Associate Dean Director of the Wellstar School of Nursing and Thomas M. and Elizabeth D. Holder Endowed Chair of Nursing

Kennesaw State University invites applications and nominations for the role of Associate Dean and Director of the Wellstar School of Nursing and Thomas M. and Elizabeth D. Holder Endowed Chair of Nursing with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2026. Kennesaw State University seeks a talented, collaborative, and creative leader to establish a forward-looking and innovative vision for the Wellstar School of Nursing. The school has engaged in a substantial partnership with the Wellstar Health System that will provide amazing opportunities for Kennesaw State University’s nursing students and communities throughout Atlanta and the state of Georgia. The next Associate Dean and Director will develop a vision of continued growth and success for the School.

For more than 60 years, Kennesaw State University has been known for its entrepreneurial spirit and sense of community. A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State is located just north of Atlanta and combines a suburban setting on two metro-Atlanta campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta. As one of Georgia’s largest universities, Kennesaw State offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a growing number of doctoral programs to over 47,000 students. Our high-impact research and Division I athletics also draw students from throughout the region and across the globe. A member of the University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is committed to becoming a world-class academic institution positioned to broaden its academic and research missions and expand its scope on a local, regional, and national level. 

As a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution, KSU is among an elite group of only seven percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. The Institution has recently launched a strategic plan that forges a new path toward a brighter, more impactful future at KSU, united in our commitment to excellence and innovation. For more information on the strategic planning process, please visit: https://www.kennesaw.edu/president/strategic-plan/index.php.

The Associate Dean and Director reports to the Dean of the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, serves as WSON’s chief administrative officer, and leads all operational functions of the School. The Associate Dean and Director is responsible for setting the vision for the School in alignment with the University/College vision, faculty hiring and development, enrollment and retention, CCNE accreditation, student success, fiscal management, and external engagements. The Associate Dean and Director of WSON directly oversees a highly collaborative and supportive team.

The next Associate Dean and Director of the Wellstar School of Nursing will be expected to perform the following functions:

• Direct all aspects of the Wellstar School of Nursing (WSON), which is one of the largest in-person programs that prepare baccalaureate nursing students.
• Ensure a highly engaging and rewarding student experience and implement strategies to facilitate student success.
• Articulate a compelling vision and align the School’s strategic plan with institutional plans and priorities.
• Administer and oversee all financial operations of the School to ensure that funding priorities and budgets align with near and long-term strategic objectives in conjunction with university administrators and faculty leadership at the School.
• Represent and advocate for WSON in internal relations with administration and with other colleges and units within Kennesaw State University.
• Represent WSON and Kennesaw State University in external relations with alums, donors, the community, clinical partners, state and national organizations, and other relevant professional bodies.
• Develop and implement entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives to foster collaboration, curriculum, and programs with external and community-based partners and enhance the reputation of WSON as a producer of qualified and caring nurses in the regional community and beyond.
• Provide leadership in fundraising, revenue generation, external grant acquisitions, and resource allocation to support the School’s aspirations and priorities.
• Commit to the recruitment, retention, and mentoring of faculty, staff, and students and promote career development for alums.
• Strategic oversight of hiring and growth.
• Maintain CCNE accreditation.
• Strengthen existing research and scholarship and emphasize interdisciplinary collaborations to promote excellence in education and scholarship.
• Develop and implement strategies to create innovative and market-driven academic programs aimed at increasing on-campus and online undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral student enrollment.
• Create and advocate for nursing policies at the local, state, and federal levels.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An earned doctoral degree, or the foreign equivalent, in Nursing or a related field, with an academic background and appropriate credentials to be a tenured full professor in the Wellstar School of Nursing
• Eligibility for a Georgia Nursing License
• A minimum of three years of teaching experience in a nursing education program.
• Experience in higher education administration including leadership of personnel, budgeting, procurement, inventory, and facility management

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated transformational and visionary leadership, with experience leading through growth and transition
• Ability to foster effective relationships within and beyond the School and university based on excellent interpersonal communication and transparency
• Excellent skills in initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, and project management
• Experience in clinical practice
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness
• Established record of research or scholarship, with external funding
• Experience and ability to successfully communicate with all levels within an organization, from senior management to operational teams
• Demonstrated ability to navigate essential community, industry, and government partners
• A team player comfortable with ambiguity as decisions or processes evolve over time and the ability to quickly refine strategies after receiving feedback from stakeholders
• Entrepreneurial instincts, intellectual curiosity, and an ability to work both independently and as a team member
• Experience with fiscal management and budgeting in a complex environment

This is a full-time position that will be performed on-site in Georgia. Salary is commensurate with experience with a generous benefits package.

For more information about Kennesaw State University, please explore the detailed position profile and https://www.kennesaw.edu.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY
Requested application materials include a letter of interest, a resume/CV, and a list of five references. All applications, nominations, and inquiries will remain confidential until finalists are identified for campus interviews.

To express interest in this role please submit a compelling cover letter and resume directly through the Talent Profile. For full consideration, please submit application materials no later than August 1, 2025.

For a confidential discussion regarding the position, please contact:

Tom Fitch, Managing Director
Brian Bustin, Senior Associate
[email protected] 

Kennesaw State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, work, and study. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the KSU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the KSU community.

For additional information on this policy or to file a complaint under the provisions of this policy, students, employees, applicants for employment or admission or other third parties should contact the Office of Institutional Equity at English Building, Suite 225, [email protected].