Home
Campus Leadership
Executive Searches
Founding Dean of the IUPUI School of Health & Human Sciences

Founding Dean of the IUPUI School of Health & Human Sciences

Apply for the Founding Dean of the IUPUI School of Health & Human Sciences position

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), the premier urban and health sciences university in the state of Indiana, invites applications and nominations for a strategic, energetic, and creative leader who will serve as the Founding Dean of the School of Health & Human Sciences (SHHS). Established in July 2018, SHHS brings together the Schools of Physical Education and Tourism Management (PETM) and Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) to provide transformative academic, research, and civic engagement programs that impact the lives of students, their communities, the state of Indiana and beyond.

The new School of Health & Human Services is rooted in the strong foundations previously established by PETM and SHRS. PETM has a long history that stretches back 150 years, making it the oldest academic unit at IUPUI — and the oldest physical education program in the nation. SHRS has been a leader in educating healthcare professionals for over 100 years. Combined, SHHS is now home to 1,705 students, 54 faculty members, and 38 staff. The student population is comprised of 78 percent undergraduates and 22 percent graduate and professional students. With a 2018-19 budget of $17.1 million, a significant surplus and cash reserves, SHHS is thriving fiscally and is considered the strongest unit on campus.

With eight academic departments, SHHS offers six undergraduate programs, 13 graduate and professional degree programs, and 13 certificates in traditional and online formats. Departments include: Health Sciences; Kinesiology; Military Science; Nutrition and Dietetics; Occupational Therapy; Physical Therapy; Physician Assistant Studies; and Tourism, Event and Sport Management. The Occupational Therapy program ranks 25th in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report, and SHHS boasts 100 percent pass rates for 2018 graduates of Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant Studies programs on their respective licensing exams. In 2017-18, SHHS was awarded 20 external grants for a total of $1,734,666.

Reporting to Kathy Johnson, IUPUI’s Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, the Founding Dean will lead the crafting of the School’s vision, mission, values and strategic plan. S/he will oversee program quality, plan for strategic advancement, ensure the School’s overall fiscal health, and serve as the public face of the School, ultimately building a national and international reputation for SHHS as a leader in education, research and service learning within School disciplines.

About IUPUI

Created in 1969 as a partnership between Indiana University and Purdue University, with IU serving as managing partner, IUPUI is a campus of Indiana University that grants degrees from both IU and Purdue. Indiana’s third-largest university campus, IUPUI is home to 30,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all U.S. states and 145 countries. Located in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, IUPUI has been a leading national user of “responsibility center management” (RCM) since the 1990s. Virtually all tuition, research and other revenues flow directly to academic units; IUPUI deans are responsible for generating and managing unit revenue streams, including tuition, research, gift and fee income. The ability to carry forward unspent operating dollars and reserve funds from year to year enables deans to engage in multi-year planning and budgeting.

How to apply

Requirements

The Founding Dean will hold a doctorate in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited institution and will be appointable to the rank of Full Professor within an academic unit of SHHS. S/he must have a record of academic leadership experience, including significant and progressive administrative experience in complex institutional and organizational settings. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and interpersonal skills, a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, a record of success in fiscal management, and enthusiasm for fundraising.

Application Process

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited. Interested candidates should submit confidentially, in electronic form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF files preferred), a curriculum vitae and letter of interest to:

Jett Pihakis, Ph.D.
Consultant to the Search Committee
Russell Reynolds Associates
Higher Education Practice
IUPUI.HHS@russellreynolds.com

Read the official job description

See the leadership profile

Meet the search committee