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Director, School of Nursing
The University of Akron

The University of Akron, one of Ohio’s leading public institutions of higher learning, seeks a dynamic new Director to advance undergraduate and graduate enrollment, retention, and persistence; establish a vision and strategic direction; promote excellence in teaching, learning, and student success; cultivate interprofessional collaboration and community engagement; and recruit and retain talented and diverse faculty and staff.

Strong Leader ... Positive ... Ethical ... Inclusive ... Relationship Builder
Communicator ... Inspirational ... Visionary … Enthusiastic … Facilitator … Listener
Innovator … Transformational … Collaborator ... Supportive … Integrity
Team Player … Transparent … Caring … Mentor … Budget-Savvy … Fundraiser

The Position

Reporting to the Dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, the Director serves as the academic leader of the School, holds administrative and teaching responsibilities, and works closely with other College school directors, faculty, and staff. The Director provides leadership to advance the School’s mission and strategic plan; fosters outstanding teaching, student learning, and persistence to graduation; encourages and supports research and scholarly works; and promotes service to the University, the community, and the profession. Advocating for the values of diversity and inclusion, the Director understands how increased diversity of thought and background among students, faculty, administration, and staff works to strengthen academic programs and enrich the University community.

Position Responsibilities
 

  • Provide leadership for all day-to-day activities of the School, including accreditation, curriculum development, faculty recruitment and evaluation, planning, budget, student recruitment and retention, academic quality, multidisciplinary resources, and research productivity.
     

  • Grow extramural funding and promote fundraising activities.
     

  • Promote the continued development of interprofessional education.
     

  • Oversee program accreditation processes and compliance with all applicable state and accreditation requirements.
     

  • Facilitate a collective vision and strategic direction for the School and collaborate with University colleagues and leadership to promote a team-oriented approach to achieving School, College, and University strategic planning goals and implementation.
     

  • Support and stimulate innovative applications of instruction, scholarship, service, and outreach.
     

  • Represent and advocate for the School within the College, University, community, region, and state.
     

  • Develop, cultivate, and maintain successful community partnerships.
     

  • Manage the budget, personnel programs, and physical facilities.
     

  • Demonstrate creativity in the development and shaping of undergraduate and graduate programs.
     

  • Promote a caring, inclusive, and motivating work and learning environment.
     

  • Enhance enrollment growth through the effective recruitment and retention of students, faculty, and staff.
     

  • Provide guidance and direction and assess performance of School administration, faculty, and staff.
     

  • Develop and sustain relationships with alumni and other public and private stakeholders and provide leadership for fundraising programs.

The Qualifications

The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree in nursing and a record of achievement sufficient to sustain a credible application for tenure and appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The University seeks a leader with a demonstrated record of academic, scholarly, and external funding accomplishments; a minimum of three years of administrative experience; at least five years in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse; and eligibility for registered nurse licensure in the State of Ohio.


Preferred Qualifications
 

  • Record of successful collaborative leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and community engagement.

 

  • Success in advancing undergraduate and graduate enrollment, student retention, and persistence to graduation.
     

  • Commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, and student success at all levels.
     

  • Capability in leading and supporting innovative curriculum, research, program development, and the use of technology.
     

  • Record of competitive research funding.
     

  • Demonstrated visionary and transparent leadership and strategic planning skills.
     

  • Experience managing budgets, including the allocation of resources, and fundraising activities.
     

  • Success in recruitment and retention of talented and diverse faculty, staff, and researchers.
     

  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
     

  • Demonstrated experience building and cultivating relationships across academic disciplines and administrative units, as well as community partnerships.
     

  • Commitment to promoting and supporting a diverse administration, faculty, staff, and student population.
     

  • Experience teaching in a school of nursing.

The School

As a top nursing school in Ohio, the School is dedicated to the belief that nurses are the backbone of today’s healthcare system and strives to empower the next generation of transformational, innovative medical leaders through diverse and comprehensive nursing education programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Founded in 1967, the School has a long tradition of advancing excellence in student learning; collaborative clinical service delivery, research, and community service; and the scholarship of practice integration, application, and discovery. The programs of study, based on professional standards, offer multiple educational options designed to meet the needs of students aspiring to become professional nurses, and practicing professional nurses seeking career and professional advancement in a multitude of settings.

 

The undergraduate programs provide multiple pathways for a bachelor's degree, including Bachelor of Science in Nursing (at both main and Wayne College campuses), Second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing for LPN's, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing. At the graduate level, the School offers a Master of Science in Nursing with multiple concentrations and certificates. The Master of Science program has several advanced practice specializations with the purpose of providing preparation for advanced nursing practice as a nurse practitioner and provide a foundation for doctoral study. Post Master's certificate programs are available to prepare currently certified clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners who want to acquire specialization. In addition, the School offers a Post-MSN to DNP program for advanced practice nurses who wish to achieve a DNP  degree.

 

The Nurse Anesthesia Program prepares Baccalaureate Prepared Registered Nurses to become Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and leads to the Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, and graduates are eligible to take the certification examination. The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program is structured by the AACN’s four broad areas of knowledge, including scientific and physiologic for advanced practice, leadership and information management, practice inquiry, and advanced specialty practice.

 

Through academic and community collaboration, the School values diversity in all forms and prepares nurses to be culturally competent in accord with the core values of the profession. With over 800 undergraduate and graduate students, the School partners with healthcare agencies across Northeast Ohio and beyond to support clinical placement of students in its various programs. Partners and collaborators include the Cleveland Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic Akron General System, University Hospitals, Summa Health System, Akron Children’s Hospital, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Wooster Community Hospital, and numerous community partners. The innovative and highly collaborative interprofessional model of education, research, and service delivery positions the School’s graduates to succeed and shape the future of health care.

For additional information about the College, please visit https://www.uakron.edu/nursing/

The College

Founded in 2012, the College of Health and Human Sciences cultivates an interprofessional approach to training future healthcare professionals. In addition to recovery from illness, the College fosters a biopsychosocial perspective of human growth and development using a holistic wellness perspective. The College houses seven different schools focusing on a broad range of health-related professions, such as physical health, lifestyle development, and social and psychological well-being.

 

The College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and, in addition to the School of Nursing, brings together the Schools of Allied Health, Counseling, Disaster Science and Emergency Services, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Social Work and Family Sciences, and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. With a focus on fostering student success and promoting the well-being of individuals, families, and communities; the College exemplifies excellence in health and wellness education, research, service, and leadership; prepares students to advance human well-being and thrive in a rapidly evolving global environment; values diversity and seeks to recruit, retain, and graduate a diverse student population; and is committed to promoting interprofessional education in order to enhance interprofessional healthcare and a holistic perspective of health and human development.

 

For additional information about the College of Health and Human Sciences, please visit  https://www.uakron.edu/health/

The University

The University of Akron, positioned to be the premier public research university of northern Ohio, is one of the largest universities in the state with an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students in more than 200 undergraduate and graduate majors. Founded in 1870 as Buchtel College, the institution’s name was changed to University of Akron in 1936, and in 1967 became one of the Ohio's state universities. Over the past ten years, the University has engaged in extensive capital investment - a $630 million campus modernization and development initiative - to develop and upgrade world-class facilities for academics and student life.  

The University conducts high-quality research in focused areas of excellence, contributes to the vitality of the local economy, and provides a workforce highly trained in diverse disciplines. Five colleges include the College of Health and Human Sciences, the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, and the Williams Honors College. The University has three branch campuses: Wayne College, Medina County University Center, and UA Lakewood.

The University is a world leader in creating new materials for the new economy; a national leader in the development, protection, management, and commercialization of intellectual property; and a regional leader in information technology initiatives. The University is the only public institution in Ohio to have a science and engineering program ranked in the top five nationally. Its polymer science and polymer engineering program, ranked second in the U.S., serves Ohio's $50 billion polymer industry and includes a NASA-supported nanotechnology initiative.

Since its inception, the University has valued its partnerships and strives to strengthen the innovative collaborations and partnerships across educational, industrial, community, and government entities that can generate collective impact. Indicative of the partnership culture, the University was awarded the distinct designation of Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation.

A member of the Mid-American Conference, the University fields 16 men's and women's varsity teams at the NCAA Division I-A intercollegiate level. The athletic teams are known as the "Zips," originally short for "Zippers," the rubber overshoes made by the BF Goodrich Company of Akron that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s.

For additional information about the University, please visit www.uakron.edu

The Location

The city of Akron offers a vibrant downtown, serene parks, and events and venues that appeal to almost every interest. Residents describe the area as a wonderful place to live with diverse architecture and neighborhoods, exceptional restaurants, and wonderful and unique shopping. Greater Akron is characterized by easy access to a wide variety of entertainment, recreational, and cultural activities that support a superb quality of life.

Greater Akron is the stage for many visual, musical, and theatrical cultural pursuits. Akron Civic Theatre, EJ Thomas Hall, Greystone Hall, Blossom Music Center, and Lock 3 Park amphitheater provide year-round access to performances large and small. World-class performance events include Broadway musicals, ballets, comedies, lectures, and entertainers. The Akron Art Museum houses an eclectic modern collection and Summit Artspace is home to more than 40 arts organizations and features gallery space, studios, and classrooms.

Outdoors you can hike, bike, ski, sled, or simply unwind. There’s even a bike path you can ride all the way to Cleveland. The 87-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail meanders through some of Ohio’s most scenic countryside, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the 11th-most-visited national park in the country, with its more than 33,000 acres of rolling hills, forests, hiking trails, and waterfalls. Summit Metro Parks offer over 14,000 additional acres with 16 parks, several conservation areas, and more than 150 miles of trails.

Akron and Northeast Ohio are nationally recognized for excellence in advanced health care and are contributing to the current transformation in health service delivery. Two major health systems, Summa Health System and the Cleveland Clinic affiliated Akron General Health System, as well as the Akron Children's Hospital provide primary, specialty, and tertiary medical care services.

The Invitation

Application, nomination, questions, confidential conversation.

 

To apply, please submit a complete curriculum vitae, a letter of application, and a list of at least five references (none of whom will be contacted until a later stage of the search and not without candidate permission). The letter should summarize your professional qualifications and the accomplishments that reflect the skills, background, and experience to be successful in this key position. Successful applicants will provide specific examples of past work experience as it relates to the position responsibilities and qualifications listed above. Send your application materials to me at the email address below. Full consideration will be given to those that apply before Friday, March 25, 2022. The position will remain open until filled.

Nominations for this opportunity are encouraged. If a colleague comes to mind you feel might have an interest, I welcome your nomination. Please forward your nomination to me via email.

If you have any questions regarding the position or search process, please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone.

Thank you for your consideration.

Gary R. Rhoads
Search Consultant

grhoads@strategicsearchadvantage.com

570-484-6414

For a PDF copy of this position profile webpage, click here.

The University of Akron, as an equal education and employment institution, is committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified individuals in its education programs or activities, including applicants for admissions or employment, will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, military status or status as a veteran. To further this commitment, the University complies with state and federal laws which prohibit discrimination. Questions or concerns about the administration of this commitment can be directed to the University's Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office at uakron.edu/hr/eeoaa

 

The University also strives to provide an environment free from the negative impacts of gender-based discrimination and harassment as prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Questions about Title IX can be referred to the University's Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education or both. For more information on Title IX at the University of Akron, including how to contact the Title IX Coordinator, how to file a complaint under Title IX with the University or the Title IX process at the University of Akron, please visit the University's Title IX page at uakron.edu/title-ix/at-uakron

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