ASDOH - Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

A T Still University of Health Sciences•Mesa, AZ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs is a senior academic leader responsible for providing strategic leadership for curriculum management while contributing to the creation, development, and growth as needed of all the oral health educational activities at ASDOH to ensure that educational objectives and outcomes are met. The Associate Dean will also manage and submit all required CODA documentation and support ASDOH priorities, focusing on transparent communication and team building through leadership, engagement, and collegiality.

Requirements

DMD, DDS, BDS, PhD, EdD or equivalent doctoral degree
Minimum of seven years of work experience in dental education, including curriculum development and academic leadership
Some research experiences
Demonstrated knowledge of CODA standards, accreditation processes, and regulatory requirements.
Proven ability to lead diverse teams, foster collaboration, and manage complex academic initiatives.
Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills

Nice To Haves

Advanced academic degree (e.g. M.Ed., MPH, PhD, or MBA)
Curriculum management
Competency-based education and assessment
Modern pedagogical concepts and application in health professions education
Licensing and accrediting agencies and their activities related to the dental school
Credentialing standards for health professions
Student Information Systems
FERPA and HIPAA
Trends in oral health and oral health education
Dental accreditation standards and processes
Experience in a senior academic leadership role (e.g., Assistant or Associate Dean, Program Director).
Familiarity with educational technologies, simulation-based learning, and digital curriculum platforms.
Experience with interprofessional education and competency-based education frameworks.
Strategic academic leadership
Curriculum design and assessment
Faculty development and mentoring
Accreditation and policy management
Student-centered educational support
Collaborative communication and decision-making

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for all academic programs, including predoctoral (DMD/DDS), postgraduate, and continuing education programs.
Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of the dental school’s academic curriculum to ensure integration, innovation, and alignment with CODA standards.
Manage academic schedules, course offerings, and instructional planning in collaboration with faculty and department chairs.
Lead the development and continuous improvement of a vertically and horizontally integrated curriculum that incorporates foundational sciences, clinical competencies, and emerging technologies.
Promote educational best practices, interprofessional education, and curriculum mapping to institutional learning outcomes and accreditation competencies.
Oversee curriculum committees and ensure a faculty-driven, data-informed curriculum development process.
Provide mentorship and support to faculty on instructional design, course delivery, and assessment methods.
Lead faculty development initiatives focused on teaching effectiveness, educational technology, and curricular innovation.
Ensure appropriate faculty engagement in academic governance and curriculum planning.
Oversee student academic progress, including systems for grading, progression, remediation, and academic standing.
Collaborate with student affairs and counseling teams to support student success and address academic concerns.
Develop and monitor comprehensive student assessment strategies to measure learning outcomes and support continuous quality improvement.
Ensure all academic programs meet CODA accreditation standards and comply with university, state, and federal regulations.
Lead the preparation and submission of accreditation reports, self-studies, and site visit coordination.
Monitor changes in accreditation or licensure requirements and implement appropriate academic policy updates.
Develop and implement academic policies, procedures, and handbooks in collaboration with institutional leadership and shared governance bodies.
Contribute to strategic planning initiatives to align academic affairs with the school’s mission, enrollment goals, and evolving educational landscape.
Represent the school at institutional, regional, and national academic meetings and associations.
Provide oversight of all educational programs at ASDOH, including the predoctoral DMD program and all postgraduate programs, to coordinate their functioning, assessment, and continuous improvement in compliance with the University and CODA guidelines using outcomes assessment data for all curricula.
Oversee, lead, and coordinate the CODA accreditation process, including developing the accreditation document, arranging mock site visits, and designating team leads for relevant sections.
Support faculty recruitment, appointment, orientation, retention, development, and separation with HR, the Business Office, and direct supervisors.
Work with the Promotion and Tenure Committee Chair and committee members to support and encourage academic rank and scholarship advancement.
Promote and oversee faculty development, including specific development programs, and serve as chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee.
Support the faculty supervisors during the annual review process and ensure remediation of underperforming faculty.
Assure review, approval, distribution, and reassessment of course syllabi.
Direct the timely and accurate completion of reports related to accreditation, faculty curriculum, and student progress, including the curriculum database.
Direct the creation, maintenance, and evolution of a progressive oral health curriculum and oversee competency mapping to the curriculum.
Serve as chairperson of the Academic Progress Committee and the Curriculum Committee.
Serve as the chairperson of the Institutional Assessment and Accreditation committee
Participate in appropriate dental school/University/external programs and committees.
Meet with student leadership on a regular basis.
Assure promotion of cultural proficiency and inclusion in the curriculum process.
Advise instructors and school leadership on using sound educational methodology in instructor teaching, learning, and assessment through faculty development sessions and retreats.
Serve on ASDOH’s Dean’s Council.
Work with the ADR, ADITS, and external agencies to target grants and create partnerships with industry to advance student/resident education.
Complete any additional tasks or projects as directed by the Dean.
Position requires coordination of a variety of responsible duties in stressful situations.
Must be available for some evening and weekend commitments and events.
Travel to conferences in support of job responsibilities may be required to continue building skills, networking with industry colleagues, and increasing knowledge in collaboration with and/or in place of other ASDOH administrative colleagues.