The University of West Florida (UWF) seeks an innovative, collaborative, and student-centered leader to serve as Dean of the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health (UKCOH). The successful candidate will be a visionary academic administrator with a demonstrated record of advancing student success, growing enrollment, fostering research and scholarship, building industry and community partnerships, and leading high-performing academic organizations.
The Dean will lead a dynamic college comprising the Departments of Health Sciences and Administration, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Movement Sciences and Health, Psychology, Public Health, the School of Nursing, and Social Work. The next Dean will champion academic excellence while positioning the College as a regional and national leader in health education, workforce development, research, and community engagement.
Reporting to the Provost, the Dean serves as the College's chief academic and administrative officer and provides strategic leadership that advances the University's mission and aligns with Florida's performance-based funding metrics and the Florida Board of Governors SUS 30 strategic plan. The Dean will cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement while ensuring exceptional student outcomes and expanding the College's impact across the region.
Key Responsibilities
The Dean will provide visionary leadership for all aspects of the College, including:
- Managing the College's financial resources through strategic budgeting, resource allocation, enrollment planning, and operational excellence.
- Advancing student success initiatives that improve recruitment, enrollment, retention, persistence, graduation rates, licensure outcomes, and career placement.
- Developing innovative academic programs and delivery models that respond to evolving healthcare workforce needs and attract new student populations, including adult, transfer, military-affiliated, and online learners.
- Strengthening partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, government agencies, and industry to expand clinical education, internships, experiential learning, workforce pipelines, and philanthropic support.
- Growing the College's research enterprise by increasing external funding, interdisciplinary collaborations, faculty scholarship, undergraduate research opportunities, and graduate research capacity.
- Supporting faculty excellence through strategic recruitment, mentorship, professional development, promotion, and recognition of outstanding teaching, scholarship, and service.
- Leading academic planning, curriculum innovation, accreditation, assessment, and continuous quality improvement across all academic programs.
- Building a culture of collaboration within the College and across the University while fostering partnerships with alumni, donors, healthcare providers, and community leaders.
- Expanding fundraising efforts, philanthropic engagement, grants, contracts, and other external resources that support strategic priorities.
- Promoting a student-focused environment where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive.
About the Usha Kundu, MD College of Health
The Usha Kundu, MD College of Health serves more than 4,100 undergraduate and graduate students and has experienced more than twenty percent enrollment growth over the past five years. The College offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, along with a variety of certificate programs, across seven academic departments and programs.
The College is recognized for providing a highly student-centered learning environment where engaged faculty prepare graduates to address complex healthcare challenges through evidence-based practice, innovation, leadership, and service. Students benefit from exceptional clinical experiences, experiential learning opportunities, and close mentorship from accomplished faculty who are dedicated educators, scholars, clinicians, and researchers.
As healthcare delivery and workforce needs continue to evolve, the College is well positioned to expand its academic programs, research portfolio, community partnerships, and regional impact while preparing graduates who improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities.
