Description

Western Governors University is seeking an experienced, mission-driven nursing academic leader to serve as Associate Dean of Nursing for a portfolio that includes the RN to BSN program and select non-nurse practitioner MSN pathways, including areas such as nursing informatics, leadership and management, and nursing education.

This is a senior academic leadership opportunity for a nursing leader who wants to shape programs at scale, strengthen workforce-aligned curriculum, improve student outcomes, and help expand access to high-quality nursing education. The Associate Dean will serve as the primary owner of assigned undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, guiding strategy, academic quality, student success, program performance, and long term growth.

This role is ideal for a leader who understands the evolving needs of the nursing workforce and is energized by the opportunity to influence nursing education across a large, innovative, student-centered university.

About the Role

The Associate Dean provides strategic, academic, and operational leadership for a portfolio of nursing programs. This leader will establish program direction, guide curriculum and specialization strategy, monitor performance outcomes, and ensure programs remain academically rigorous, market aligned, financially sustainable, and responsive to workforce needs.

The role requires a blend of academic credibility, business acumen, data-informed decision-making, and cross-functional leadership. The Associate Dean will partner closely with academic leaders, program management, marketing, enrollment, student success, operations, employer partners, accreditors, and other key stakeholders to deliver strong student experiences and measurable program outcomes.

This position is based at WGU’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the strategic direction and ongoing performance of assigned nursing programs across undergraduate and graduate levels.

Own program-level outcomes, including student retention, progression, completion, workforce relevance, academic quality, enrollment growth, and tuition revenue.

Ensure curriculum integrity, academic rigor, instructional quality, accreditation compliance, and alignment with current nursing practice and workforce needs.

Guide program development, program revisions, specialization opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Use data to evaluate program performance, identify opportunities, and drive improvements in student outcomes and program health.

Collaborate across a highly matrixed organization to align academic strategy, enrollment goals, marketing, student support, operations, and program execution.

Represent WGU externally with industry partners, professional associations, states, accreditors, licensing bodies, employers, and other stakeholders.

Cultivate partnerships that strengthen program relevance, graduate outcomes, and WGU’s impact in nursing education.

Contribute to college and university-level planning, strategy, and decision-making.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking a nursing academic leader with strong judgment, executive-level communication skills, and the ability to lead through influence in a complex organization. The successful candidate will bring deep nursing expertise, experience in higher education, and a demonstrated ability to improve academic and student outcomes at scale.

Ideal candidates will have experience with online nursing education, curriculum development, accreditation, assessment, program growth, and change leadership. They will be comfortable balancing academic quality with market relevance, student success, operational execution, and sustainable growth.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Nursing
• Experience in higher education
• Experience working with programmatic accreditation and licensing boards.
• 5 years of relevant experience
• Equivalent relevant experience performing the essential functions of this job may substitute for education degree requirements. Generally, equivalent relevant experience is defined as 1 year of experience for 1 year of education and is the discretion of the hiring manager. 
   

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Doctoral degree
• Experience in developing online education programs and/or developing and scaling rapidly changing organizations/programs
• Experience in developing curriculum and/or high-stakes assessments
• Demonstrated success in change-management, and bringing order and structure to complex situations