Dean of the School of Health Sciences

The University of South Dakota (USD) invites nominations and applications for the position of dean of the School of Health Sciences.

Founded in 1862 on the banks of the Missouri River in Vermillion, South Dakota, USD is the state’s flagship institution and its designated liberal arts university. With an enrollment exceeding 10,000 students and employing more than 400 faculty members, USD has a strong commitment to student outcomes and success. The 274-acre main campus in Vermillion – housing over 130 student organizations and 18 NCAA Division I sports – has undergone $300 million in upgrades over the last decade and been named one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation.

The USD School of Health Sciences is the second largest school and hosts some of the most popular and fastest growing programs at USD. Health Sciences consists of ten academic programs: Addiction Counseling and Prevention, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Dental Hygiene, Health Sciences, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Public Health (Masters). The School of Health Sciences is also home to the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) and the Interprofessional Health Education Center (IHEC).

The school’s mission is to provide quality learner-centered education in the health and human services professions. Students routinely exceed the national average on their board certification exams. Clinical setting experiences prepare students for employment in their chosen profession. Low student-to-faculty ratios translate into a supportive educational environment that focuses on academic excellence.

Reporting to Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP, the vice president for health affairs and dean, Sanford School of Medicine, the dean of the School of Health Sciences is responsible for providing administrative leadership and oversight of the academic, research and public service missions of Health Sciences. She or he will promote and negotiate health care education to clinical and affiliated entities and community and state professionals and leaders; exploring and assess future growth opportunities for the school; represent the school at fundraising and external development activities; and manage budget and resource allocation.

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. or relevant terminal degree and be eligible for board certification/ licensure in a health or human services profession. The dean should have nationally recognized achievement in clinical, educational and/or research pursuits that would warrant appointment as a tenured full professor. Furthermore, the dean should have demonstrated administrative leadership experience within an academic or similarly complex institution, knowledge and understanding of clinical experiences with an emphasis in interdisciplinary team based learning environment and a commitment to diversity. For more information on this search, please visit www.wittkieffer.com.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. For fullest consideration, applicant materials should be received by February 1, 2019. Candidates should provide, as three separate documents, a curriculum vitae, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in the Leadership Statement and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to the University of South Dakota’s consultants Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. and Kerry Quealy, at USDHealthSciencesDean@wittkieffer.com. Questions may also be directed to the consultants through the office of Francine Heymanson at 949-797-3503.

The University of South Dakota shall offer equal opportunities in employment and for access to and participation in educational, extension and other institutional services to all persons qualified by academic preparation, experience, and ability for the various levels of employment or academic program or other institutional service, without discrimination based on sex, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, gender identification, transgender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status or on any other status that may become protected under law against discrimination. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Human Resources, Office of Equal Opportunity, https://www.usd.edu/human-resources/equal-opportunity.