Dean of the School of Nursing

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Job Category:

Limited

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Dean

Job Summary:

The University of Wisconsin–Madison, established in 1848 and considered one of the world's outstanding public research universities, invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the School of Nursing. UW–Madison, the flagship campus of the Universities of Wisconsin, is a major land-grant university committed to excellence in teaching, research and public service with revenues of $4.9 billion, a student body of over 50,000, faculty/staff of approximately 28,000, and a campus environment that facilitates cross disciplinary collaborative research. The University has a long-standing commitment to shared governance. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is ranked among the top universities in the world and has the #5 national research ranking among public U.S. universities.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing (SoN), established in 1924, has a mission to develop nurse leaders, innovators, and advocates for the profession and society through research, education, practice, policy, and outreach. The University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing (SoN), established in 1924, has a mission to develop nurse leaders, innovators, and advocates for the profession and society through research, education, practice, policy, and outreach. The SoN is a leading nursing research institution in Wisconsin and the nation, with a history of impact on health through nursing science and education, including neonatal and pediatric nursing; aging research; patient-centered intervention research; and health systems innovation. The SoN faculty and staff comprises more than 87 clinical and tenure-track faculty members and 84 staff. The SoN has an enrollment of more than 1,200 pre-nursing and matriculated nursing students, offering the Bachelor of Science in the Nursing major (BSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) degrees, as well as five certificate programs and continuing education programs. The BSN program at the SoN is nationally ranked at #8 in a three-way tie and is in the top 1% of all eligible BSN programs in the country by US News and World Report (2025). Among public institutions the SoN is tied for a ranking of #5.

In 2014, the SoN relocated to a new, state-of-the-art $53 million facility, Signe Skott Cooper Hall (Cooper Hall). Cooper Hall is designed to advance nursing science and scholarship while supporting collaboration, mentorship, and best practices in innovative teaching and learning in nursing and interprofessional health education. Cooper Hall is also designed for quality and growth in faculty, research, programs, and enrollment. One of the highlights of Cooper Hall is the Center for Technology-Enhanced Nursing (CTEN). This innovative instructional and research unit includes five simulation environments, making it possible to simulate entire episodes of care utilizing clinic, hospital, home and e/health support environments. In addition, the SoN leads the development of team-based, problem-focused learning on campus in its 360-seat active learning classroom complex.

The SoN’s robust and strategic research and scholarship enterprise contributes to a vibrant campus environment for interdisciplinary research in health care, interprofessional practice, and education. The school is an integral academic partner in the health sciences sector of campus with the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and Education, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, the American Family Children’s Hospital, and the William S. Middleton Veteran’s Administration Hospital.

The Dean, who reports to the Chancellor through the Provost, serves as the chief academic and executive officer of the school. Responsibilities include overseeing faculty and staff development; managing personnel; budget planning and management; overseeing research, curriculum, and student academic affairs; overseeing facilities and operations; and fundraising and advancement efforts.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Leads efforts to secure external funding from state and federal government agencies, foundations, corporations, alumni, and philanthropic partners to advance the school’s mission and impact

Serves as the SoN’s Chief Academic Officer, responsible for maintaining academic integrity and compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards for all nursing programs

Leads the development of new educational programs and initiatives that respond to emerging healthcare needs, community priorities, workforce trends, and technological advances, while evaluating current programs and initiatives for relevancy

Provides leadership in the recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention of faculty and staff, while fostering a culture of excellence, connection and engagement, wellness, and ongoing professional growth

Advocates broadly for the role of nursing education and scholarship in meeting the demands of the nursing profession and meeting the complex needs of a broad range of populations across traditional and non-traditional care settings

Partners with university and SoN faculty and staff to ensure robust data systems are in place to support continuous assessment, quality improvement, strategic planning, and evidence-informed decision making

Represents the School of Nursing in local, state, national, and international forums, including academic consortia, policy discussions, and professional organizations to elevate the school’s visibility and influence

Provides comprehensive oversight of the SoN’s academic, administrative, and operational functions, ensuring excellence, efficiency, and alignment with university policies and values, as well as community priorities

Ensures that all academic programs and administrative units in the school are reviewed regularly in accordance with university policies, accreditation standards, and processes for continuous improvement

Collaborates effectively with other deans, campus leaders, and Universities of Wisconsin partners to support interdisciplinary initiatives, shared governance, and institutional strategic priorities

Leads the faculty, staff, and school community in articulating and implementing a forward-looking mission, vision, and strategic framework that aligns with UW-Madison’s institutional goals and the future of nursing education, research, and practice

Oversees the development and administration of complex, multi-unit budgets, ensuring responsible fiscal planning and resource allocation to support strategic priorities

Department:

School of Nursing

Compensation:

Negotiable

Degree and area of specialization:

Earned research doctorate (PhD or equivalent) in Nursing or related field. If earned research doctorate is not in nursing, candidates must hold a graduate degree in nursing. Additionally, candidates must have a demonstrated record of excellence in research, teaching, and service to ensure eligibility for tenure at UW-Madison. Eligibility for Registered Nurse licensure in Wisconsin is also required.

Desired Qualifications:

Demonstrated record of transformative leadership that fosters connection in higher education with a commitment to advancing excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and professional nursing education across a broad range of learning environments

Deep understanding of the evolving challenges facing nursing education, research, and practice, and a vision for responding to these complex state, national, and global challenges to advance the nursing profession

Strong skills in strategic planning, financial stewardship, personnel management, and resource development, with a track record of leadership in aligning operations with mission-dri