Aurora University
Position Overview
Base pay range: $170,000.00/yr – $185,000.00/yr. Salary will be based on skills and experience. Aurora University is a private university dedicated to creating a student-centered environment that values equity, innovation, and continuous improvement. The university supports all employees with professional development opportunities and a range of tuition and employee benefits. Position Purpose
The Dean of the College of Health and Sciences provides visionary leadership to advance the College as a hub of innovation in emerging technology, health, and science. The Dean aligns academic programs with workforce demands, integrates cutting‑edge technologies—including AI—into curriculum, and builds strategic partnerships to position Aurora University as a leader in technology‑enabled health and science education. Core Competencies
Mission Alignment & Strategic Vision : Guides the College toward an inclusive, teaching‑centered institution that balances liberal arts and professional credentials while embracing emerging technologies. Agility & Innovation : Develops new revenue streams, innovative programs, and partnerships, and adapts to changing market demands. Technology Leadership : Integrates AI, data science, virtual/augmented reality, and other emerging technologies across programs, and champions a hybrid campus delivery model. Collaborative Excellence : Works effectively with faculty, staff, students, admissions, advancement, alumni affairs, and external partners. People and Culture : Leads with empathy, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity; mentors faculty and staff; promotes belonging and inclusive excellence. Integrity & Confidentiality : Handles all information with discretion and maintains ethical standards. Essential Job Functions
Student & Faculty Success
Lead with empathy, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity. Mentor faculty and staff to integrate high‑impact, student‑centered teaching practices. Promote belonging and inclusive excellence in health, science and technology. Optimize the student experience across online, hybrid, and in‑person modalities to attract and retain diverse students and improve career outcomes. Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management
Strategically manage the College’s academic portfolio and develop a 3‑5 year strategic plan aligned with university goals. Design and implement a menu of online, in‑person, and hybrid course options that appeal to diverse learners. Integrate emerging technologies into curricula across all modalities. Strengthen pre‑health profession pathways through enhanced advising and partnerships. Identify and develop new revenue opportunities through innovative programs, grants, and partnerships. Operations & Resource Management
Supervise and mentor department chairs, faculty, and staff. Manage budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning to ensure fiscal health. Collaborate with admissions to develop enrollment strategies that meet or exceed enrollment and net revenue goals. Partner with campus planning to recommend technology‑enabled laboratory spaces and collaborative learning environments. Partnership Development & External Relations
Build industry and healthcare partnerships to create internship pipelines, research collaborations, and advisory boards. Collaborate with Advancement on grant development and fundraising. Essential Job Requirements
Required Education
PhD or EdD in a health sciences, STEM, or related discipline (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, or Exercise Science). Required Experience
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience (e.g., department chair, program director, associate dean, or dean). Proven success in academic program development, assessment, and strategic planning. Track record of integrating technology into curriculum and/or research programs. Experience with online or hybrid program development and implementation. Experience building industry partnerships and employer relationships. Preferred Experience
Experience managing academic portfolio decisions. Experience in an HSI, MSI, or diverse institutional setting. Experience with pre‑health professions advising or professional school partnerships. Experience leading hybrid campus initiatives or multi‑modal program delivery. Skills
Student‑Centered Philosophy
Deep commitment to student success and teaching‑centered education. Understanding of challenges faced by diverse student populations. Customer‑service focused with commitment to equitable resolution of student concerns. Passion for mentoring students and helping them achieve career goals. Strategic Leadership
Visionary thinking with ability to anticipate future trends. Tolerance for ambiguity in a rapidly changing environment. Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to identify and develop new revenue opportunities. Agility and adaptability in responding to rapidly changing educational and technological landscapes. Data‑driven decision‑making using enrollment analytics, market research, and outcomes assessment. Technology Integration
Understanding of emerging technologies (AI, machine learning, data science, bioinformatics, health informatics, computational biology) and their applications in education and research. Ability to lead faculty development in technology‑enhanced pedagogy across online, hybrid, and in‑person modalities. Understanding of best practices in online and hybrid course design, particularly in laboratory and clinical sciences. Communication & Collaboration
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact effectively with diverse faculty, staff, students, employers, and community partners. Outstanding oral and written communication skills that reflect positively on the university. Proven ability to foster cooperative, inclusive work environments. Skilled in building consensus while making difficult decisions. Management & Operations
Budget preparation and fiscal management expertise. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment. Skilled in supervising, mentoring, and developing personnel. Experience with accreditation processes and regulatory compliance. Ability to assess programs using completion data, enrollment trends, and market analysis. Partnership Development
Demonstrated success building relationships with healthcare systems, research institutions, or industry partners. Ability to represent the university to external constituencies. Track record of cultivating advisory boards and maintaining employer engagement. Physical Requirements
Ability to move about campus and between locations (Aurora and Woodstock campuses). Ability to work flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and occasional travel. Ability to work in office, laboratory, and classroom environments. Benefits
Health, dental, life, vision, and long‑term disability insurance. 403(b) retirement plan administered by TIAA with matching contributions from the first day of employment. Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent‑care). Paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick leave) and nine major holidays. Tuition assistance for AU undergraduate courses after one year of full‑time employment; graduate tuition assistance at 60% for eligible employees. Access to AU’s Tuition Exchange Consortiums and the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program. Equal Opportunity Employer
Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Search Assistance
The search for Aurora University’s next Dean for College of Health & Sciences is being assisted by Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence.
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Base pay range: $170,000.00/yr – $185,000.00/yr. Salary will be based on skills and experience. Aurora University is a private university dedicated to creating a student-centered environment that values equity, innovation, and continuous improvement. The university supports all employees with professional development opportunities and a range of tuition and employee benefits. Position Purpose
The Dean of the College of Health and Sciences provides visionary leadership to advance the College as a hub of innovation in emerging technology, health, and science. The Dean aligns academic programs with workforce demands, integrates cutting‑edge technologies—including AI—into curriculum, and builds strategic partnerships to position Aurora University as a leader in technology‑enabled health and science education. Core Competencies
Mission Alignment & Strategic Vision : Guides the College toward an inclusive, teaching‑centered institution that balances liberal arts and professional credentials while embracing emerging technologies. Agility & Innovation : Develops new revenue streams, innovative programs, and partnerships, and adapts to changing market demands. Technology Leadership : Integrates AI, data science, virtual/augmented reality, and other emerging technologies across programs, and champions a hybrid campus delivery model. Collaborative Excellence : Works effectively with faculty, staff, students, admissions, advancement, alumni affairs, and external partners. People and Culture : Leads with empathy, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity; mentors faculty and staff; promotes belonging and inclusive excellence. Integrity & Confidentiality : Handles all information with discretion and maintains ethical standards. Essential Job Functions
Student & Faculty Success
Lead with empathy, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity. Mentor faculty and staff to integrate high‑impact, student‑centered teaching practices. Promote belonging and inclusive excellence in health, science and technology. Optimize the student experience across online, hybrid, and in‑person modalities to attract and retain diverse students and improve career outcomes. Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management
Strategically manage the College’s academic portfolio and develop a 3‑5 year strategic plan aligned with university goals. Design and implement a menu of online, in‑person, and hybrid course options that appeal to diverse learners. Integrate emerging technologies into curricula across all modalities. Strengthen pre‑health profession pathways through enhanced advising and partnerships. Identify and develop new revenue opportunities through innovative programs, grants, and partnerships. Operations & Resource Management
Supervise and mentor department chairs, faculty, and staff. Manage budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning to ensure fiscal health. Collaborate with admissions to develop enrollment strategies that meet or exceed enrollment and net revenue goals. Partner with campus planning to recommend technology‑enabled laboratory spaces and collaborative learning environments. Partnership Development & External Relations
Build industry and healthcare partnerships to create internship pipelines, research collaborations, and advisory boards. Collaborate with Advancement on grant development and fundraising. Essential Job Requirements
Required Education
PhD or EdD in a health sciences, STEM, or related discipline (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Data Science, Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, or Exercise Science). Required Experience
Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible academic leadership experience (e.g., department chair, program director, associate dean, or dean). Proven success in academic program development, assessment, and strategic planning. Track record of integrating technology into curriculum and/or research programs. Experience with online or hybrid program development and implementation. Experience building industry partnerships and employer relationships. Preferred Experience
Experience managing academic portfolio decisions. Experience in an HSI, MSI, or diverse institutional setting. Experience with pre‑health professions advising or professional school partnerships. Experience leading hybrid campus initiatives or multi‑modal program delivery. Skills
Student‑Centered Philosophy
Deep commitment to student success and teaching‑centered education. Understanding of challenges faced by diverse student populations. Customer‑service focused with commitment to equitable resolution of student concerns. Passion for mentoring students and helping them achieve career goals. Strategic Leadership
Visionary thinking with ability to anticipate future trends. Tolerance for ambiguity in a rapidly changing environment. Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to identify and develop new revenue opportunities. Agility and adaptability in responding to rapidly changing educational and technological landscapes. Data‑driven decision‑making using enrollment analytics, market research, and outcomes assessment. Technology Integration
Understanding of emerging technologies (AI, machine learning, data science, bioinformatics, health informatics, computational biology) and their applications in education and research. Ability to lead faculty development in technology‑enhanced pedagogy across online, hybrid, and in‑person modalities. Understanding of best practices in online and hybrid course design, particularly in laboratory and clinical sciences. Communication & Collaboration
Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact effectively with diverse faculty, staff, students, employers, and community partners. Outstanding oral and written communication skills that reflect positively on the university. Proven ability to foster cooperative, inclusive work environments. Skilled in building consensus while making difficult decisions. Management & Operations
Budget preparation and fiscal management expertise. Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment. Skilled in supervising, mentoring, and developing personnel. Experience with accreditation processes and regulatory compliance. Ability to assess programs using completion data, enrollment trends, and market analysis. Partnership Development
Demonstrated success building relationships with healthcare systems, research institutions, or industry partners. Ability to represent the university to external constituencies. Track record of cultivating advisory boards and maintaining employer engagement. Physical Requirements
Ability to move about campus and between locations (Aurora and Woodstock campuses). Ability to work flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and occasional travel. Ability to work in office, laboratory, and classroom environments. Benefits
Health, dental, life, vision, and long‑term disability insurance. 403(b) retirement plan administered by TIAA with matching contributions from the first day of employment. Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent‑care). Paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick leave) and nine major holidays. Tuition assistance for AU undergraduate courses after one year of full‑time employment; graduate tuition assistance at 60% for eligible employees. Access to AU’s Tuition Exchange Consortiums and the Council of Independent Colleges Tuition Exchange Program. Equal Opportunity Employer
Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Search Assistance
The search for Aurora University’s next Dean for College of Health & Sciences is being assisted by Summit Search Solutions, Inc. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted in confidence.
#J-18808-Ljbffr