What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Dean (RN to BSN, MSN) position at American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)?
Description
Western Governors University is seeking a bold, mission driven nursing leader to serve as Associate Dean of Nursing for a portfolio that includes the RN to BSN program and select MSN graduate nursing pathways.
This is not a traditional academic leadership role. It is an opportunity to shape nursing education at national scale, improve outcomes for working nurses, and help build programs that respond directly to the evolving needs of healthcare employers, students, and communities.
The Associate Dean will serve as the strategic owner for assigned nursing programs, guiding academic quality, curriculum direction, student success, accreditation alignment, program growth, and long term performance. This leader will combine academic credibility with strong business acumen, using data, market insight, and cross functional partnership to ensure programs are rigorous, relevant, sustainable, and positioned for continued growth.
The ideal candidate is a nursing academic leader who is energized by innovation, complexity, and measurable impact. They will bring strong judgment, executive level communication skills, and the ability to lead through influence across academic leadership, program management, enrollment, marketing, student success, operations, accreditation, and employer partnerships.
Key Responsibilities Include
Posted On 5/29/2026 Job Type Associate's Colleges
Associate or Assistant Dean/Director School/Institution Western Governors University Job Location Salt Lake City, UT
Western Governors University is seeking a bold, mission driven nursing leader to serve as Associate Dean of Nursing for a portfolio that includes the RN to BSN program and select MSN graduate nursing pathways.
This is not a traditional academic leadership role. It is an opportunity to shape nursing education at national scale, improve outcomes for working nurses, and help build programs that respond directly to the evolving needs of healthcare employers, students, and communities.
The Associate Dean will serve as the strategic owner for assigned nursing programs, guiding academic quality, curriculum direction, student success, accreditation alignment, program growth, and long term performance. This leader will combine academic credibility with strong business acumen, using data, market insight, and cross functional partnership to ensure programs are rigorous, relevant, sustainable, and positioned for continued growth.
The ideal candidate is a nursing academic leader who is energized by innovation, complexity, and measurable impact. They will bring strong judgment, executive level communication skills, and the ability to lead through influence across academic leadership, program management, enrollment, marketing, student success, operations, accreditation, and employer partnerships.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Leading the strategic direction and performance of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs
- Driving outcomes related to retention, progression, completion, workforce relevance, academic quality, enrollment growth, and financial performance
- Ensuring curriculum integrity, instructional quality, accreditation compliance, and alignment with current nursing practice
- Guiding program development, revisions, specialization opportunities, and continuous improvement efforts
- Using data to evaluate program health and improve student outcomes at scale
- Representing WGU externally with professional associations, states, accreditors, licensing bodies, employers, and industry partners
- Master’s degree in Nursing
- Experience in higher education
- Experience working with programmatic accreditation and licensing boards
- Five years of relevant experience
- Doctoral degree
- Experience developing online education programs
- Experience developing curriculum or high stakes assessments
- Experience scaling academic programs or rapidly changing organizations
- Demonstrated success leading change and bringing structure to complexity
Posted On 5/29/2026 Job Type Associate's Colleges
Associate or Assistant Dean/Director School/Institution Western Governors University Job Location Salt Lake City, UT