Dean, School of Public Health

Dean, School of Public Health
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Richmond, Virginia

About VCU School of Public Health

TheSchool of Public Health was created to establish an academic unit to provideoversight and administration for the university's Public Health academicprograms, research initiatives, and community resources. The School is anintegral part of Virginia Commonwealth University and its Health Sciencescampus. The School, along with other units on the VCU health sciences campus,serves as a national urban public research institution dedicated to the successand well-being of our students, patients, faculty, staff and communitythrough:

• Cultivating innovative thought leaders, nurturing diverse and creative scholars, and training the
  next generation of researchers,educators and practitioners equipped to serve the people of
  Virginia, the nation, and the world.
• Conducting and translating rigorous research, implementing science-informed practices, and
  disseminating solutions to preventdisease and promote health for all populations.
• Collaborating with communities, prioritizing those who experience a disproportionate burden of
  illness or adverse outcomes toenhance opportunities for vibrant, equitable and healthy lives.

TheSchool of Public Health will become a national and international leader in theeducation and training of public health professionals and researchers. TheSchool, responsive to the needs of society, promotes excellence in publichealth service, and encourages collaborative research that generatesstate-of-the-art and specialized knowledge to address important public healthissues in society.

The Opportunity

TheDean is the chief academic and executive officer of the School and reports tothe Senior Vice President for Health Sciences. The Dean will bring a visionary and bold approach to the developmentof the School as a center of excellence in public health education andtraining, research and scholarship, policy and practice, and communityengagement. The position requires a commitment to addressing 21st centurychallenges, among them population health inequities and social justice. Servingthe needs of the Commonwealth of Virginia and training the next generation ofpublic health leaders are priorities, and the Dean will bring aninterdisciplinary approach to the task that fosters cross-campus collaborationswith schools and departments with shared interests in issues that shapepopulation health.

TheDean will also manage the School's budget and oversee all departments. The Deanis responsible for planning, stewardship, management and accountability ofcapital, human, fiscal and other critical resources of the School. The Dean will be a proven leader, positiveand energetic in nature, who can swiftly observe and assess the institution'sprofile and strengths in order to map a course for continued success.

TheDean will lead a transition team of colleagues, peers and staff to develop theneeded infrastructure for the School of Public Health. Key aspects of this role are to continue working with theOffice of the Provost for compliance with and approval by the State Council ofHigher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) for additional education initiatives toadvance the School. The second critical task is completing the accreditationprocess as a School from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH),including the self-study and site visits.

Duties include:

• Collaboratively developand implement an innovative and broad vision to advance national prominence asa leading School of Public Health in education, research and service;
• Serve as chief administrative and academic officer of the School with responsibility for all academic, service, and research programs;
• Lead efforts for accreditation for the proposed school by CEPH. Identify andcoordinate the development of appropriate resources to develop CEPH requiredinfrastructure for the proposed school. This will include ensuring that thestaffing, faculty, and leadership personnel meet requirements;
• Engage School leaders, faculty, staff, and students to establish an effectiveand progressive organization and promote individual professional growth andsuccess;
• Enhance theresearch enterprise that positions the School for elevated national prominenceas a center of scholarshipin public health;
• Providedirection, resources, and oversight to ensure that the School administerssponsored research and related activities that bring cutting-edge advances to the field andare conducted in accordance with applicable federalregulations and university and sponsoring agency policies and procedures;
• Support and endorse cooperation with university compliance and monitoringefforts related to university policies, including sponsored program administration,and report instances of noncompliance to the appropriate compliance office;
• Provideleadership direction and communications with department faculty, staff, andtrainees;
• Recruit and retain high quality faculty and staff who can ensurethat the School achieves its goals;
• Provide leadership for fundraisingefforts for the School;
• Develop and administer the VCU School ofPublic Health budget, and ensure the financial viability of the School.

Minimum Hiring Standards

• A significant record as a scholar, academic administrator, leader, and managerin academic public health. While no candidate will embody every quality, asuccessful Dean will bring many of the following professional and personalqualifications;
• A doctoral or terminal professional degree in a field relevant to population orpublic health from an accredited institution and academic record meriting afull professorial appointment;
• A broad understanding of complex issues related to population and publichealth nationally and internationally;
• A bold vision for opportunities forgrowth and progress in population and public healthresearch and education;
• Experience building research and scholarship withinan academic organization;
• Experience guidingorganizational change and growth andfinancial skills and demonstrated ability to attract talent, empowercolleagues, build teams, and promote growth.
• Strong communication and excellent interpersonal skills and an ability toarticulate a compelling vision that engages faculty, staff, students, partners,and donors;
• A strong commitment to diversity andinclusion, including a history of success in working with diverse communities,building a diverse faculty and student body, and training exceptionallyculturally competent health professionals;
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Hiring Standards

• Experiencefundraising, ability to present a compelling story to potential donors, and/orexperience in diversifying and bolstering revenue streams;
• The ability to promote collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and otherconstituencies in making critical decisions on academic priorities and theallocation of resources;
• Superbfinancial management, planning, and budgeting skills. Exposure to RCM-typebudgeting models;
• A deep understanding of and appreciation for thecontributions of each discipline within the School, and the will to serve as apersuasive advocate on their behalf;
• The capacity to lead effectively within an academic community based on strongrelationships between the School and the other health science schools;
• An appreciation of the increasing and ever-changing role of technology anddistance learning in the health sciences education today;
• Experience in the recruitmentand development of excellent faculty, staff, and students;
• Demonstrated knowledge ofaccreditation and credentialing processes.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current curriculum vitae, cover letter (description of interest in the position), contact information of three professional references and a diversity statement. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. All nominations and applications will be confidential until finalists are named. Application materials should be submitted to the VCU Jobs portal.

Requests for information and all written nominations should be directed to Amy Carr (Amy.C[redacted]). For more information, please click on the School of Public Health Dean Search Companion document.

ORP Eligible: Yes

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Tenure Track
Rank: Professor
Months: 12
Department:School of Public Health

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Amy Carr
Contact Email:
Contact Phone: