The College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College) seeks its next Dean of the School of Nursing. The Dean will provide strategic direction and oversight of academic programs, faculty, accreditation and compliance, student outcomes, operational effectiveness, and external partnerships. As Dean of the School of Nursing (SON), the position ensures the strength of all academic programs within the School. The Dean monitors trends in nursing education, participates in scholarship, and ensures adherence to federal, state and accreditation regulations. In addition, the Dean oversees the hiring and development of a diverse faculty, the assignment of faculty workloads, and the management of resources allocated to the School. The Dean reports directly to the vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) and works collaboratively with other deans and department heads under the VPAA’s leadership.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership and support for teaching and learning of the highest quality and excellence and promote a high-quality learning environment for diverse students.
- Maintain the quality of the School and provide visionary leadership in the development of new programs.
- Work with the VPAA, and other institutional leaders to set annual goals for the SON aligned with the institution’s goals and mission; implement the College’s strategic initiatives directly related to the School, integrate benchmarking and assessment into ongoing planning and vision.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory and accrediting bodies for nursing programs (CCNE, MA BORN, NONPF).
- Develop and maintain a systematic evaluation plan to ensure congruence with national standards, professional guidelines, or expected competencies and to evaluate program outcomes.
- Serve as the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (Board) Program Administrator for the Elms College Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.
- Commit to the College’s Mission and Core Values, and to promote, support, and extend the mission’s values of inclusion, access, and diversity.
- Possess leadership experience overseeing faculty, academic programs, curriculum, and accreditation and compliance.
- Ability to oversee the recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students.
- Promote and support faculty teaching effectiveness, scholarship, research, and service.
- Ensure that faculty and staff work to implement student recruiting and retention plans.
- Be responsible for all aspects of the SON operating and capital budget, consistent with the College’s financial guideline; recommend priorities to the VPAA, and oversee expenditures during the budget year.
- Play a critical role in representing the college and the SON to external constituents-regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Qualifications:
- An earned doctorate and a record of academic achievement in a discipline meriting appointment as a tenured Associate or Full Professor of Nursing.
- Minimum of five years of progressive academic or administrative experience and leadership in a division or School of Nursing; teaching experience complemented by a scholarly record.
- An understanding of the instructional, research, and creative needs of undergraduate and graduate programs of nursing.
- Demonstrated success in obtaining federal, state, and/or private grants.
- Experience with budget management, faculty and staff development, and promoting college and community relations.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and the broader educational and professional communities, including health service providers and community-based organizations.
Standards of performance:
- Leadership and management
- Sound judgement and decision making
- Collaboration with senior management, staff, faculty, division heads, and students
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Appropriate stewardship of the School of Nursing’s financial and administrative resources
- Effective representation of Elms College
Elms College (also known as College of Our Lady of the Elms), a private, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts institution in Chicopee, Massachusetts, was founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield. The institution offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees. Dedicated to non-discriminatory educational practices, the College aims to eliminate barriers to equal access and treatment for its community. Elms College provides rigorous academic challenges and fosters a supportive community for students to thrive. Graduates leave Elms College richer, rooted in faith, educated, compassionate, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle.
Elms College is being assisted by Hyatt – Fennell, Executive Search. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted via email to Elms@hyatt-fennell.com. Applications include a letter of interest, a current résumé/cv, and contact information for five professional references, submitted in separate documents. The anticipated start date is January 2027. The position will remain open until filled. All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential.
Elms College’s mission embodies the charism of the founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph, including embracing “the love of neighbor without distinction” and whose Catholic heritage guides our intellectual, social, educational, and community endeavors.
Elms College is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.
