Assistant/Associate Dean, School of Nursing

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

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.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening