Associate Dean Graduate Nursing Programs

The Opportunity

The University of Virginia School of Nursing seeks an experienced, mission-driven leader to serve as the Associate Dean for Graduate Programs (ADGP). The role reports to the Dean and collaborates with the senior leadership team to create, implement, and evaluate strategic initiatives that advance teaching, research, practice, and service missions. The primary focus is on directing graduate programs, including the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), direct-entry Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

This position is 50% administrative, with flexibility to adjust based on the School’s needs.

Founded in 1901 and located adjacent to the University Medical Center and School of Medicine, the School of Nursing is a core component of UVA Health. It is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public nursing schools and offers a continuum from BSN to PhD, emphasizing interprofessional collaboration, evidence-based care, and training leaders who improve health across Virginia.

The Associate Dean for Graduate Programs provides strategic and operational leadership for the graduate academic enterprise, overseeing the MSN (including the CNL), DNP, and postprofessional certificates. Working collaboratively with associate deans, chairs, program leads, and key partners, the ADGP ensures offerings remain academically excellent, professionally relevant, and aligned with the School’s long‑range vision.

• Provide leadership for the development and direction of the MSN and DNP programs, forecasting trends in graduate nursing education and implementing innovative strategies.
• Foster partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to optimize programmatic efficiencies.
• Cultivate academic partnerships with clinical sites to advance student learning excellence.
• Analyze environmental data, trends, and licensure, certification, and accreditation advances that impact graduate education; disseminate findings and identify performance gaps related to the teaching mission; develop system-level plans to address such gaps.
• Develop and maintain the School’s systematic plan for evaluation of the MSN and DNP programs, with operational oversight, data management processes, reporting structures, and timelines established by the Associate Dean for Academic Operations.
• Support review and dissemination of relevant program data in collaboration with the ADAO team to faculty teaching in the MSN and DNP programs.
• Serve as a resource and advisor on academic issues for students, faculty, chairs, program leads, specialty leads, course clinical coordinators, and other stakeholders.
• Support regional, Commonwealth of Virginia, and specialty accreditation approvals for MSN and DNP programs by coordinating accurate program-specific information for accreditation processes.

• Supervise department chairs, program leads, specialty leads, and other academic administrative roles within the MSN and DNP programs.
• Consult with department chairs regarding faculty performance in academic affairs.
• Advance graduate program planning and implementation by providing program-specific leadership and engaging faculty and program leaders.
• Develop and implement graduate program‑specific policies and procedures in collaboration with faculty and program leaders, ensuring consistency with school-wide academic operations policies.
• Provide leadership for MSN and DNP curriculum and student academic oversight, including curriculum quality, student progression, academic standards, program-specific student concerns, and licensure and certification pass rates.
• Support the successful operation of MSN and DNP program committees within the School.

• Advise the Dean and collaborate with the senior leadership team on academic issues, contributing strategic insights to advance the School’s initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Dean and senior leadership team to identify and inform future hiring needs.
• Promote the School’s interests on UVA Health, University, and Commonwealth academic committees and at relevant events.