Associate Dean for Health Sciences

Sul Ross State University invites nominations and applications for the position of Associate Dean for the School of Health Sciences. The Associate Dean will provide innovative and dynamic leadership to the School.

Reporting to the Dean of Agriculture, Life and Physical Sciences, the Associate Dean provides support and leadership to the department chairs, program directors, and faculty and staff in the newly created School of Health Sciences. This position is central to sustaining an environment of academic and professional excellence for students, faculty, and staff within the school, as well as a collaborative working environment among team members. The Associate Dean of Health Sciences supports an intellectually rigorous and ethically sound and inclusive academic community in the School of Health Sciences.

Key Responsibilities:

• New Program Development – Lead development of new programs designed and based on input from relevant constituencies, needs analyses, and cost projections. Provides academic and administrative leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of academic programs. This is a newly created school so development of new programs will be an immediate and essential task.
• Faculty Management – Supervise, mentor, and support the growth and development of department chairs/program directors and faculty. Supports College units on developing job descriptions, recruitment strategies and search processes for faculty. Ability to resolve inquiries and complaints from SHS personnel, employees, students, regulatory agencies, or members of the academic or business community.
• Program Management – serves as liaison to the SHS academic units on accreditation and program reviews processes. Meet regularly with program/department faculty and other administrators to discuss and coordinate program operations, development, and assessment/review activities. Contribute materials to university ad hoc reports and accreditation needs as requested by university offices. Work with the Dean of ALPS to resolve conflict situations related to student appeals, petitions, grading, academic misconduct, program dismissal, faculty/student issues, etc.
• School Planning – Work with academic departments, finance and operations and Dean of ALPS to strengthen, coordinate, integrate, and implement strategic goals of the College and School. Assist the Dean of ALPS and VP of Finance and Operations in the preparation and implementation of the SHS’s budget as needed.
• Serve as a member of College and University committees as appropriate to represent the SHS.
• Work closely with the Office of University Communications to develop and implement a comprehensive communication plan that includes web-based content, social media, print, and other internal and external promotional materials.
• Work closely with Dean of Research and Sponsored Programs to develop grant funding for SHS initiatives.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required, assigned, or requested.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree in Health or Biological Sciences or related field.
• Strong interest in teaching excellence.
• A minimum of 5 years of collegiate professional and/or academic experience relevant to performing the responsibilities of the assistant dean position.
• Strong commitment to quality academic programing, student achievement, faculty development, and overall college and university success.
• Demonstrated academic leadership (department chair, program coordinator, committee chair, etc.).
• Proven experience for scholarly productivity and data analytical skills.
• Curriculum design/development and assessment experience as well as broad knowledge of university-level management and governance structures.
• Must be able to work in-person on the SRSU Alpine campus.

The School of Health Sciences is a newly created school within the College of Agriculture, Life, and Physical Sciences. It contains the Department of Kinesiology with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Human Performance and M.S degrees in Health and Human Performance and Sports Administration, the Department of Nursing with a BSN and RN-BSN degree paths, and the newly created Department of Health Studies. The vision for the new department of Health Studies is to create a degree in Health Sciences as well as look at adding degrees in areas such as healthcare administration, public health, etc. as the department grows and develops.

Vision:

As a beacon of excellence, Sul Ross State University's School of Health Sciences will be a catalyst for positive change by empowering students through innovative education and community engagement, and will shape the future of healthcare in rural and underserved regions while inspiring hope for a healthier society.

Mission:

The School of Health Sciences is rooted in a commitment to addressing the unique needs of rural communities and the medically underserved. We strive to be a beacon of excellence in education, research, and service. Through transformative education, fostering a culture of inquiry, innovative programs and partnerships, we aim to cultivate a diverse cadre of healthcare professionals who are not only clinically adept but also culturally competent and deeply empathetic. Our graduates will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and passion to deliver holistic, patient-centered care within rural communities that respects the dignity and autonomy of every individual.

Sul Ross State University in Far West Texas and the Middle Rio Grande Region boasts a combination of small class sizes, an appreciation of both fine arts and the sciences and popular professional programs in a relaxed, friendly environment.

The University at Alpine, comprising 647 acres, boasts a beautiful 93-acre main campus of exquisitely-detailed buildings and enjoys perhaps the most temperate climate in the state. It is situated in the Davis Mountains and overlooks the center of the city below, yet it remains within easy reach of many local stores and restaurants. The university also has a 468-acre working ranch that serves its animal science programs.

The University at Del Rio, Uvalde, and Eagle Pass offers upper-level and graduate coursework. Sul Ross works in partnership with Southwest Texas Junior College where students complete the first two years and then transfer to SRSU at any of the three locations to complete their Bachelor’s Degrees and continue into Master’s Level work.

Sul Ross, proudly designated as a Hispanic Servicing Institution (HSI), ranks among the top in the nation among undergraduate institutions producing future Hispanic doctorates in the physical sciences, and high in the state of Texas for percentage of freshman and sophomore classes taught by tenured and tenure-track faculty. Sul Ross is committed to enhancing student learning through low student to teacher ratios, quality faculty, and hands-on experience.

With an enrollment of about 2,100 students, class sizes are small, guaranteeing a much higher level of personal attention from instructors and the university's support staff. But there's plenty for students to do in their free time: lots of student clubs and organizations, a thriving arts community, and a strong athletic tradition. Rodeo is significant part of the Sul Ross program, and the university is the birthplace of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Many team members have gone on to become world champions.

SRSU offers academic study in an immense low population area surrounded by two national parks, one national historic site, three state parks, one state historical site, three wildlife management areas, a world-class observatory, and literally millions of privately-owned acres where livelihoods depend on agricultural, land, and resource management. The university owns the 17,000-acre Faskin Ranch 110 miles west. Another rugged 9,269-acre tract in the Christmas Mountains, owned by the Texas State University, is less than an hour south of Alpine, and was added as an extensive open-air research laboratory available for faculty and students. Almost every geologic process and rock formation known to geologists can be observed here and our star-studded skies are among the darkest in the world. Outdoor employment opportunities abound.

The Search Committee invites letters of interest and nominations to be submitted directly to the search firm, Anthem Executive. Correspondence should include a curriculum vitae and a letter of interest describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Submit materials to Michael Ballew, Wanda Maulding Green, or Florene Stawowy at:

SRSUAssocDeanSHS@anthemexecutive.com

While applications and nominations may be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible to assure consideration. Anthem and the University reserve the right to end or extend the application and nomination process at any time. Expressing interest is the first step in receiving consideration and does not make one an applicant for the position.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (AA/EOE)
It is the policy of Sul Ross State University to provide equal employment opportunity for all persons in accordance with their individual, job related qualifications and without consideration of race, creed, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status and ancestry. Equal employment opportunities shall be afforded in all personnel actions or decisions including, but not necessarily limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, demotion, termination and salary. Retaliation is prohibited against a person who opposes a discriminatory practice, files a charge, testifies, assists or participates in an investigative proceeding or hearing.