Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education – Non-Tenured Position

Penn State University • University Park, IL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at The Pennsylvania State University seeks an Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education to oversee undergraduate nursing curricula, student admissions and progression, program outcomes, and faculty development. The position leads BSN curricular activities and ensures compliance with state, regional, and national accreditation standards.

This is a non-tenured faculty appointment as an Academic Administrator at the rank of Teaching Professor. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2027, though it is negotiable. The position is located at Penn State’s University Park campus. The Associate Dean oversees undergraduate nursing programs across campuses, supports student recruitment and success, manages faculty and staff, coordinates clinical education partnerships, and leads program budgeting, evaluation, accreditation, and strategic planning.

Requirements

• Doctorate in nursing or a closely related field.
• Must have attained the rank of Teaching Professor before the appointment start date in Nursing.
• Current U.S. registered nurse license and eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania.
• Experience in academic administration with undergraduate nursing education programs.
• Leadership experience in undergraduate curricular development, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Understanding of key issues and opportunities in nursing and nursing education, including current trends in innovative undergraduate education.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate faculty and lead teams in a dynamic environment.
• Fiscal experience developing and monitoring budgets and other academic-affairs resources.
• Experience developing strategic plans and providing visionary leadership for academic programs.
• Documented experience in professional scholarship and presentation.
• Understanding of management challenges in complex academic environments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and academic leaders.
• Ability to lead inclusively, build consensus, collaborate, negotiate, persuade, solve problems, manage change, and follow up in a timely manner.
• Strong organization, analytical, time-management, diplomacy, and self-direction skills; integrity and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

• Evidence of interprofessional collaboration.
• Track record of educational program funding.
• Scholarship in nursing education, including innovative and interprofessional teaching methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and administration of undergraduate nursing programs across all campuses, ensuring academic quality and operational consistency.
• Lead curriculum development, evaluation, and continuous improvement to maintain alignment with accreditation and licensure standards.
• Ensure compliance with state and national regulatory and accrediting bodies governing nursing education.
• Collaborate with Undergraduate Assistant Deans, Campus Directors, and Campus Administrators to recruit and retain qualified faculty.
• Supervise teaching faculty and staff, including hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Manage procurement, renewal, and oversight of healthcare partnership agreements supporting student clinical education.
• Coordinate clinical placements and maintain collaborative relationships with healthcare facilities and community partners.
• Oversee and support the academic promotion process for non-tenure-line teaching faculty within the college.
• Collaborate in designing and executing initiatives to recruit and retain undergraduate nursing students.
• Lead student recruitment, retention, and success efforts across all campuses.
• Oversee the Student Success Center and Simulation Laboratory to support learning, academic achievement, and clinical skill development.
• Monitor student academic progress and address academic, compliance, and clinical performance concerns.
• Participate in reviewing, developing, and overseeing academic policies to ensure equitable and consistent application.
• Promote the nursing program across the Commonwealth through student engagement, recruitment, and outreach.
• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with hospitals, clinics, educational institutions, and peer universities.
• Prepare, manage, and oversee the undergraduate nursing program budget.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret program data for evaluation, accreditation, and strategic planning.
• Represent the undergraduate nursing program in college-wide and external meetings and serve as a liaison to stakeholders.
• Coordinate course and clinical-rotation scheduling to optimize faculty workload, student needs, and clinical-site availability.
• Prepare and submit documentation for faculty approvals, curriculum changes, and licensure of graduates.
• Stay current with educational technologies and pedagogical practices and integrate innovative tools into teaching and learning.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Retirement plans.
• 75% tuition discount for employees and eligible spouses and children.
• Negotiable startup package to support the successful candidate’s research or scholarship program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree