Dean Position of the Heimarck School of Health Professions

Concordia College seeks a dynamic deanto provide visionary strategic, academic, andadministrative leadership for the Sanford HeimarckSchool of Health Professions. The ideal candidate willinspire collaboration and advance the School’s visionand the mission of Concordia College. With recentenrollment growth and a compelling strategic visionset forth by President Colin Irvine, this is an excitingtime to join Concordia College, a mission-drivenand collaborative institution with a reputation forpreparing exceptional leaders in health professionsand related fields. CONCORDIA COLLEGE MISSION The purpose of Concordia College is to influencethe affairs of the world by sending into societythoughtful and informed men and women dedicatedto the Christian life. SANFORD HEIMARCK SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS PURPOSE STATEMENT We educate future health professionals throughinterprofessional, experiential, and evidence-basedlearning to influence the health of the world ascourageous and ethical citizens andtransformational leaders. ABOUT THE SCHOOL: The Sanford Heimarck School of HealthProfessions is one of Concordia College’s threeacademic schools, dedicated to preparing thenext generation of health professionals, leaders,and change agents. Programs span Nursing,Social Work, Public Health, Healthcare Leadership,Exercise Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sociology,Clinical Laboratory Science, and multiple prehealthprofessions pathways. The school also housesthe interdisciplinary Center for Population Health,which is poised for further development as a hubfor applied research, community partnerships,and innovative programming in health equity andsystems change. Looking ahead, the school is deeplycommitted to simulation-based learning experiencesand boasts a growing simulation program across allhealth professions programs; the school also aspiresto explore the practical and ethical application ofartificial intelligence in health professions practiceand policy.The school’s 20 full-time faculty, along with a widenetwork of highly qualified adjuncts and professionalstaff, bring together deep disciplinary expertisewith significant professional experience. Together,they create a dynamic environment that integratesclassroom and simulation-based instruction withclinical placements and internships, under a sharedcommitment to interprofessional, team-basedlearning. The director of prehealth professions also reports to the dean of the school and worksclosely with students seeking admission to healthprofessions programming, such as medicine,physical therapy, occupational therapy, dentistry,etc. Through a committed network of advisors, thecollege provides support for prehealth professionsstudents, most of whom major in the School of Artsand Sciences or the School of Health Professions.With a record of high licensure pass rates, stronggraduate school placement, and outstandingemployment outcomes, the school has earned areputation for producing competent, compassionateprofessionals with strong leadership capacity readyto meet pressing health needs.The 23,000 square foot Heimarck Center providesstate-of-the-art teaching and simulation spacesdesigned for contemporary health education. TheHeimarck Center, along with the recently renovatedIntegrated Science Center, are the key teaching andresearch spaces for the School of Health Professions.Strong partnerships with regional healthcaresystems and organizations ensure that students areexceptionally well prepared for professional roles orfurther study, while also providing fertile ground forcommunity-engaged scholarship and collaboration.The school is well-positioned for continued growthand innovation. The dean will play a pivotal role insustaining this momentum and leading the schoolinto its next chapter of excellence. ABOUT CONCORDIA COLLEGE: Concordia College is a vibrant primarilyundergraduate institution whose mission is to“influence the affairs of the world by sendinginto society thoughtful and informed men andwomen dedicated to the Christian life.” With 1,913undergraduate students, the college is committedto academic and inclusive excellence and holisticstudent development across all dimensions ofcampus life. The college is also committed to growthin graduate education with six master’s programscurrently offered.Undergraduate enrollment has experiencedsignificant growth under the direction of PresidentColin Irvine’s strategic leadership, with the college experiencing its largest enrollment since 2018.Undergraduate students are inthe life of the campus, with over 55% of the studentbody participating in either Division III athletics ormusic ensembles.Strategic priorities focus on growing enrollmentand ensuring student success, while expandinginnovative programs, including those that connect the liberal arts with professional preparation andconnect student’s cocurricular and academicinterests. Concordia embraces its calling to educatestudents for lives of meaning, service, and leadership in a global society. ABOUT FARGO-MOORHEAD: Fargo, North Dakota – Moorhead, Minnesota is avibrant and rapidly growing metro region straddling the Red River. With a population of more than250,000, the area offers the cultural, educational,and economic amenities of a larger city whilemaintaining an affordable cost of living and a strongsense of community. It is home to a thriving artsscene, diverse dining, abundant outdoor recreation,and five colleges and universities, making it adynamic college town.For health professionals, the region is particularlyappealing: it serves as a regional hub for healthcare,anchored by world-class systems like Sanford Healthand Essentia Health, offering extensive opportunitiesfor clinical partnerships, research, and professionalcollaboration. Fargo-Moorhead’s combination ofcareer opportunities, quality of life, and welcoming community makes it an ideal place to live and work THE OPPORTUNITY: The next dean will play a pivotal role in shaping theSanford Heimarck School’s future. Priorities include:Driving enrollment growth by supporting existingprograms, enhancing student recruitment andretention strategies, and forging new partnerships.Developing new undergraduate, graduate, andpostbaccalaureate programs to meet workforceneeds, particularly in the area of graduate orpostbaccalaureate programming.Fully launching the Center for PopulationHealth, establishing it as a regional leader ininterprofessional and team-based learning,collaborative research, and community impact The dean will promote excellence in teaching,foster faculty development, and grow community andhealthcare partnerships, ensuring that Concordiagraduates continue to achieve outstanding licensure,placement, and career outcomes.This role offers a unique opportunity to expandthe school’s reach, enhance innovation, and leadmission-driven health professions education ata pivotal moment for both Concordia and thecommunity it serves.As a member of the provost’s leadership team, thedean will work closely with the provost and othercampus leaders to strengthen collaboration, promoteshared governance, and implement consistentacademic strategies and policies. HOW TO APPLY: Applications can be submitted online at https://cord.edu/careers Required application materials: Curriculum vitae,cover letter explaining interest in and preparationfor the role, and names and contact information forfour references. References will not be contactedwithout the consent of the applicant.Application review will begin January 12, 2026. Inquiries can be directed to: Susan Larson, Provost larson@cord.edu 218.299.3001 Brian Anderson, Talent Management Coordinator, Human Resources bander28@cord.edu 218.299.3894 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Academic Leadership Provide vision and direction for health professionsand prehealth professions programs to promote excellence in teaching, scholarship, and community engagement. Oversee curriculum development and review to maintain academic rigor and relevance. Identify and lead opportunities for new undergraduate, graduate, and postbaccalaureate programs. Foster innovation in pedagogy and promote theintegration of technology, including AI, in teaching and learning. Facilitate the continued development andimplementation of interprofessional educationopportunities and activities that bring togetherstudents pursuing health professions and prehealthprofessions programs. Faculty Development and Supervision Recruit, mentor, and evaluate school faculty toensure professional growth and instructional effectiveness. Promote faculty engagement in research and creative activity, and interdisciplinary andinterprofessional collaboration. Sustain an inclusive and collegial environment thatsupports teaching excellence, scholarship, andservice, and promote state-of-the-art teaching andpedagogy. Partner with department chairs and program directors and faculty members in achieving the goals of theschool and college. Student Success and Enrollment Growth Partner with enrollment and marketing andprogram directors to grow enrollment andstrengthen retention. Enhance student engagement through cocurricularprogramming, experiential and clinical learningopportunities and community engagement. Champion initiatives to enhance belonging,inclusion, and student success across academicprograms. Embrace opportunities to collaborate with the Center for Holistic Health on wellness education forundergraduate students. Administrative and Operational Oversight Manage budgets to align with institutional prioritiesand financial sustainability. Ensure compliance with accreditation standardsand assist program directors in preparing for and responding to external reviews. Supervise department chairs and program directors and work with them to support equitable studentsuccess and continuous improvement. Collaboration with the Provo stand Provost Leadership Team Serve as a member of the Provost LeadershipTeam, advocating for the teaching, scholarlyand programmatic needs of the school, as well as advising the provost on academic policies, institutional priorities, and operational planning. Lead or contribute to cross‑campus initiatives, taskforces, and committees, particularly those relatedto enrollment strategies. Take on special projects or initiatives as directed bythe provost.

External Relations and

Campus Relationships Represent the school to external audiences, including healthcare partners, alumni, legislators, and other academic institutions. Support the work of enrollment, marketing, advancement, student development, and the Office of Mission and Inclusion. Build and strengthen partnerships with healthcare organizations, agencies, and community organizations, as well as alumni and donors, to expand opportunities for students and to support the school’s visibility and resources. This is an 11‑month position with a start date of July 1, 2026. In addition to the duties noted above, the successful candidate will either teach or maintain a fundraising portfolio with expectation to meet revenue generation goals. \ The teaching or fundraising portfolio will be determined based on experience and interest of the successful candidate. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Graduate degree in a discipline represented by the school or other relevant health‑related field, with appropriate experience commensurate with the expectations for the position. Demonstrated experience in academic leadership (e.g., department chair, program director, associate dean) or professional leadership in health‑related fields. Proven ability to manage budgets and operationalize strategic initiatives. Excellent interpersonal communication, problem‑solving skills, and cross‑department collaboration. Success in building interdisciplinary or interprofessional collaborations and/or community partnerships. Commitment to the intersection of liberal learning and professional education. Experience with college‑level teaching. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Earned doctorate or terminal degree in a discipline represented by the school or other relevant health professions. Record of teaching, scholarship, and service commensurate with appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor. Demonstrated experience in launching new academic programs aligned with workforce and societal needs. Experience in growing enrollment through program development, recruitment partnerships, or innovative student success strategies. Experience leading or advancing a center, institute, or major initiative that integrates teaching, research, or community engagement. Familiarity with accreditation processes and higher education compliance standards. Experience with faith‑based educational environments and sympathy with the goals of Lutheran higher education. KEY COMPETENCIES Visionary leadership and a strategic mindset. Ability to build consensus and lead teams through institutional change. Capacity for data‑driven decision‑making and assessment. Understanding of the challenges and opportunities in private higher education. Alignment with Concordia College Academic Affairs leadership commitments: Integrity, Connection, Teamwork, Grace, and Accountability

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