Associate / Full Professor & Sr. Associate Dean of Academic-Practice Partnerships

Job Description:

The University of Florida College of Nursing is seeking applicants holding DNP or PhD degree with credentials as a certified advanced practice nurse for this senior leadership position. This is a full-time, twelve-month, 1.0 FTE position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor that could be a tenure track or non-tenure track faculty position depending on background and qualifications.

The Senior Associate Dean of Academic-Practice Partnerships is an inaugural role at the UF College of Nursing, designed to provide transformative leadership in fostering and sustaining strategic partnerships between the College and clinical practice settings. This individual will serve as the operational leader of the faculty practice clinical enterprise, overseeing its growth, integration, and alignment with the College’s mission and strategic goals. The Senior Associate Dean will interface with all clinical practice areas—hospital-based, ambulatory, community, and global—to drive the integration of evidence-based practice into nursing education and clinical environments.

This role is critical in preparing highly competent nursing professionals and advancing innovative academic-practice models that enhance healthcare delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership of the Faculty Practice Clinical Enterprise:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the faculty practice clinical enterprise, ensuring its alignment with the College’s academic, research, and service missions.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical practice initiatives, fostering excellence in patient care, education, and research.
• Manage operational aspects, including resource allocation, financial performance, and regulatory compliance of the faculty practice enterprise.
• Build a sustainable infrastructure to support faculty engagement in clinical practice across varied care settings.

Strategic Leadership and Partnership Development:

• Establish and sustain strategic academic-practice partnerships with healthcare organizations across hospital-based, ambulatory, community, and global settings.
• Collaborate with healthcare systems and stakeholders to ensure alignment between academic programming, clinical enterprise operations, and workforce needs.
• Advocate for the College’s role in advancing nursing practice, improving patient outcomes, and supporting the healthcare workforce within partnered organizations.

Academic-Practice Integration:

• Drive the integration of evidence-based practice into academic curricula and faculty clinical practice.
• Support faculty and students in translating research into practice within hospital, ambulatory care, community, and global settings.
• Collaborate with faculty and clinical leaders to enhance experiential learning opportunities, including clinical rotations, residencies, and simulation experiences.

Workforce Development:

• Identify and implement strategies to address nursing workforce challenges, including recruitment, retention, and professional development, in partnership with clinical organizations.
• Lead initiatives that enhance the pipeline of nursing professionals prepared to meet the varied healthcare needs of populations locally, nationally, and globally.
• Collaborate with clinical partners to develop and deliver continuing education and certification programs for practicing nurses.

Faculty and Student Support:

• Support faculty engagement in clinical practice, practice-based research, quality improvement initiatives, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Provide leadership in creating and implementing practice-based learning opportunities for students at all levels in hospital-based, ambulatory, community, and global environments.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and professional development among faculty and students involved in academic-practice partnerships.

Program Evaluation and Accreditation:

• Oversee the assessment and evaluation of the faculty practice enterprise and academic-practice partnership outcomes, ensuring alignment with the College’s mission and strategic goals.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements related to academic-practice initiatives and clinical enterprise operations.
• Develop and disseminate reports on partnership and clinical enterprise outcomes, highlighting their impact on nursing education, practice, and patient care.

Administrative Leadership:

• Manage resources and budgets associated with academic-practice partnerships and the faculty practice clinical enterprise, ensuring alignment with College priorities.
• Represent the College in local, regional, national, and international forums related to academic-practice partnerships, clinical enterprise development, and workforce initiatives.
• Provide leadership in developing policies and practices that strengthen the integration of academic and clinical initiatives across hospital-based, ambulatory, community, and global practice areas.

University of Florida

The University of Florida maintains a strong ranking among the nation’s top public universities, currently ranked 7th in the 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list. UF remains the most highly ranked school in Florida and the only university in the state in the top . The university’s research awards have also reached new heights. Major research resources at UF include six major health-related research centers and institutes (Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Institute on Aging, UF Health Cancer Center, Emerging Pathogens Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, and Genetics Institute) designed to create synergistic and collaborative research opportunities. UF has launched a comprehensive AI initiative, integrating AI into education and research across all disciplines. UF is home to HiPerGator, the fastest supercomputer in higher education, supporting extensive AI research. Research activities reflect a depth of purpose by focusing on the translational nature of biomedical research following the continuum from fundamental research to clinical research to patient care. UF is a fully accredited member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), comprised of the top public and private institutions in North America. With approximately , students, UF is one of Florida’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive universities. UF offers more degree programs on a single campus than all but two other US institutions, with colleges and schools offering more than majors and undergraduate degree programs, including an institute of agricultural sciences and an academic health science center.

University of Florida, College of Nursing

The UF College of Nursing, under the leadership of Dean Shakira Henderson, has launched a bold new strategic plan, Elevate 9. The strategic plan exemplifies our motto to Care, Lead, and Inspire Boldly.

The UF College of Nursing is dedicated to high-quality programs of education, research, patient care, and public service. As part of the flagship university in Florida, the College of Nursing joins the university in its commitment to being a preeminent university that serves its students and citizens across the globe. The College of Nursing has innovative education programs including a nationally accredited baccalaureate (traditional and accelerated) program, an RN to BSN program, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, as well as the state’s oldest PhD in Nursing Science. The College of Nursing's BSN program is ranked first in the state of Florida and th nationally in the 5 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.

As part of UF Health, the University of Florida academic health center, the College of Nursing leads research with colleagues from five other health-related colleges and many other colleges across campus. Outstanding clinical partners include the UF Health family of hospitals, the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, and partners across the state. Archer Family Health Care is the college’s comprehensive nurse-led healthcare center. Faculty members provide primary care and psychiatric/mental health services to underserved adults, children, and families in Alachua County and surrounding areas. The College’s active faculty practice also offers opportunities for interdisciplinary practice in specialty areas, across sites at UF Health. The College currently has campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville, FL.

The University of Florida’s main campus is located in north central Florida, a region known for its abundant natural beauty. Gainesville is within a two-hour drive of Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The university and greater Gainesville communities enjoy a variety of cultural events, sports, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

Come join our team of faculty members who set a standard for excellence in innovative education, dynamic research and quality patient care.

Expected Salary:

Commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

• DNP or PhD in Nursing from an accredited institution.
• Eligible for Florida nursing licensure as specialty certification as an advanced practice nurse.
• A sustained program of research and scholarly activity commensurate with rank
• Eligible for appointment as associate or full professor rank upon hire, based on research/scholarship, teaching, and service record.
• Evidence of progressive leadership positions in clinical practice
• Demonstrated commitment to student success and excellence in undergraduate and/or graduate education

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in mentoring clinical faculty and building teams.
• Experience establishing clinical partnerships.
• Financial management skills.
• Evidence of leadership in the profession of nursing.
• Expertise in grant writing to support the clinical enterprise.