Dean of the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing

Dean of the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing
Start Date: July 1, 2027
Salary Range: $135,000-$145,000 annually

Hartwick College, a private residential liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, New York, invites applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing.

Starting July 1, 2027, and reporting directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, the Dean serves as the senior academic officer of the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing and as the designated Chief Nursing Administrator before state and national regulatory bodies. The baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
This appointment comes at a defining moment in Hartwick’s history. A transformational $10 million gift was given to Hartwick College, and in recognition of the gift, the College named the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing. The gift strengthens the College’s focus on academic excellence, personal well-being and regional career readiness as The Life Balance College.

Building on a legacy dating back to the School of Nursing’s 1943 origins as a U.S. Cadet Nursing Program, the Dean will lead the school through its next era of regional leadership. The nursing major at Hartwick College is distinctive for early, hands-on immersion in clinical practice starting in the first year of study. The position offers an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished academic nursing leader to step into a well-supported deanship backed by philanthropic resources. The Dean will work with a collaborative faculty, a Clinical Placement Coordinator, shared administrative support, and essential regional pipelines and initiatives including clinical partnerships with the Bassett Healthcare Network and United Health Services hospitals, and the Bassett CARES loan repayment initiative.

OPPORTUNITIES & PRIORITIES


1. Strategic Academic Leadership:
 

• Lead the ongoing development and strategic direction of the undergraduate curriculum, fostering a student-centered, supportive learning environment and alignment with Hartwick’s FlightPath Core Curriculum.
• Shape academic programs and initiatives that advance school and College goals in response to emerging healthcare workforce needs and community priorities.
• Foster a strong teacher-scholar culture grounded in student-centered pedagogy, evidence-based clinical judgment, and interdisciplinary education across campus health and science disciplines.
• Provide leadership for student academic progression and the consistent application of academic, clinical, and professional standards, including the resolution of complex student concerns and appeals in accordance with school and College policies.
• Lead continuous curricular evaluation and NextGen NCLEX (NGN) preparation to support high licensure pass rates (100% in three of the last four years), student success, and career readiness.

2. Accreditation, Compliance, & Quality Assurance

• Serve as the official Chief Nursing Administrator to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of the Professions and the CCNE.
• Lead accreditation self-studies, site visits, and regulatory reporting in support of continued accreditation and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure School compliance with nursing accreditation standards, NYSED requirements, institutional policies, and clinical agency requirements related to nursing education and clinical experiences.
• Lead data-informed program assessment and continuous improvement processes, using key performance indicators to monitor student retention, graduation outcomes, licensure pass rates, and overall program effectiveness.

3. Partnerships & Regional Workforce Pipelines
 

• Serve as a visible academic leader and advocate for nursing education in the region, cultivating strong academic-practice partnerships with healthcare systemsand community partners.
• Strengthen clinical education partnerships, affiliation agreements, placement capacity, and workforce development pathways to ensure high-quality learning experiences and support regional healthcare needs.
• Represent the Brent R. Nicklas School of Nursing in regional, state, and national professional healthcare and higher education organizations.

4. Budget, Operations, & Professional Culture
 

• Steward the School’s annual operating budget to advance instructional quality, faculty development, student scholarships, and strategic program priorities.
• Oversee operations and ongoing enhancements to the Clark Nursing Simulation Lab, ensuring high-quality simulation-based clinical learning opportunities.
• Provide leadership and vision in the recruitment, professional development, mentoring, and retention of qualified full-time and adjunct nursing faculty, while implementing strategies that promote workload equity, supportive onboarding, transparent communication, connection and engagement, and ongoing professional growth.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management and Advancement colleagues to support student recruitment, brand visibility, philanthropic engagement, and regional workforce alignment.
• Provide leadership for the School’s daily academic and administrative operations, working with School leadership and administrative staff to support course scheduling, teaching assignments, faculty and adjunct evaluation processes, clinical education coordination, and faculty workload planning.
• Expected to comply with all applicable College, Federal, State, local and associational laws, rules and regulation.
• As a representative of the College, expected to comport oneself in a professional manner, both on and off campus.
• Participate in significant campus activities including Welcome Weekend, True Blue Weekend, and Commencement Weekend.

REQUIRED & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications:
 

• Education: Earned doctorate in nursing, such as a DNP or PhD, or an earned doctorate in a related field with a Master’s degree in Nursing from an accredited institution.
• Academic Rank: A record of academic achievement in teaching, scholarship, and service commensurate with appointment at a senior faculty rank (Associate or Full Professor).
• Licensure: Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in New York State, or immediate eligibility for New York licensure.
• Administrative Experience: Minimum of three years of progressive academic leadership experience in higher education, such as department chair, program director, track coordinator, associate dean, or comparable leadership role.
• Teaching & Clinical Background: Minimum of three years of full-time teaching experience in a baccalaureate nursing program and three to five years of professional clinical RN practice.
• Accreditation Knowledge: Demonstrated familiarity with Nursing accreditation processes and NYSED nursing education regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:
 

• Leadership Style: Collaborative, student-centered, supportive, and engaging leadership approach, with the ability to foster an inclusive, respectful, and encouraging culture within the School of Nursing.
• Strategic Awareness: Deep understanding of the forces shaping nursing education and professional practice, and the ability to translate emerging trends into responsive academic priorities and initiatives that prepare students for success in a changing healthcare landscape.
• Environment & Pedagogy: Leadership experience in a small residential liberal arts college environment, with a commitment to interprofessional education and teacher-scholar development.
• Certification: Certified Nurse Educator credential through the National League for Nursing.
• Simulation Integration: Practical familiarity with high-fidelity simulation lab management and instructional integration.

View the position prospectus here.

HOW TO APPLY

Priority consideration will be given to applications received by December 11, 2026.

Hartwick operates as a community of learners where there is a very real sense of belonging and connection, and seeks to recruit, retain, and promote a diverse workforce. By joining Hartwick, you become part of a group of people who work together, share in our successes, and celebrate our accomplishments. All positions at Hartwick contribute to the education and development of students with the opportunity to see the impact on future leaders – what you do at Hartwick really matters.

Hartwick College prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation/preference and gender identity/expression.  Hartwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to broadening “the understanding, awareness, and appreciation of diversity among all members of the Hartwick community”.  Women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Hartwick College is committed to providing a safe and secure educational environment. As such, employment at Hartwick College is contingent upon a successful background check on every new employee. Candidates to whom an offer of employment is made will be required to sign a Release of Information Form authorizing the College to conduct a thorough background check.

Hartwick College is committed to a diverse candidate pool, values an inclusive workforce and workplace environment, and wishes to minimize or eliminate the impact of implicit bias during the search and hiring process.

All applicants are asked to submit the following materials with their online applications:
 

• A cover letter;
• A resume and/or curriculum vitae; and
• The names and contact information for five references, with annotation regarding how the reference is related to you and your work. At least one of your references must be from a current and/or previous supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior notification to the candidate.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at [email protected]. Hartwick College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

Visit the following website to apply: 
https://hartwickcollege.applytojob.com/apply/AslzwPYEgL/Dean-Of-The-Brent-R-Nicklas-School-Of-Nursing