Dean, College of Natural and Health Sciences

DHRM•Chesterfield, VA

About The Position

The Dean is the chief academic and administrative officer of Virginia State University's College of Natural and Health Sciences. The role provides executive leadership for the College's instructional, operational, strategic, external-engagement, and facilities-related functions. The Dean advances the College's mission, academic quality, student success, faculty excellence, and fundraising and partnerships aligned with institutional priorities. The Dean oversees financial and administrative operations, facilities, laboratories, classrooms, and instructional support services, ensuring they are effectively structured, maintained, and resourced to promote continuous improvement, safety, growth, and student achievement. The position leads STEM education, nursing, psychology, health sciences, laboratory operations, and research activity, and holds senior accountability for relevant nursing, psychology, allied health, laboratory, safety, and research accreditation and regulatory requirements. The Dean leads undergraduate and graduate academic programs and student-success priorities; faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention; accreditation, assessment, and compliance; College-level budgeting, resource allocation, and facilities stewardship; fundraising and external partnerships; and collaboration with Academic Affairs and University partners. The position requires a terminal degree in a discipline appropriate to the College and tenure at the rank of Professor, or eligibility for appointment as Professor with tenure.

Requirements

Demonstrated senior-level academic and administrative leadership experience within a college, school, or comparable academic enterprise.
Experience contributing to strategic planning that aligns unit or institutional priorities with established goals and objectives.
Experience supporting faculty development and leading faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention.
Experience directing college- or unit-level fiscal and administrative operations, including budget planning, resource allocation, and stewardship of funds.
Experience managing human, financial, physical, facilities, laboratory, and instructional resources.
Working knowledge of internal controls, administrative processes, compliance practices, and facilities oversight.
Experience leading curriculum planning, academic assessment, continuous improvement, and academic program development.
Experience implementing academic policies and supporting institutional procedures and accountability measures.
Experience advancing fundraising, donor engagement, and external partnerships in collaboration with institutional advancement.
Experience supporting programmatic accreditation, licensure, regulatory compliance, and relevant facilities or laboratory standards.
A terminal degree in a discipline appropriate to the College.
Must hold the academic rank of Professor and have achieved tenure, or be eligible for appointment at the rank of Professor with tenure, consistent with University requirements.
Faculty must be appropriately credentialed to teach assigned undergraduate and graduate courses in accordance with Virginia State University's Faculty Credentialing Policy #2301.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership for undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
Advance student success priorities, including retention, degree completion, licensure readiness, and academic progression.
Promote academic excellence, innovation, and high-impact educational practices.
Lead faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention efforts.
Oversee instructional planning, workload management, and course coverage.
Strengthen faculty engagement in curriculum improvement, assessment, research, and academic governance.
Sustain and advance applicable accreditation, licensure, and regulatory standards.
Use assessment, program review, laboratory oversight, and outcomes data to guide continuous improvement.
Serve as the senior academic authority for accreditation reporting, monitoring, and continuous compliance.
Direct College fiscal and facilities operations, including budget planning, resource allocation, fund stewardship, and space utilization.
Manage human, financial, physical, laboratory, classroom, and instructional resources.
Oversee maintenance, safety, and compliance of laboratories, classrooms, and specialized instructional spaces in coordination with University offices.
Lead fundraising initiatives in collaboration with University Advancement.
Cultivate and sustain relationships with alumni, donors, corporations, agencies, and community partners.
Advance partnerships that enhance experiential learning, workforce development, research, clinical practice, and philanthropy.
Collaborate with Academic Affairs leadership and University partners to advance institutional goals.
Represent the College in University-level leadership discussions and strategic initiatives.
Align College initiatives with the University mission, priorities, and external expectations.