Dean, School of Nursing

Job description

Summary

The Dean of the UMSN serves as the School's chief academic and administrative officer and is a key member of the University's academic leadership.

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Health Sciences Council of Deans, which consists of leaders from all health sciences schools and colleges on the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn Campuses.

The Dean works closely with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners to advance UMSN's mission and priorities.

The role holds broad authority over academic programs, faculty and staff development, budgetary planning, advancement, and external engagement.

The Dean plays a central role in fostering a culture of inclusion, innovation, and excellence, and in positioning the School of Nursing as a national and global leader in academic nursing.

The Dean leads a collaborative and matrixed leadership team composed of associate deans responsible for research, global affairs, professional graduate studies, professional practice, undergraduate studies, and faculty affairs and development.

The team also includes the chairs of the School's two academic departments--Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, and Systems, Populations and Leadership, as well as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Development Officer.

Together, this group supports the Dean in advancing the School's academic, research, clinical, and operational priorities.

What You'll Do

Set a Bold Course for UMSN's Future

Like other leaders at the University of Michigan, this dean will be granted significant autonomy and will be empowered to drive strategic growth.

In planning out this growth, the Dean will lead a collaborative strategic planning process that brings together faculty, staff, students, and partners to define a clear and ambitious path for UMSN.

The Dean will skillfully unite the School's community around shared priorities and set goals that build on UMSN's longstanding excellence in nursing education, research, and clinical practice.

With a foundation that includes top-ranked academic programs, a strong commitment to health equity, deep interdisciplinary connections across campus, and a global reach, the School is well-positioned to address the most pressing challenges in healthcare.

The Dean must be a skilled and inspiring leader who can foster trust, engage diverse perspectives, and translate collective vision into a strategic roadmap that advances innovation, impact, and leadership in nursing.

Advance Research and Doctoral Education to Elevate Scientific Impact

The next Dean will grow the School's research enterprise and graduate programs.

UMSN faculty lead high- impact, interdisciplinary research in areas such as symptom science, big data analytics, and health systems effectiveness, unified by a strong commitment to health equity and supported by initiatives like the Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking, and Health (DASH) and the Healthcare Innovation Impact Program (HiiP).

As federal funding priorities shift, the Dean must strategically support faculty through resource alignment, development opportunities, and entrepreneurial pathways.

Expanding the PhD program and building infrastructure for interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential to increasing research output and preparing future nurse scientists.

With access to the resources of a top-tier R1 university and an exceptional faculty committed to excellence in research and graduate education, the Dean will be well-positioned to achieve these goals.

Foster Educational Innovation and Academic Excellence

The University of Michigan is known for innovation, and UMSN's strong academic programs reflect that spirit.

The next Dean will have the opportunity to reimagine how students learn and how faculty teach, strengthening connections across undergraduate, graduate, and research domains.

This includes accelerating innovation in curriculum design, instructional technology, and simulation-based learning, while embracing tools such as AI and immersive technologies.

The Dean will support faculty creativity and experimentation, preparing students for a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.

As enrollment grows and delivery models diversify, the Dean will ensure educational quality remains high, grounded in inclusive pedagogy and a commitment to equitable outcomes.

UMSN also benefits from robust interprofessional education offerings through the , a network of more than health experts, and collaborate with the School's Pivot Hub to drive equity, policy, and practice innovation.

The School also partners closely with Michigan Medicine, the University Health System, and a wide range of global initiatives.

The next Dean will strengthen these connections to expand experiential learning, collaborative research, and integrated care models, while aligning with University-wide efforts such as public engagement and the North Campus Innovation Hub.

Cultivate Philanthropic Support and Deftly Steward Resources

The next Dean will serve as a vital ambassador for UMSN, inspiring donors, alumni, and external partners with a compelling vision for the future of nursing.

UMSN is currently in the public phase of a $38 million campaign and has already secured nearly two-thirds of its goal.

Building on a strong foundation of support, the next Dean will strengthen relationships with existing alumni and donors while expanding the School's reach to engage new audiences drawn to nursing's essential role in promoting health equity and improving outcomes for all.

They will collaborate closely with University leadership, health system partners, foundations, and community stakeholders to secure resources that advance student success, faculty excellence, research innovation, and infrastructure development.

Operational acumen and responsible financial stewardship will be essential to translating these resources into sustainable, long- term growth.

Champion Inclusive Excellence and a Values-Driven Culture

The next Dean will continue to foster a culture of belonging and inclusive excellence within the School, ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff feel supported and empowered.

By strengthening this foundation, the Dean will position UMSN to advance health equity more broadly, working to eliminate disparities, expand access to care, and serve Michigan's diverse rural and urban communities.

UMSN has embraced a values-based framework centered on Empowerment, Practice, Inspiration, and Cultivation (EPIC).

The next dean will be tasked with sustaining this cultural momentum while adapting it to future needs.

As the School continues to grow in diversity and complexity, leadership must ensure that EPIC values remain embedded in daily practice, governance, and community engagement.

This includes fostering psychological safety, inclusive decision-making, and a sense of belonging across faculty, staff, and students.

Who We Are

The (U-M) is home to 19 nationally recognized schools and colleges, making it one of the most comprehensive and academically diverse institutions in the world, and ranked among the top three public universities nationally, with more than graduate programs ranked in the top ten by U.S. News & World Report.

There are more than eight health sciences schools that consistently rank in the top 10 in their respective fields.

U-M had more than $2 billion in research expenditures for fiscal year and ranked fourth in the nation among all institutions of higher education, and second among public universities, based on fiscal year National Science Foundation research expenditure rankings.

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Required Skill Profession

Other Management Occupations