Opportunities and Priorities
Whitworth University seeks an experienced, collaborative academic leader to guide the School of Health Sciences at an important moment in its development. Reporting to the Provost & Executive Vice President, the dean will sustain excellence in established programs, lead the implementation of nursing and social work programs, and develop new opportunities that respond to student aspirations and community needs. The successful candidate will bring a personal commitment to Christian faith, a record of building programs, and a desire to prepare students for skilled, compassionate service.
The next dean's priorities include:
- Lead the launch of the bachelor of science in nursing and the recently approved Master of Social Work in Healthcare & Behavioral Health programs, including the applicable approval and accreditation processes.
- Sustain the quality and specialized accreditation of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Marriage & Family Therapy (MFT), and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs.
- Recruit, support, and retain outstanding faculty and academic leaders while strengthening collaboration across the school.
- Build sustainable enrollment through strong academic programs, undergraduate to graduate pathways, and effective recruitment and student support.
- Expand partnerships with healthcare systems, clinical agencies, community organizations, alumni, and donors to advance student learning and the school’s regional impact.
- Integrate Christian faith, liberal arts learning, professional preparation, and respect for human dignity throughout the school’s work.
Strategic Leadership
The dean develops and implements the school's strategic direction in partnership with faculty, staff, students, university leaders, and external constituents. The dean aligns academic ambitions with Whitworth's mission, institutional priorities, and available resources.
The dean will:
- Create, implement, and assess a strategic plan with clear expectations for academic quality, student outcomes, program growth, and financial sustainability.
- Evaluate new degrees, certificates, continuing education, and delivery models using evidence of student demand, workforce need, faculty expertise, clinical capacity, and financial viability.
- Lead through shared governance, transparent communication, and sound judgment; develop an organizational structure that supports the school's evolving responsibilities.
- Collaborate with academic deans and university colleagues to advance institutional planning, policy development, and interdisciplinary opportunities.
Academic Quality and Accreditation
The dean provides school-level accountability for academic quality, specialized accreditation, and regulatory compliance while supporting the distinct responsibilities of qualified program leaders. Nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy programs are central to this work, alongside the school’s behavioral health (MFT and MSW) and undergraduate programs.
The dean will:
- Guide the nursing program through implementation, Washington State Board of Nursing requirements, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation process.
- Support ongoing compliance with Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards.
- Work with marriage & family therapy and social work leaders on applicable COAMFTE and CSWE requirements, including initial accreditation processes for new programs.
- Coordinate accreditation preparation, assessment, reporting, and responses to findings with program directors and the university’s accreditation leadership.
- Ensure that curriculum, faculty qualifications, facilities, clinical placements, and student support meet applicable professional and regulatory expectations.
Faculty Leadership and Development
The dean creates an academic community in which faculty and staff can do excellent work, develop professionally, and contribute to a shared purpose. This includes supporting teaching, scholarship, clinical practice, and service within Whitworth's policies and commitments to academic freedom and shared governance.
- Recruit, mentor, evaluate, and retain faculty, department chairs, program directors, and assigned staff; support leadership development and succession planning.
- Encourage collaboration across disciplines and sustain a culture of trust, accountability, hospitality, and respect.
- Promote faculty development in teaching, assessment, clinical education, and the integration of faith and learning.
Student Experience and Professional Formation
Whitworth’s mind-and-heart education prepares students to bring scientific knowledge, ethical judgment, and compassion to professional practice. Classroom learning, mentoring, clinical experiences, and community engagement help students understand healthcare as service to people whose dignity deserves careful attention.
The dean will:
- Partner with enrollment, advising, student support, and program colleagues to improve recruitment, persistence, completion, licensure outcomes, and career readiness.
- Ensure that undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students receive responsive advising, appropriate learning resources, and effective support for academic and professional progression.
- Expand opportunities for interprofessional learning, mentored scholarship, leadership, and service that connect students across the school.
- Use student feedback and outcomes to improve the learning experience and address barriers to participation and success.
Research Scholarship and Innovation
The dean supports inquiry and innovation that enriches student learning, strengthens professional practice, and serves communities. The school's scholarly ambitions should reflect faculty strengths, institutional resources, and opportunities for meaningful collaboration.
- Support faculty scholarship, collaborative research, grant development, and student participation in inquiry and professional dissemination.
- Advance interprofessional learning and thoughtful uses of simulation, educational technology, and emerging healthcare tools.
- Cultivate research and community partnerships that connect academic expertise with health and behavioral health needs.
Healthcare Partnerships and Community Engagement
The dean serves as the school’s principal ambassador to healthcare and community partners. Relationships with hospitals, clinics, behavioral health agencies, professional associations, and employers strengthen clinical education, workforce preparation, and community service.
The dean will:
- Develop and sustain partnerships that expand high-quality clinical placements, fieldwork, internships, and professional opportunities for students.
- Engage external constituents in identifying workforce needs and shaping appropriate academic and continuing education responses.
- Support collaborative initiatives that improve health and well-being, especially among underserved populations.
- Represent the school in regional and national professional settings and strengthen its visibility through the quality of its programs and relationships.
School Growth, Impact, and Opportunity
Established in 2023, the School of Health Sciences brings together undergraduate health sciences and preprofessional pathways, the Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), and the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The new bachelor of science in nursing and recently approved Master of Social Work in Healthcare & Behavioral Health further expand the school's commitment to preparing highly skilled professionals to meet regional workforce needs.
The Dana and David Dornsife Health Sciences Building supports applied and interprofessional learning through modern laboratories and simulation spaces that connect classroom learning with professional practice. As the school continues to grow, the dean will play a key role in strengthening academic programs, expanding healthcare and community partnerships, advancing interprofessional education, and securing philanthropic, grant, and other external support that enhances opportunities for students, faculty, and the communities they serve.
Resource Stewardship
The dean oversees operating and capital budgets, staffing, faculty workloads, laboratories, simulation resources, and clinical infrastructure. In partnership with university leaders, the dean aligns investment with strategic priorities, evaluates program performance, and sustains sound financial and operational practices during growth.
Whitworth Mission and Christian Identity
Whitworth University is a Christian liberal arts university in Spokane, Washington, committed to an education of mind and heart that equips graduates to honor God, follow Christ, and serve humanity. Its ecumenical community includes faculty and staff from many Christian traditions. The dean will affirm faith in Jesus Christ and articulate how faith informs leadership and service.
Values Guiding the Work
- Christian faith and service — Integrate faith, learning, and leadership in ways that express love of neighbor and respect for every person.
- Academic excellence and human dignity — Unite evidence-based practice, ethical judgment, and attention to the whole person.
- Collaboration and innovation — Support interdisciplinary inquiry, shared governance, and thoughtful program development.
- Stewardship and accountability — Use resources wisely, communicate transparently, and evaluate progress through meaningful outcomes.
Leadership Credentials and Experience
Essential Qualifications
- An earned doctorate or other terminal degree in health sciences, a health profession, behavioral health, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
- Successful prior service as a dean or associate dean with substantial academic, personnel, budget, and strategic responsibilities.
- Senior leadership experience with accredited health professions programs, including specialized accreditation, state approval or authorization, assessment, and ongoing compliance; working knowledge of nursing, OTD, and DPT education and their distinct requirements.
- A record of developing or materially expanding academic programs, including planning, approval, launch, evaluation, and responsible resource allocation.
- Demonstrated commitment to students and evidence of effective leadership and development of faculty and staff.
- A personal commitment to Christian faith and the ability to articulate how faith informs vocation and leadership within Whitworth’s ecumenical community.
- Experience building substantive healthcare and community partnerships; strong communication skills and sound financial and organizational judgment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct dean-level oversight of nursing, OTD, and DPT programs, including experience with CCNE, ACOTE, CAPTE, and state nursing board processes.
- Experience securing initial accreditation or sustaining specialized accreditation through significant program growth.
- Demonstrated success in clinical partnership development, interprofessional education, graduate and doctoral education, fundraising, and external engagement.
- Academic and professional accomplishments supporting appointment at a senior faculty rank under Whitworth’s policies.
Lead the Future of Health Sciences at Whitworth
Whitworth University invites visionary, mission-driven leaders to explore an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of health sciences education. As Dean of the School of Health Sciences, you will lead a growing portfolio of academic programs, invest in faculty and student success, strengthen community partnerships, and advance Whitworth's Christian mission through innovative and transformative leadership.