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Cairn University

Dean

Langhorne, PA · On-site

School of Professional Studies Dean Position Overview Cairn University invites applications for the position of Dean of the School of Professional Studies. The Dean is a member of the Academic ...

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How much do university dean jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for university dean in the United States is $76,501.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $55,000.00 and $91,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a University Dean, and why are they important?

To thrive as a University Dean, you need advanced academic credentials (often a doctorate), significant leadership experience in higher education, and a track record of scholarship or research. Familiarity with university management systems, budgeting tools, and accreditation processes is essential. Outstanding interpersonal skills, strategic vision, and the ability to build consensus help a Dean effectively lead diverse faculty, staff, and student populations. These competencies ensure the Dean can advance the institution's mission, foster academic excellence, and navigate complex administrative challenges.

How does a University Dean typically balance administrative duties with academic leadership responsibilities?

A University Dean often juggles multiple priorities, including overseeing academic programs, managing faculty affairs, and ensuring the strategic growth of their college or department. Balancing administrative tasks—such as budgeting, compliance, and policy implementation—with academic leadership, like curriculum development and faculty mentorship, requires strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Deans frequently collaborate with other campus leaders, faculty, and external stakeholders to foster a positive academic environment while meeting institutional goals. Navigating these diverse responsibilities effectively is key to success and job satisfaction in the role.

What are the main responsibilities of a University Dean?

A University Dean is a senior academic administrator who oversees a specific college, faculty, or school within a university. Their main responsibilities include managing academic programs, budgeting, faculty recruitment and development, and ensuring the quality of education. Deans also represent their division in university leadership meetings, work on strategic planning, and often engage in fundraising or alumni relations. They play a vital role in shaping academic policies and maintaining standards within their unit.

What is the difference between University Dean vs Department Chair?

AspectUniversity DeanDepartment Chair
CredentialsTypically requires advanced degrees (Master's or Doctorate) in relevant fields, along with significant academic experience.Usually holds a faculty position with a terminal degree; often requires experience in teaching and research.
Work EnvironmentOversees multiple departments or schools within a university, focusing on strategic leadership and administration.Manages a specific academic department, focusing on faculty, curriculum, and departmental operations.
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed by universities and higher education institutions in leadership roles.Found within universities, colleges, and academic institutions, often within the faculty structure.

In summary, a University Dean holds a broader leadership role overseeing multiple departments or schools, while a Department Chair manages a specific academic department. Both roles require advanced credentials and experience but differ in scope and responsibilities.

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Infographic showing various University Dean job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 12% Full Time, 84% Part Time, and 4% Temporary. Highlights an 75% Physical, and 25% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $76,501 per year, or $36.8 per hour.

Rush University - Dean, College of Nursing

Academic Career & Executive Search

Chicago, IL • On-site

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Rush University
Dean, College of Nursing
Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Rush University in its search for Dean, College of Nursing.
This is a truly defining moment at Rush University and an exceptional opportunity for a bold, visionary leader to shape the next era of one of the nation's premier Colleges of Nursing. As Dean, you will stand at one of the most influential intersections in healthcare today: where academic nursing, an integrated academic health system, and national policy come together to drive change.
Rush seeks a leader with the intellectual range, strategic clarity, and national stature to elevate nursing education, expand the reach of research and innovation, and strengthen the College's role as a driving force in the future of healthcare. This is a role for a Dean who is energized by possibility, motivated by impact, and ready to lead at an institution celebrated for excellence, discovery, and its longstanding commitment to improving health outcomes across the country.
Rush enters this search in a period of exceptional momentum and strategic clarity. The College of Nursing is long recognized as one of the premier nursing institutions in the country with multiple DNP programs ranked in the Top 5 nationally, placing it in rare company and establishing Rush as the strongest performer in Illinois by a significant margin. The specific rankings are as follows: DNP Leadership is ranked No. 2, Adult Gerontology Primary Care is ranked No. 2, Pediatric Primary Care is ranked No. 2, Psychiatric Mental Health is ranked No. 3, Adult Gerontology Acute Care is ranked No. 3, and Family Nurse Practitioner is ranked No. 4.The University is embedded within a health system that includes a perennial U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll medical center and three Magnet®-designated hospitals. Across the enterprise, Rush is widely acknowledged for leadership in health equity, community engagement, and innovative care models shaped by its enduring Anchor Mission, an institution-wide commitment to advancing the health and economic vitality of Chicago's West Side. The College's international brand and reputation for clinical excellence uniquely position the next Dean to extend Rush's global influence in nursing science, practice, and workforce preparation.
Yet, Rush is not resting on its reputation. The University and Health System are making deliberate, enterprise-level investments in academic nursing as a driver of clinical excellence, workforce innovation, and health equity. The next Dean will help position Rush at the forefront of the national dialogue on nursing workforce development, regulatory change, interprofessional practice, and the science and policy that underpin advanced nursing roles. The Dean will also lead the continued growth of the College's research enterprise and promote team science, translational scholarship, and the integration of strong PhD and DNP research pathways.
The Dean will bring vision, political and relational acumen, collaborative strength, and the capacity to lead across academic, clinical, and policy spheres. This includes stewarding faculty recruitment and retention, cultivating a high-performance and inclusive culture, safeguarding enrollment health, advancing succession planning, and ensuring operational alignment within a complex academic health enterprise. A critical part of this work includes strengthening academic-practice partnerships with Rush University Medical Center, the Department of Nursing, and the Department of Academic Practice Nursing (DAPN); advancing technology-enabled and interprofessional educational models; championing student success, affordability, and the social determinants of learning; and serving as a visible advocate for philanthropic investment and external research funding. The Dean will also ensure long-term institutional vitality by strengthening faculty pipelines, mentoring emerging leaders, and building the structures needed for sustained programmatic and organizational continuity.
This position reports to the provost and provides leadership to 135 faculty and 93 staff supporting more than 1,150 master's and doctoral (DNP and PhD) students.
Rush offers a generous employee benefits package and the advantages of a world-class academic health system, while Chicago provides an unusually rich environment for collaboration and national influence, offering unmatched access to leading health care, research, philanthropic, and policy partners across the broader health ecosystem.
LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Dean will steward the next chapter of the College's academic, research, and clinical contributions while advancing a strategic agenda aligned with the University and Health System. Key areas of leadership include:
  • Expanding the College's national and international influence by shaping discourse on emerging political, regulatory, and policy issues impacting the profession of nursing.
  • Leading the continued growth of the College's research enterprise, securing resources that enhance scholarly impact, and supporting team science, translational scholarship, and strong PhD/DNP research pathways.
  • Deepening integration with the Department of Nursing and the Department of Academic Practice Nursing (DAPN) to strengthen the academic-practice continuum, revitalize partnership-based revenue, and expand clinically embedded learning models.
  • Enhancing the student experience across master's and doctoral programs, with emphasis on academic quality, professional formation, and innovative teaching models.
  • Advancing education, research, and clinical practice across diverse populations and settings, including evidence-based and technology-enabled approaches.
  • Integrating emerging technologies and evidence-based practices into instructional design, research methodologies, and preparation of advanced practice nurses.
  • Driving interprofessional collaboration across the University and Health System to ensure faculty and students are embedded in contemporary team-based care environments.
  • Serving as a strong ambassador and advocate for the College within the University and among national and international partners.
  • Strengthening community partnerships and expanding the College's role in health equity, policy, and community-engaged practice.
  • Cultivating shared governance, faculty development, organizational coherence, and inclusive excellence in a hybrid and evolving academic workplace.
  • Providing disciplined, forward-looking stewardship of resources, navigating financial complexity while supporting enrollment, affordability, faculty pipelines, and succession planning.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  • An earned doctorate in nursing or a closely related field.
  • Illinois RN licensure or ability to obtain licensure in the state of Illinois.
  • Demonstrated strong history of progressive leadership in academic nursing, including success with accreditation, faculty development, and program innovation.
  • A distinguished scholarly record suitable for appointment as a tenured full professor.
  • Proven success in securing external research funding.
  • Excellence in teaching.

About Rush University
Rush University is an elite academic health system comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital, and a broad network of outpatient facilities. Nationally recognized for excellence in patient care, medical discovery, health equity, and community partnership, Rush is a perennial U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll institution with several clinical programs, such as neurology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics ranked in the nation's Top 10. All three Rush hospitals hold Magnet® designation, the highest recognition for nursing excellence, underscoring the system's long-standing leadership in nursing practice and professional development.
Enrolling approximately 2,770 students across the College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, and Rush Medical College, Rush emphasizes hands-on clinical experience in diverse, high-acuity settings and scholarship that informs practice and health policy. The College of Nursing is consistently ranked among the nation's top nursing schools, with multiple DNP programs in the Top 5 nationally and No. 1 in Illinois. Rush is also recognized for LGBTQ Healthcare Equality, disability inclusion, and its nationally regarded Anchor Mission, which reflects a deep, sustained commitment to community health, equity, and economic vitality on Chicago's West Side.
More about The College of Nursing
Living in the Area
Chicago offers a rich professional, cultural, and civic environment for a senior academic health leader. As one of the nation's largest metropolitan centers, the city provides broad access to health, academic, and research institutions, as well as nonprofits, policy organizations, and community partners. This ecosystem creates meaningful opportunities for cross-sector collaboration, influence, and impact beyond the University. Chicago's extraordinary ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity aligns closely with Rush's mission-driven focus on health equity, community health, and social justice. The surrounding communities reflect real and visible health disparities, positioning the Dean to contribute in tangible ways to improving health outcomes and advancing equity.
Chicago's neighborhoods and suburbs offer a wide range of living environments, from transit-connected urban communities to family-friendly suburban areas, providing flexibility for faculty, staff, and students. The city's vibrant cultural and intellectual landscape, including world-class arts institutions, a robust civic sector, and extensive community engagement networks, further enhances the quality of life and provides a dynamic backdrop for leadership within a major health system and academic institution.
To Apply
Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.
Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.
Inquiries and questions: Please send to RushDeanNursing@acesrch.com.
Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee's name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.
The salary range for this position is $300,000-375,000 with opportunity for additional incentive.
Institutional Information
Rush is an equal opportunity / Affirmative Action employer.

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