uniquely supportive environment for research, fueled by deep institutional commitment from the Chancellor and Provost. Their strategic investment in research growth is evident across the university, particularly within the School of Nursing, where interprofessional partnerships and a revitalized leadership team are driving momentum. The Dean, an accomplished scholar and mentor, has fostered a culture of inquiry and innovation, providing faculty with the resources they need to succeed, including generous start-up packages, protected time for research, and structured mentorship.

Set on a beautiful 340-acre national arboretum in the heart of Nashville, ranked among the best cities to live, Vanderbilt offers an exceptional quality of life and an ideal academic setting for research and collaboration. The School of Nursing is housed in a beautifully restored historic building and embedded in a world-class academic medical center and top-tier research university, with strong infrastructure, bold investments, and a culture that supports innovation.

Reporting to the VUSN Dean, the SADR will provide strategic leadership and direction for the growth of the School of Nursing’s research and scholarship programs. In addition to maintaining an active, externally funded research program as a principal investigator, the Senior Associate Dean also directs both the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program and the CRDS.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide leadership and direction for the growth of the School of Nursing’s research and scholarship programs
• Maintain an active externally funded research program as a principal investigator
• Serve as the Director of the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
• Serve as the Director of the Center for Research Development and Scholarship (CRDS)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated leadership abilities, creativity, ability to make timely decisions, ability to collaborate effectively, and openness to the ideas of others and to constructive feedback
• Ability to identify faculty strengths and to encourage others in their personal and professional growth and competency
• Strong administrative and management capabilities that reflect an appreciation for consensus-building, decision-making and establishing processes, as well as accountability, confidentiality and transparency
• Ability to maintain collaborative relationships with those in the School, Medical Center, University, and other internal and external entities
• Good financial acumen with experience in developing and managing budgets and other resources

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate in nursing or a related field
• Eligibility for RN licensure in Tennessee
• Rank of Associate or Full Professor
• Evidence of success in a sustained and significant program of research
• National recognition as a leader in the field