Dean of the College of Health & Human Services
About NAU
Northern Arizona University serves almost 30,000 students. We are a
vibrant community, with 21,000 students in Flagstaff—the home of
our largest campus—and the remainder online or at our 20+ statewide
locations. Our institution has carefully integrated on-campus
education with distance learning, forming seamless avenues for
students to earn degrees.
Committed to an inclusiveuniversity environment, NAU has all the
benefits of a large institution with a personal touch. We carefully
balance teaching, scholarship, and service for faculty
members.Supporting our core value of student-centrism, NAU's
faculty members promote learning and help students reach academic
milestones.
Flagstaff is an outdoorsy mountain town with four seasons and a
thriving cultural scene. Located at 7,000 feet, Flagstaff houses
70,000 people and sits at the base of the sacred San Francisco
Peaks.
For more about inclusive excellence at NAU, visit the Center for
Inclusive Excellence and Access.
About the Department/College
Inclusive education. Equitable healthcare. That is the College of
Health and Human Services.
The College of Health and Human Services prepares students to
become competent health professionals while inspiring leaders in
practice, scholarship, and service. CHHS strives to improve the
health and well-being of the diverse communities it serves.
With over 2,600 students and 165 faculty and staff, CHHS is NAU's
third-largest college and serves as home to a diverse set of
academic programs, highly engaged faculty, and motivated
undergraduate and graduate students. College operations are
primarily situated on the NAU Flagstaff campus and the Phoenix
Bioscience Core, a 30-acre medical and bioscience campus located in
downtown Phoenix, a partnership between Northern Arizona University
and the University of Arizona, with some programming at
NAU-Yuma.
CHHS has experienced the fastest rate of growth among the
University's colleges. Over the past several years, the number of
degree-seeking students has more than tripled in both undergraduate
and graduate programs. CHHS serves students through online, hybrid,
and face-to-face modalities. Eleven programs are accredited by
their national governing bodies, and students provide over 539,132
hours of service per year to underserved communities.
In all, the College offers 8 baccalaureate degree programs, 6
clinical graduate degree programs, and 5 graduate certificates. The
College offers many of its programs online, including dental
hygiene degree completion, public health, communication sciences
and disorders, and technology, and multiple allied health degree
options. CHHS is comprised of the following units:
• Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (Flagstaff,
Yuma)
• Department of Dental Hygiene (Flagstaff)
• Department of Health Sciences (Flagstaff)
• Department of Occupational Therapy (Phoenix)
• Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training (Flagstaff,
Phoenix)
• Department of Physician Assistant Studies (Phoenix)
Undergraduate programs in Flagstaff include Allied Health (degree
completion programs such as Paramedic Care, Surgical Technology,
etc.), Dental Hygiene, Fitness Wellness, Nutrition and Foods,
Physical Education, Public Health, and Communication Sciences and
Disorders.
Graduate programs include Communication Sciences and Disorders,
Interdisciplinary Health, in Flagstaff; Occupational Therapy and
Physician Assistant Studies in Phoenix; and Athletic Training as
well as Physical Therapy in both locations.
Research is also a critical part of the portfolio for CHHS. Through
the work of 10 active laboratories and various faculty research
projects, students get the well-rounded, foundational experience
they need as a foundation for their successful careers.
About the Position
Northern Arizona University (NAU) seeks a visionary, inclusive, and
strategic leader as its next College of Health and Human Services
(CHHS) Dean.
The Dean of CHHS is the chief academic and administrative officer
of the College and reports to the Executive Vice President &
University Provost. The Dean will develop strong relationships with
university administration, faculty, and staff, as well as industry
and community partners, to advance the College's mission and
deliver exceptional programs that propel the success of its
students as they enter the health professions workforce in Arizona
and beyond. The Dean will also build an inclusive culture of
excellence within and across the departments, faculty, and staff
that comprise the College.
Recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse and talented
faculty and staff; expanding access and promoting exceptional
outcomes for students; shaping an impactful, modern portfolio of
academic programs; collaborating to secure mutually beneficial
partnerships; and securing a strong financial position are among
the foremost priorities for the Dean. The Dean will also be a
leading external advocate and fundraiser for the College, working
closely with the NAU Foundation and serving as a key partner as NAU
embarks on an ambitious comprehensive fundraising campaign.
The Dean supervises the College leadership team, comprised of two
associate deans, and six department chairs. The College is home to
37 staff members and 128 faculty.
Note the Dean will be required to travel between Flagstaff,
Phoenix, and occasionally to NAU's branch campus in Yuma
(approximately 3-5 days per month).
The Dean will be responsible for core leadership duties:
• Planning: as part of a collaborative university and academic
affairs leadership team, create a shared vision and agenda for CHHS
that represents all of the College and aligns with the University's
vision and strategic roadmap. Planning for the expansion of health
professional programs is a special focus.
• Communication: lead communication within the College, across the
University, and with external stakeholders that supports
transparency, builds a common sense of direction, and showcases
accomplishments of CHHS programs, faculty, and students.
• Financial Acumen and Strategy: oversee the College budget
planning and management; invest and grow the College's financial
resources in alignment with University priorities.
• Departmental Administration: appoint and mentor academic unit and
College leaders, as well as administrative staff, and periodically
review the performance of chairs and administrators in concert with
the Provost.
• Personnel: set priorities and lead efforts to recruit, retain,
and develop mission-driven and diverse faculty and staff talent in
alignment with University policy; lead development and
implementation of faculty evaluation protocols in support of
College and University goals; promote mentoring and development
opportunities for faculty and staff.
• Educational Leadership: cultivate collaborative leadership for
the development and enhancement of academic programs that support
student momentum and propel postgraduate success and career
outcomes; promote effective pedagogy and innovation including
interprofessional education, cost-effectiveness, and fidelity to
standards and accreditation; work across university divisions to
drive student recruitment and retention.
• Research Leadership: champion and support an active and vibrant
research ecosystem in synergy with educational programming that
fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and impact. Promote a
culture of research excellence by fostering an environment that
encourages faculty, staff, and students to pursue innovative
research projects, secure external funding, and disseminate their
findings through scholarly publications and presentations.
• Fundraising and Outreach: establish a foundation for active and
sustainable fundraising; participate in various councils,
commissions, and committees that advance and secure additional
resources, reputation, and overall visibility for the College;
represent the College within the state and national boards and
organizations; and participate in other appropriate groups as the
external advocate and ambassador for the College's work.
• College Governance: create ad hoc committees of the College's
faculty; hear faculty grievances; promote academic freedom and
responsibility; ensure that the College provides a diverse,
opportunity- and perspective-rich environment; and model principles
of shared and university governance in leading change
management.
• Inclusive Excellence: foster all forms of inclusive excellence
among students, faculty, and staff, supporting achievement in
learning, research, and professional endeavors by building an
inclusive community where individuals from all backgrounds and
lived experiences have a sense of belonging and the necessary
support to power their success.
In no particular order, the Dean will be charged with addressing
the following opportunities and challenges:
Support and advance a strategic vision for the future of the
College of Health and Human Services.
The new Dean will help create and advance a forward-looking vision
for the future of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS)
at NAU. This vision will build upon the University-wide strategic
roadmap, Elevating Excellence, while also integrating the unique
strengths and goals of each CHHS unit. The current priorities
include supporting student success through access and attainment,
research, and discovery; CHHS's commitment to Native
American/Indigenous Peoples and other underrepresented students'
success in the health professions; growing connections in the
health community and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the
College and its operations; and supporting and integrating with
initiatives associated with the Arizona Board of Regents' AZ
Healthy Tomorrow signature initiative and specific plans to elevate
NAU's distinctive health professions portfolio. Working in close
partnership with faculty, staff, students, and internal and
external partners, the new Dean will have the opportunity to build
upon the current strengths of the College and its units, while also
preparing for its future.
Catalyze and advance collaboration.
The incoming Dean will inspire and actively model the College's
commitment to collaboration—within CHHS and its academic units,
across the University, and with external constituencies—to realize
new synergies and build and enhance existing cooperative
partnerships. Internally, the Dean will assess the current
structure and operations of the College and identify opportunities
for efficiency and collaboration. It is also expected that the Dean
will effectively advocate for faculty, staff, and students in the
College while promoting opportunities to collaborate with other
academic units across the University.
The Dean will strive to sustain current external relationships and
create deeper intentional partnerships between faculty, community
leaders, and industry partners to enhance the College's already
substantial impact in the region and beyond. The Dean will also
encourage and support faculty and students to seek new external
opportunities that deepen the academic experience and further the
mission of the institution.
Grow enrollment and support student success.
The need for a diverse and highly skilled workforce of health
professionals will continue to grow in Arizona and across the
country, particularly in light of Arizona's significant workforce
need in the community health sector. NAU is committed to expanding
access to the dynamic and high-quality learning opportunities
available in CHHS. Successfully growing enrollment at the Flagstaff
campus, Online, and Statewide will entail several coordinated
activities, including the following: securing new funding sources
for students; supporting and enhancing recruitment practices;
strengthening the student experience; and ensuring professional
development opportunities and internships for students. The Dean
will be expected to prioritize student success and support
increased degree attainment across the College. They must also have
a deep commitment to high-quality teaching, experiential learning,
innovation and entrepreneurship, and emerging trends in healthcare.
The Dean must also work closely with the College leadership team to
ensure that all accredited undergraduate and graduate programs
continue to maintain accreditation.
Foster a culture of inclusive excellence and build community
throughout the College.
NAU and CHHS are committed to fostering an environment that ensures
inclusion, equity, and belonging for faculty, staff, and students
from all backgrounds and lived experiences. CHHS is committed to
becoming the nation's leading allied health college serving Native
American and underrepresented students. Current priorities include
growing the enrollment of underrepresented students, achieving high
completion rates across student populations, expanding culturally
competent learning and mentorship opportunities, and increasing
community partnerships in scholarship and education with Native
Nations.
The Dean must inspire and motivate the College around a vision for
a more equitable and inclusive community while recruiting,
developing, and retaining a diverse and talented faculty, staff,
and student body. The Dean must ensure a healthy and productive
work environment and organizational culture of openness, fairness,
and transparency that celebrates the open exchange of ideas and
free expression and promotes an environment of inclusion and
belonging. The Dean will provide visible, accessible, and engaged
leadership and will make it a priority to communicate actively
throughout the College community, both formally and
informally.
Recruit highly qualified faculty and staff; promote high
aspirations and achievement.
The continued growth and excellence of the College will require an
ongoing focus on the recruitment, retention, and development of
faculty and staff. Committed and engaged faculty and staff are
crucial to fulfilling the College's academic mission and meeting
its goals. The Dean will guide the strategy for recruitment of
highly qualified, mission-driven faculty and staff; support
professional development and growth; and cultivate an environment
that is engaging, energizing, and builds commitment to the College
and University. The Dean will support faculty success in research
and in securing external funding, ensuring CHHS is an inspiring
place for faculty with ambitious research goals, while remaining
grounded in the College's fundamental commitment to excellence in
teaching and student success.
Facilitate research and discovery.
The Dean will work collaboratively with University and College
leadership, research centers, and funding agencies to develop
resources and guide strategic investments in a distinctive CHHS
research enterprise that is aligned with NAU's strategic priority
for impactful scholarship. The Dean will support the professional
development of faculty members by providing mentorship, guidance,
and resources to enhance their research productivity, secure
external funding, and achieve recognition for their scholarly
contributions. In addition, the Dean will provide vision,
leadership, and support for the expansion of opportunities for
undergraduate and graduate student participation in research that
contributes to the University's goals for student success.
Further strengthen fundraising, alumni and corporate engagement,
and external visibility for the College.
The Dean will develop, lead, and support corporate, alumni, and
donor relations strategies and activities on behalf of the College.
NAU is currently preparing to launch a comprehensive fundraising
campaign, and the new Dean will have the opportunity to build a
vision for the future of the College and leverage financial support
for that vision throughout the campaign. The Dean will maximize
engagement opportunities and grow significant philanthropic support
for the College. Working closely with the NAU Foundation, the Dean
will raise funds for key philanthropic priorities, including
securing endowed funds for faculty positions, student scholarships,
and other areas of strategic emphasis.
The Dean will also be a confident and compelling advocate with
external partners through exceptional networking, negotiation, and
communication skills. A key goal will be to enhance the visibility
of the College both internally and externally and strengthen CHHS's
identity in the context of NAU's overall strategic vision. With a
particular emphasis on strengthening the College's reputation in
Arizona—where NAU offers a range of programs and accessible
delivery sites/modalities that are vital to the state's health
professions workforce—the Dean will articulate the College's
distinctive areas of strength and impact and seek avenues to
promote the achievements of its faculty, students, and graduates
and its suite of educational and research programs.
A full position description can be found at this link:
https://in.nau.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/10/NAU_Dean_CHHS_Profile.pdf
Minimum Qualifications
• Earned doctorate from an accredited institution in one of the
disciplines of the College or a closely related field.
• A distinguished record of teaching, scholarship, and leadership
that warrants an appointment as a professor or equivalent executive
experience in the private sector or non-profit healthcare
administration.
• Demonstrated successful administrative leadership experience in
higher education as a center or institute leader, chair, associate
dean, dean, or comparable management position in healthcare
administration with responsibilities that include budgets,
strategic planning, personnel management, performance reviews, and
promotion decisions.
Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated success in the administration of complex academic
units and management of diverse types of programs, faculty, and
staff in different locations.
• Record of accomplishment in teaching, curriculum, or program
design and/or innovation in efforts to increase student access and
success.
• Successful record of impactful scholarship and the acquisition
and management of extramural funding.
• Proven record of advocacy for a college with university
leadership, and collaboration with colleagues in support of
institutional goals and fiscal sustainability.
• Demonstrated experience in successful program review and
accreditation processes.
• Demonstrated strengths in effective communication and a record of
strong mentoring and consensus-building skills.
• An ability to cultivate relationships that generate philanthropic
support, alumni engagement, and fundraising activities.
• An ability to catalyze inclusive excellence in teaching as
promoted and supported by the institution.
• An ability to promote interdisciplinary education aligned with
interdisciplinary healthcare practices.
The Ideal Candidate Will Possess
• A proven record as a visionary, builder, and manager of allied
health programs in the rapidly changing higher education
landscape.
• A successful record of developing and sustaining high-quality,
student-centered university coursework and curricula at both
undergraduate and graduate levels, including professional
programs.
• A demonstrated record of strong visibility and relationships
within a college and amongst a faculty group, emphasizing a
capacity to and interest in learning the unique academic and
research priorities of individual units, labs, and faculty.
Submit Your Application
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and
continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by
December 16 will be given first consideration. Upon application,
please submit a PDF version of your CV/resume and a cover letter
that describes both your motivation for application and how your
leadership experience aligns with the key qualifications of the
role.
All applications and nominations will be held in confidence.
To apply online, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su434
To make recommendations or for more information, please
contact:
Tammarah Townes
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 302-388-9480
ttownes@summitsearchsolutions.com
Beth Baldino
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 828-216-6606
bbaldino@summitsearchsolutions.com
Equal Employment Opportunity
Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities,
veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.
Know Your Rights Poster
NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps,
and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.
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Flagstaff AZ United States