Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences
The University of Vermont (UVM) invites applications for the next Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS). The college is seeking a dynamic leader to guide a vibrant and innovative academic community committed to excellence in teaching, research, and clinical practice. This is a pivotal time for CNHS as it continues to deepen its commitment to improving health outcomes, while preparing the next generation of culturally responsive health professionals. In addition to demonstrating a strong commitment to student success, building trusting and collaborative partnerships, and fostering mission-aligned research and education initiatives, successful candidates must illustrate: progressive administrative leadership experience in an academic environment, recognition for achievement in research, education, and/or clinical pursuits, experience with interprofessional education and practice, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in the College and across the broader UVM ecosystem.
As the administrative leader for the College, candidates should have exceptional communication skills, a high degree of professionalism, considerable financial acumen, and a clear understanding of what it takes to help grow market share and advance all academic programs in a competitive higher education environment. This position represents a significant opportunity to help shape the vision for the health professions to achieve the institution's overall goals and objectives.
UVM, located in Burlington, VT, is a robust Carnegie R1 designated public research university, that offers a challenging academic experience, which translates to student success. UVM has seven undergraduate colleges in addition to the Honors College, the Graduate College, the Larner College of Medicine, and Professional and Continuing Education. UVM offers a close community of scholars, scientists, and learners. CNHS offers an expansive and compassionate environment to transform the future of health for people and planet. Additionally, the college instills a philosophy of care that champions equity, collaboration, and humanity, preparing the next generation of health professionals by fostering excellence in health research, education, and practice.
The College comprises four Departments: Biomedical and Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, and Rehabilitation and Movement Science. The College offers undergraduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Exercise Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Radiation Sciences, Public Health Sciences, and Nursing; and graduate degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and a PhD in Interprofessional Health Sciences. CNHS is a dynamic and growing community that fosters interdisciplinary education and research in the service of improving health outcomes and advancing health equity in Vermont and beyond. The College is poised for significant expansion with the recent launch of a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program in the Fall of 2023 and the opening of a state-of-the-art Occupational Therapy laboratory in Fall of 2024. The undergraduate Public Health Sciences and Exercise Science programs have seen significant growth in the past three years, and that growth is expected to continue. CNHS is also launching a new undergraduate minor in Epidemiology, and is currently developing an M.S. in Exercise Science. These initiatives underscore the College's strategic vision to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, address critical workforce needs, and serve rural and medically underserved populations.
The Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences will have the opportunity to foster and expand interdisciplinary collaboration through engagement with a wide array of University-wide Institutes and Centers. These include, but are not limited to, the Osher Center for Integrative Health, Health Services Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Gund Institute for Environment, Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships, Vermont EPSCoR, Vermont Biomedical Research Network, Vermont Advanced Computing Center, UVM Cancer Center, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Vermont Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, Vermont Center for Behavioral Health, and the Vermont Lung Center. These partnerships offer rich opportunities to advance research, education, and community impact. The new Dean will lead this vibrant College into its next phase of growth, building on a strong foundation of academic excellence, innovative research, and community engagement. This is a unique opportunity for a collaborative and visionary leader to shape the future of health sciences education and make a meaningful impact on the health of individuals and communities across the region.
UVM invites inquiries, applications, and nominations for the position of CNHS Dean to provide academic and administrative leadership to advance the College's mission in education, service, scholarship, and research. Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will work collaboratively with other deans across UVM, as well as leadership within the University of Vermont Health Network, to leverage opportunities to support the growth and quality of research, education, and practice throughout the health sciences and health professions. Candidates must possess a PhD or equivalent and have experience and a record compatible with appointment as a full professor with tenure in one of the CNHS Departments/programs.
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences is dedicated to meeting society's urgent need for well-prepared, interdisciplinary health professionals. With a strong emphasis on team-based approaches and collaborative practice, CNHS graduates are equipped not only to enter the workforce but to lead and elevate the work of interprofessional teams ultimately improving health outcomes for patients, families, and communities. The College enrolls approximately 1,100 undergraduate and 254 graduate students across a range of high-demand programs, supported by 90 faculty members (including 24 tenure-track and 66 non-tenure-track faculty) and 31 staff. CNHS faculty are teacher-scholars and clinical experts who bring deep disciplinary knowledge and real-world experience to the classroom, clinic, and research lab. Demonstrating its growing research impact, CNHS has significantly expanded its externally funded research portfolio, with annual research funding increasing from $500,000 in 2015 to over 3 million this academic year. Faculty conduct innovative research in a range of health-related areas including aging, autism, rehabilitation and physical activity, brain health and cognition, molecular and cellular mechanisms of human disease, speech and hearing sciences, public and global health, and rural health equity. The College is also proud of its students' exceptional performance on national certifying examinations, a testament to the rigor of its programs and the strength of its clinical and academic preparation. CNHS graduates are consistently recognized for their readiness to contribute meaningfully to the health workforce from day one. US News and World Reports consistently ranks the Doctorate in Physical Therapy and Masters in Speech Language Pathology in the top 100 programs.
The Role of the Dean of CNHS The Dean of CNHS will be an innovative, service-oriented, highly collaborative leader who will engage students, faculty, and staff in new ways. They will partner with colleagues across the College and UVM to continue developing a bold vision for CNHS. It is expected that the Dean will be an advocate for resources and infrastructure and a visible representative of CNHS on campus, within the community, and at the national level. The Dean will join UVM during an exciting time as it plans for the future. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and innovative health sciences professional to grow interprofessional education, serve as an integral member of the UVM leadership team, foster partnerships with other colleges, and inspire innovation to propel CNHS to the next level of national and international reputation.
Reporting Relationships Reports to: Provost Partners with: Deans of other UVM Colleges Provost's Operational Management Team Direct Reports: Associate Deans Assistant Deans Department Chairs UVM Foundation Major Gifts Officer Relates to: President's Cabinet Deans' Council Health System Leadership Team Foundation Board Members Alumni Opportunities and Expectations for Leadership The following priorities have been identified for the incoming Dean: Articulate a Vision and Strategy The Dean will articulate a compelling vision and corresponding strategic plan consistent with the College's commitment to academic and clinical excellence. It is imperative that the next Dean articulates and disseminates the College's strengths to attract and retain the highest quality students who will transition into engaged alumni. The College will benefit from highlighting its outstanding academic programs that position graduates for success in the health care workforce. The Dean will evaluate the College's current organizational structure and resources, making appropriate changes to support its continued growth. Promote Academic Excellence across All Programs The Dean will engage faculty in assessing the curriculum and current programs to identify changes to address current demand and emerging needs of a rapidly evolving health care environment. This includes exploring opportunities to expand and enhance interprofessional education and interdisciplinary programs with other UVM colleges or institutions in the region. It is expected that the Dean will lead integration across departments and programs to ensure cohesion and to leverage synergies. The Dean will also identify opportunities to increase student enrollment and the College's revenue and funding and identify areas where technology can enhance productivity and can lead to innovative teaching methods. Recruit and Retain a Distinguished Faculty CNHS faculty are accomplished in their areas of expertise and continually strive for success at all levels. The Dean will continue developing a faculty of distinction, establishing the highest standards in faculty recruitment, appointment, tenure, and promotion to enhance consistent excellence in teaching, research, and clinical practice. This will include identifying recruitment needs to support curriculum changes and program expansion at the junior, mid-level, and senior faculty levels, and retaining and recruiting faculty with strong records in education, clinical practice, and research. The Dean will support the ongoing professional development of the faculty, by mentoring junior faculty and emerging academic leaders, and encouraging faculty engagement in curriculum evaluation and program development. Advance Scholarship and Research Building upon the College's current research activity, the new Dean will lead the expansion of research productivity and funding, consistent with an R1 institution. UVM achieved R1 status in 2025, a designation earned by less