Assistant/Associate Dean: School of Nursing, Pepperdine University

Description

Position Summary: The School of Nursing (SON) at Pepperdine University invites applications for the position of Assistant/Associate Dean. Reporting to the Dean of the SON, the appointee will provide academic and administrative leadership for all nursing programs, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Entry-Level Master's, Clinical Nurse Leader (ELM-CNL) programs. This role necessitates a skilled and visionary leader capable of advancing excellence within the SON while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across the Pepperdine College of Health Science (PCHS).

Appointment as either Assistant or Associate Dean will be determined by the prior administrative and leadership experience of the applicant.

Core Responsibilities

• Academic Leadership : Ensure the effective delivery of all program curricula while ensuring pedagogical quality and continuous programmatic improvement. Contribute to the development of new academic programs within the SON.
• Operational Management : Support the dean in directing faculty and staff, coordinating the admissions processes alongside enrollment management, and aligning initiatives with student services.
• Accreditation and Compliance : Working in coordination with the PCHS Office of Accreditation and Assessment and the SON Dean, develop, implement, and manage assessment strategies to maintain State of California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) compliance, while supporting the process to obtain and maintain Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation. Support the dean in managing documentation and developing reports to CCNE, the BRN, and other agencies, as needed.
• Strategic Partnerships : Collaborate with the Director of Clinical Academic Practice Partnerships to establish and maintain student clinical placement sites. Monitor faculty-to-student clinical ratios and evaluation processes to ensure compliance and instructional integrity
• Faculty Development : Lead comprehensive orientation and professional development programs while demonstrating instructional excellence within the curriculum. Support faculty in curriculum alignment, assessment methodology, and continuous quality improvement processes. Maintain active teaching responsibilities within the curriculum as assigned

Terms and Compensation

This 12-month faculty appointment offers a stipend for service as the assistant/associate dean in addition to the faculty salary. The stipend for the dean appointment is $20,000 for an appointment as assistant dean and $25,000 for an associate dean appointment. The annual 12-month salaries for the faculty appointment are commensurate with rank and appointment type. In all cases, the ranges reflect what Pepperdine reasonably expects to pay for the faculty appointment. Actual salary may vary based on the qualifications and experience of the applicant, as well as market conditions.

• Clinical Faculty Ranges:

Instructor: $90,000 - $120,000

Assistant Professor: $100,000 - $125,000

Associate Professor: $110,000 - $135,000

Professor: $120,000 - $145,000

• Tenure-Track Faculty Ranges:

Assistant Professor: $110,000 - $140,000

Associate Professor: $130,000 - $160,000

Professor: $150,000 - $190,000

Pepperdine provides a comprehensive benefits package. The initial term for the assistant/associate dean appointment is three years, renewable based on successful performance.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education : An earned terminal degree (Ph.D., DNP, Ed.D., or equivalent) in nursing or a related field.
• Experience : A distinguished record of nursing leadership, administrative acumen, and excellence in teaching, research, and scholarly publication.
• Licensure : Current RN licensure, with immediate eligibility for California licensure.
• Regulatory Compliance : Demonstrated adherence to 16 CCR § 1425 requirements for Program Director appointment, with direct involvement in state board approval processes.
• Mission Alignment : An active Christian faith and a profound commitment to advancing Pepperdine University's Christian mission, and a dedication to the integration of faith and learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of successful academic administration within an academic nursing program or school.
• Academic credentials sufficient for appointment at the rank of Associate/Full Professor or Associate/Full Clinical Professor.
• Proven expertise in curriculum development, program assessment, and navigating BRN, CCNE, and national accrediting body requirements.
• Experience contributing to or leading accreditation efforts with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or an equivalent accrediting body. Comprehensive knowledge of the AACN Essentials (2021) and competency-based education frameworks, with demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and sustaining systematic assessment and evaluation processes to ensure ongoing program quality, continuous improvement, and regulatory compliance.

Application Instructions

Applicants are required to submit the following documents using Interfolio:

• A letter of application
• A curriculum vitae
• Three current letters of reference. All letters should be specific to the position and completed within one year prior to the date of submission. The name and email address for each individual providing a letter of recommendation is required when submitting an application.
• Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
• Teaching statement. The teaching statement should reflect on the candidate's values, beliefs, and goals regarding the teaching and learning process and any pedagogical practices used or envisioned to achieve these goals. 1,500 word maximum length please.
• Scholarly/Creative agenda. The statement should outline applicants' short- and long-term objectives and goals for their research and/or creative activities. Candidates should reflect on currently published or presented work(s) as a foundation for the statement. 1,500 word maximum length please.
• Response to Mission. Pepperdine University's mission statement declares that we are a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Religiously affiliated with the churches of Christ, it is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context which celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. In pursuit of its mission, Pepperdine reserves the right to recruit and hire persons who richly embrace the goals and Christian mission of the University.

At Pepperdine, our faith calls us to uphold the highest standards of academic and scholarly excellence. To achieve this goal, the Nursing Program's Mission Statement affirms that all our pursuits are grounded in a context of upholding Christian values.

Candidates should thoughtfully reflect on the Christian missions of Pepperdine University and the Nursing Program and address the following areas in their response.

• A consistent pattern of support for generally accepted Christian values and the mission of Pepperdine University.
• Active participation in a community of faith.
• Either current practice or vision for integrating faith and learning in the classroom and clinical practice.

Please submit all application materials at . A background check will be required as a condition of employment.

Inquiries

For further information, please contact the search committee chair:

Dr. Angela Coaston (View email address on click.appcast.io)

Founding Dean, School of Nursing

Pepperdine University

24255 Pacific Coast Highway

Malibu, CA 90263

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement (Updated September 2024)

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University's reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.