The University of California, Riverside School of Medicine invites nominations and applications for the position of Senior Associate Dean for
Student Affairs. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences and Dean, the Senior Associate Dean serves as the School's chief student affairs officer and provides strategic leadership for admissions, student success, academic support, wellness, career advising, student engagement, pathway programs, and student life. The incumbent will have a concurrent academic appointment in an appropriate department in the School of Medicine. Successful candidates must also have clear potential or demonstrated ability to work successfully with and benefit a diverse student body. As a member of the School's senior leadership team, the Senior Associate Dean will advance innovative, learner-centered programs that support medical students from recruitment through graduation and residency placement. The position also provides executive oversight for student information management, data governance, regulatory compliance, and accreditation-related student affairs activities. The Senior Associate Dean provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the School of Medicine's comprehensive Student Affairs portfolio, encompassing Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Pathway Programs, and holistic Student Support, Wellness, and Academic Success initiatives. Acting as a key member of the medical school leadership team, the incumbent drives institutional initiatives that foster student engagement, resilience, professional identity, and career readiness from recruitment through graduation and residency. This pivotal role ensures continuous quality improvement and strict compliance with LCME accreditation standards, FERPA, and university policies while championing innovative pathway programs to diversify the regional physician workforce. Furthermore, the Senior Associate Dean actively partners with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, strategic initiatives, advancement, and community leaders to strengthen alumni engagement, support historically underrepresented learners, and oversee major institutional milestones and events. Founded in 2013, the School of Medicine at UCR is the sixth University of California Medical School. We serve the rapidly growing Inland Southern California region by training a much-needed physician workforce and catalyzing innovations in research, education, and healthcare delivery. Our mission is to improve the health of the community in the Inland Empire, one of the most ethnically diverse and medically underserved areas of the country. UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a requirement. Advancement and promotion at the UCR is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input. The successful applicant must qualify for an academic appointment in one of the following series: Ladder Rank Professor, Professor of Clinical X, or Health Sciences Clinical Professor series at the Associate or Full Professor rank at UCR SOM as well as demonstrated service related to medical student affairs and/or medical education for the position of Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Candidates must possess a terminal degree (MD, DO, PhD, EdD, or equivalent). The successful candidate must have five or more years of experience with demonstrated leadership experience in academic medicine, medical education, student affairs, or higher education administration, including direct experience overseeing multiple functional areas within student affairs, such as admissions, advising, academic support, wellness, student conduct, or pathway programs. The successful candidate will be expected to show strong communication skills, leadership ability, and an organized and evidence-based approach to the education of medical students. Additional qualifications include the demonstration of outstanding academic accomplishments and trajectory, which may include innovative educational program development, excellence in teaching, clinical leadership, research or scholarly work. Prior experience with LCME accreditation standards, student affairs best practices, and medical education administration is highly preferred. The posted UC salary scales ( Academic salaries | UCOP ) set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 5 for the salary range. The budgetary salary range for this position is $250K - $380K, and final compensation will be dependent on specialty. This position includes membership in the health sciences compensation plan ( Health Sciences Compensation Plan ), which may provide eligibility for additional compensation. TO APPLY: Open Faculty & Academic Positions | School of Medicine Initial review of applications will begin on September 18, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. Search Firm ZRG has been exclusively retained by the University of California - Riverside School of Medicine to assist in the recruitment.
