Position Summary:

Arkansas State University (A-State) seeks a visionary, strategic, and innovative leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Nursing & Health Professions (CNHP). Reporting to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, the Dean will be the chief academic and administrative officer for the college and will be responsible for defining its role in research, teaching, and service within the university. This is a pivotal opportunity for a leader to develop and implement an ambitious strategic plan for significant expansion of the college's research enterprise while continuing the tradition of excellent educational programming.

The CNHP is home to 11 academic areas of specialization (https://www.astate.edu/college/conhp/) and the Beck Center for Veterans. It has robust undergraduate and graduate enrollment across both traditional and online modalities. The college provides an important service to Northeast Arkansas and the region through educating skilled healthcare professionals.

A-State is a public research university located in Jonesboro, AR and is designated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a “Research 2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production” institution. The A-State campus hosts the first osteopathic medical school in Arkansas, the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition, A-State is establishing the first public college of veterinary medicine in Arkansas, with plans to accept the first cohort of students in the 2026–2027 academic year.

Jonesboro is a thriving community with approximately 80,000 residents, offers a low cost of living, and serves as the major healthcare hub for a 23-county region, with two large, thriving healthcare systems.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Dean of the CNHP will provide strategic leadership to maintain current excellence in academics while fostering an expanded research agenda by:

• Fostering a Culture of Research and Elevating Research Impact: Cultivate a vibrant environment of inquiry and innovation that encourages and supports faculty and students in their scholarly and creative activities. Lead initiatives to position the college as a research leader in its fields, with a focus on attracting extramural funding from external agencies and foundations.
• Maintaining Traditional Teaching Excellence: Develop and support undergraduate and graduate programs that serve the needs of the region, support innovative pedagogy and provide oversight of program quality and accreditation.
• Encouraging Collaboration: Promote and facilitate interprofessional education and interdisciplinary research collaborations with other departments, colleges, NYIT, and external partners in healthcare, academia, and the community.
• Mentoring Talent: Recruit, mentor, and foster the professional development of college leaders in their roles.
• Securing Funding and Resources: Actively participate in resourcing and fundraising initiatives. Manage grant processes to secure new funding sources for innovative programs and research.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement strategic short- and long-term goals aligned with the university's overall mission to deliver quality academic programming while enhancing research productivity and impact.
• Oversight and Management: Manage college administration, including budget, personnel, and operations. Ensure compliance with all university, state, and federal regulations.
• Executing Other Duties: As assigned by the Provost. 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

The ability to articulate a clear vision and execute a strategic plan to achieve ambitious research goals while maintaining teaching excellence.

A strong commitment to collective excellence.

Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills.

General Days/Hours:

Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Additional hours as requested and/or needed
Regular and reliable attendance

Other:

To Apply:
Visit Jobs.AState.edu
Applicants should upload the following:
(1) a cover letter addressing their qualifications and reasons for applying;
(2) curriculum vitae;
(3) research statement;
(4) leadership philosophy;
(5) names, email addresses, and telephone numbers for five professional references.

Review of applications will begin January 13, 2026, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026.

Please note: All postings close at 12 A.M. CST on the closing date.  A-State participates in E-Verify.

The ideal candidate will be a compelling and collaborative leader with:

1) An earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree.
2) An outstanding record of scholarly achievement and research experience commensurate with a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor.
3) Experience, certification, or licensure in a relevant profession, preferably represented in the college.
4) A proven track record of successful leadership experience in an academic setting (including Department Chair, Associate Dean or above), with responsibility for academic program oversight, budget and personnel management.
5) Extensive experience with the administration and delivery of academic programs in online and traditional modalities, including coordination of clinical education sites across diverse geographic regions, states, and healthcare settings.
6) Demonstrated experience with research program administration, securing external funding, and managing complex research grants.

About Arkansas State University

Focusing on its mission to educate leaders, enhance intellectual growth and enrich lives, Arkansas State University (A-State) is the catalyst for progress in our state, the Mississippi Delta region, and the Mid-South region. Founded in 1909, A-State meets the challenges of continuing as a destination university for more than 14,000 students through the combination of world-class research with a long tradition of student-friendly instruction. The second-largest university in Arkansas, A-State is a doctoral-level national institution with more than 150 degrees areas of study, including a robust online program, and a diverse student body from across the nation and the world. The economic and cultural engine of Northeast Arkansas, A-State’s public-private partnerships include hosting the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine which is Arkansas’ first osteopathic medical school, the creation of an Arkansas State University satellite campus in Queretaro, Mexico, and a collaboration with O’Reilly Management for the First National Bank Arena and Embassy Suites. A-State is classified as a Doctoral University - High Research Activity (R2). Nationally, only 270 u...niversities of almost 4,000 qualify for the Doctoral University Very High (R1) or High (R2) Research Activity listings.

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