The College of Nursing plays a vital role in advancing USC’s mission and impact. The College enrolls approximately 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students and an alumni base exceeding 12,500 worldwide. Nationally ranked programs—including top-25 U.S. News & World Report ranked undergraduate and master’s programs and the number two ranked online master’s program—underscore the College’s academic strength, while NCLEX pass rates consistently exceed state and national averages. The College is also a rising force in research, securing $10.2 million in funding in fiscal year 2025 and ranking 31st nationally in NIH funding among schools of nursing.

This is an exceptional moment to lead the College. Following thirteen years of transformative leadership under Dean Jeannette Andrews, the College is thriving, with strong enrollment, innovative academic offerings—including a new nurse-midwifery program—and sustained national distinction. Recent investments, including a landmark public–private partnership with Lexington Health that led to a 52,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art clinical education facility with a nationally accredited simulation center, further position the College for continued growth and impact.

The next Dean will be an accomplished and forward-looking leader prepared to advance a high-performing college while honoring its deeply connected community. The Dean will articulate and execute a strategic vision that reflects the future of nursing and higher education; embrace innovation and technology across all mission areas; and build strong relationships within the University and beyond. Success in the role will require exceptional communication skills, political and organizational savviness, and the ability to strengthen academic-practice and research partnerships at the local, state, and national levels.

To fulfill accreditation requirements, the Dean must be a registered nurse with a graduate degree in nursing and an earned doctorate. The Dean must also have current or eligible RN licensure to practice nursing in South Carolina and demonstrate scholarly distinction consistent with the expectations for a tenured full professor at the University of South Carolina. Significant experience in nursing leadership, education, research, and practice is expected.

The Role

The Dean serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the College of Nursing and is a key member of USC’s academic leadership team. The Dean is responsible for the executive administration of the College and provides visionary leadership in developing strategic initiatives to broaden the College’s research profile, addressing nursing workforce opportunities in the state, promoting innovation, developing external partnerships, and cultivating relationships with donors and other key stakeholders. Moreover, the Dean ensures the College fulfills its mission to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond, through exemplary nursing education, transformative research, and compassionate care for all.

The Dean holds the Helen Gurley Wolford Professor of Nursing and reports to Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Mary Anne Fitzpatrick. The Dean leads a team of six direct reports.

Opportunities and Challenges

Expand allAdvance a cohesive and forward-looking vision

The College of Nursing is well positioned across all mission areas, with national recognition for academic excellence, research strength, and clinical practice. The next Dean will be a courageous, strategic leader who brings creativity and clarity of purpose to advancing the College’s future. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and partners, the Dean will articulate and execute a compelling vision focused on high impact academic programs aligned with student demand and workforce needs; curricular excellence and University of South Carolina Dean, College of Nursing innovation; thoughtful integration of advanced technology and AI; research growth; and meaningful service to communities across the state. Central to this work is fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across the University and with external partners to ensure sustained excellence and impact.

Expand the research enterprise and scholarly distinction

The Dean will champion a culture of impactful research, discovery, and innovation that strengthens the College’s national profile. This includes advancing strategic partnerships; supporting faculty development and mentorship; increasing competitive external funding; and promoting high-impact, translational scholarship in close collaboration with USC Health Sciences and the broader University. A key priority will be recruiting nurse clinicians and researchers with expertise in brain health to accelerate interdisciplinary research and clinical initiatives. The Dean will leverage major institutional assets—including the USC Brain Health Center and the forthcoming Biobehavioral Research Center (see appendix for additional information)—to expand translational research, clinical trials, and community-engaged studies, while strengthening training pathways for nurse scientists focused on neurological and cognitive health. At the same time, the Dean must navigate the challenges facing research-intensive schools of nursing, including heightened competition for funding, increasing expectations for measurable impact, and balancing faculty responsibilities across research, teaching, and practice.

Further academic-practice partnerships and advance nursing practice

The Dean will provide strategic oversight of the College’s clinical learning environment and partnerships with healthcare systems, ensuring exceptional patient care delivered by faculty and students. The Dean will further integrate clinical practice, education, and research while strengthening the College’s internal practice infrastructure, including the Center for Simulation and Experiential Learning, clinical learning sites, and the Faculty Practice Plan. Building on established collaborations with Lexington Health and Prisma Health, the Dean will expand and deepen partnerships that provide robust training environments and patient-care opportunities, preparing graduates to meet the evolving healthcare and nursing workforce needs of South Carolina and the region.

Lead a connected and inclusive college community 

Community is central to the mission of the College of Nursing, with students at its core. The Dean will foster a student-centered, inclusive environment that attracts exceptional learners and supports their success through a rigorous, equitable, and supportive academic experience. As a visible and engaged leader, the Dean will address student concerns, strengthen academic and personal support systems, promote wellness and professional development, and uphold high standards of academic integrity to prepare graduates who are competent, resilient, and workforce ready. At the same time, the Dean will cultivate a collegial and inclusive culture for faculty and staff by supporting mentorship, professional development, wellness, and collaboration, leading with empathy and transparency to ensure all members of the College feel valued, supported, and empowered to excel.

Deepen external relations and community engagement

The College of Nursing benefits from a strong foundation of alumni, donor, and community support, including an engaged alumni board and committed clinical partners ready to collaborate with the next Dean. The Dean will further engagement with these and other constituents, serving as a visible advocate for the College and securing resources that advance its mission and strategic priorities. The Dean will play a pivotal role in advancing the University’s Forever to Be campaign and strengthening philanthropic support for the College. In addition, the Dean is looked to as a leader in the profession and expected to engage with policymakers, professional organizations, and community partners to advance healthcare initiatives that benefit communities across South Carolina and beyond.

Qualifications and Characteristics

Minimum Characteristics:

• Registered nurse (RN) with a graduate degree in nursing and an earned doctorate
• Qualified for appointment as a tenured full professor at the USC College of Nursing
• Current or eligible RN licensure to practice nursing in the state of South Carolina

Preferred Qualifications and Characteristics:

• Distinguished record of academic achievement, research, practice, teaching, and service
• A strong business acumen and strategic thinking, including ability to manage complex budgets, optimize resource allocation, and align strategies with academic and clinical priorities to ensure sustainable growth and operational excellence
• Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships within the College and University, with clinical partners, and externals groups including donors and policy makers
• A record of accomplishment in recruiting, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty, staff, and students
• Demonstrated record of securing external research funding, including federal funding, contracts, or fellowships with evidence of sustained scholarly productivity supported by such funding
• Fundraising experience
• Experience with accreditation
• Demonstrated success managing complex academic portfolios and leading change with positive outcomes
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, including collegiality and collaboration
• High standards of professional integrity and professional ethics
• Visionary leadership in integrating emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, into curriculum, research, and service aligned with the institution’s mission