Dean, College of Health Professions

Slippery Rock University (SRU), a regional public master’s university and member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, seeks an experienced and forward-thinking leader to serve as its first Dean of the College of Health Professions. This position is an exciting opportunity for a creative and innovative administrator to work in a collaborative environment to promote and enhance well-established clinical and health-related programs with experienced faculty.

The College: The new College of Health Professions comprises many long-standing academic departments that were previously housed in the College of Health, Engineering, and Science. Slippery Rock University continues to be an innovator in establishing professional health care programs in western Pennsylvania to meet the needs of growing and aging populations. The new College will enable students in these programs to work in greater harmony with each other and to prepare for careers that are in high demand in the community, the commonwealth, and the country. The College has maintained strong enrollments through the current national challenges, and many programs are growing and/or have strong potential to continue to grow despite declining enrollments across the country.

The Position: The Dean of the College of Health Professions will provide leadership in all aspects of the College’s operation, including advancing the University’s commitment to excellence in teaching, both inperson and online; supporting and embracing the University’s commitment to diversity; leading initiatives to recruit students as well as increase enrollment and retention; building partnerships; raising the state, regional, and national profile of the College and its programs; representing the College before the University community, alumni, and other outside entities; leading major fundraising efforts; valuing and managing interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary endeavors; and enhancing the sense of community among faculty, students, administrators, and staff. The Dean will work cooperatively with the faculty, department chairs, other deans, the Provost, and the President to develop and implement the College and University strategic plans and other institutional goals. This position is governed by state and federal laws as well as PASSHE and institutional policies.

The Dean will lead implementation and assessment of the College’s mission in both undergraduate and graduate programs; enhance academic program offerings and ensure outcomes are assessed, and accreditations and facilities are maintained; foster College visibility through positive alumni relations and engagement in fundraising; strategically manage the College budget; participate as a colleague to advance Dean, College of Health Professions the direction of Academic Affairs and the University; promote student recruitment and success; assist in hiring and training processes; conduct performance and milestone reviews for college faculty and staff; and manage employee relations in a unionized environment.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead strategic and long-range planning efforts and work with others to implement change, including recruiting high quality and diverse faculty who are committed to strong teaching, service, and scholarship; fostering faculty development; encouraging, strengthening, and broadening alumni and community relations and collaborations with health-related providers and organizations; advancing the College’s successful development/fundraising programs; and promoting international partnerships.

The Dean is also expected to advance diversity and facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration both within the College and between it and the other SRU colleges.

Qualifications:

• academic credentials in a health-related field at a level required for appointment as a tenured full professor within the College;

• knowledge of health professions accreditation;

• evidence of effective communication skills;

• demonstrated success with shared governance;

• a strong record of advocacy for diversity;

• evidence of outstanding administrative and leadership experience;

• strong budgeting and financial planning experience;

• knowledge of a wide range of health disciplines;

• experience in working with academic health disciplines, including clinical faculty roles, interprofessional education, and/or affiliation agreements;

• successful fundraising experience;

• an understanding of and commitment to public higher education.

Additional preferred qualifications include:

• experience in development of innovation programs, distance learning, and collaborative endeavors;

• a commitment to the utilization of technology for the advancement of instruction, research, and clinical excellence.

The Facilities: The College of Health Professions’ academic programs are housed in seven facilities across Slippery Rock’s campus. These programs can be found in Patterson Hall, Vincent Science Center, the School of Physical Therapy Building, Eisenberg Classroom Building, the Jack Dinger Building, and the Harrisville Building. In 2008, Patterson Hall was reengineered to become a 21st Century classroom building with modern facilities. Patterson Hall houses the Exercise Science, Athletic Training, and Recreational Therapy Programs, and one of the highlights of the renovation is a new world-class technology exercise lab where students gain hands-on experience working directly with clients. The Vincent Science Center, a 102,640 square foot building, was opened in 1968 and was named after Arthur Vincent, a former science professor and chair of the science department in 1923. In 2011, the Center was renovated into a modern learning center and is where students can find the Psychology department. In the middle of the Science Center sits a planetarium that is open for all students to enjoy. The School of Physical Therapy Building was opened in 2001. This building includes state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and a resource room. The Eisenberg Classroom Building, widely known as ECB, was constructed in 1969. ECB is home of the College of Business, which includes the Healthcare Administration and Management program that is joining the College of Health Professions. In 1959, the Jack Dinger building opened to serve the department of Special Education. The department was relocated in the summer of 2011, and now, the Jack Dinger Building is the home base for the Public Health and Social Work programs. Lastly, the Harrisville Building, located approximately seven miles from main campus, opened in 2016. Previously an elementary school, the building was converted into a facility for the Physician Assistant Studies and Occupational Therapy programs. Harrisville houses 13 state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment that simulates real-time patients, four exam rooms, modern classrooms, a simulated living space, and four SPECTRA Anatomy Visualization Clinical imaging tables, which offer a multi-user touch interface for team-based learning of the anatomical sciences. SRU is one of 26 institutions in the nation to utilize this instructional technology.

Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, a therapeutic recreational program that serves the entire community, encompassing more than six counties in the Pittsburgh area, provides weekly Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) for people of all ages with cognitive, physical, emotional and social disabilities. The SRU Foundation, Inc. is the fiscal agent for the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center. The Center provides certified instructors and services for our Special Olympic Equestrian Team, Disabled Veterans programs, and community summer camps for individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Storm Harbor facilities include a barn with 12 standard sized horse stalls, feed/tack room, wash bay, a fenced outdoor riding arena, and a heated indoor riding arena with accessible wheelchair lift. There are 13 acres of pasture and trails and a newly developed sensory trail. Storm Harbor Equestrian Center is a Premier Accredited Center with PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) certification. For more information on facilities at SRU please visit: https://www.sru.edu/admissions/visit-the-rock/virtual-tour.

The Institution: An institution committed to the success of students, Slippery Rock University opened in 1889 as Slippery Rock State Normal School with the original purpose of training teachers. Since that time, the institution has dramatically expanded and now operates as one of the 14 fine institutions in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education and has 70,000 current alumni. SRU serves to transform the intellectual, social, physical, and leadership capacities of students to prepare them for life and career success. Nearly 8,600 Slippery Rock students have an opportunity to pursue more than 150 undergraduate programs and 40 graduate programs in five colleges: the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Science, the College of Health Professions, and the College of Liberal Arts. The University employs 950 faculty and staff, 92% of SRU professors hold a Ph.D. or terminal degree, and students enjoy a 24:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Slippery Rock University holds full institutional accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and 19 programmatic accreditations.

With strategic data-driven planning, the University has streamlined existing academic programs and added new programs that are in alignment with job-market trends and societal needs. The University values and invests in the professional development of its faculty and staff. SRU consistently places in the top two on the System’s financial dashboard, which assesses a variety of metrics across the areas of market demand, operating efficiency, and financial performance. The University has received high ratings for stewardship of its physical assets. SRU is ranked among the best regional universities in the North by U.S. News and World Report. To learn more about the University, please visit www.sru.edu.

Location: Slippery Rock University’s campus comprises more than 660 rolling acres in one of western Pennsylvania’s most beautiful areas. Slippery Rock offers historic charm in a small-town setting. The borough is home to approximately 3,500 residents. The University offers an abundance of cultural enrichment opportunities throughout the school year, and the region provides numerous year-round outdoor activities. Slippery Rock is also a convenient drive to major metropolitan centers such as Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Erie.

Application: Interested candidates should submit only a cover letter and resume directly through the University’s Application Portal at https://careers.sru.edu/postings/7680. The first review of candidates will begin on January 15, 2022. For questions about the search, please contact Dr. John Bonaguro, Founding Dean, College of Health Professions, at john.bonaguro@sru.edu.

 

 

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religion, age, disability, or veteran status in its programs or activities in accordance with Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.