Working Title: Academic Unit Head for Department of Health Sciences

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Health and Behavioral Studies

Department: 100056 - Health Sciences

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 12/14/2024

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University (JMU) invites applications for the position of Academic Unit Head (AUH) for the Department of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS). We seek a visionary higher education leader whose experience emphasizes a commitment to undergraduate education, support of undergraduate students, and collaboration with the faculty/staff who work with these students. We also seek a leader who can support faculty and student research in the context of a national R2-status university.

The position is a 12-month, tenure-track faculty appointment at the Associate/Full Professor rank with consideration of tenure upon appointment. The AUH reports to the Dean of CHBS, in which Health Sciences is one of eight academic units. Please visit the CHBS website to learn more about the College. The desired starting date is July 1, 2025.

The Department of Health Sciences is a thriving academic unit with 28 full-time faculty members and two full-time staff, 1500-1600 undergraduate majors and significant contributions to general education. Faculty in Health Sciences fulfill their academic roles through excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. The B.S. in Health Sciences degree is designed for students interested in studying the social determinants of health, health equity issues, strategies for promoting wellness, and the scientific basis and methodologies for analysis of health concerns. The major combines a broad scientific foundation of health-related course work with a choice of preparatory courses suitable for entry-level employment or admission into various professional/graduate programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include providing visionary and collaborative leadership for an undergraduate-focused unit. Candidates should apply collaborative processes in a variety of domains including, department governance, faculty development, curriculum planning, research and extramural funding, and advocacy for the department both within and beyond the University. The Academic Unit Head will collaborate with other academic units in the College and with the Dean’s office, working towards the College strategic goals. Other responsibilities include teaching within the department, research productivity, and service at the department, college, and university levels.

Qualifications:

Successful candidates will demonstrate and/or provide evidence of the following:
• Evidence of effective leadership that incorporates collaborative processes and is based on an established vision for an undergraduate-focused unit;
• An ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, administration, and the community;
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Experience and proficiency with academic administrative responsibilities (e.g., class scheduling, policy implementation, recruiting and retaining faculty, budget administration, personnel management, etc.);
• Experience supporting and advancing efforts related to interprofessional/interdisciplinary education, research, and inclusive excellence;
• An integrated record of teaching with a focus on undergraduate students, scholarship and service, including service to the discipline and/or professional associations;
• An earned doctorate appropriate to the position (e.g., PhD, EdD, DrPH); and
• An earned CHES and/or CPH credential is preferred but not required.

Additional Posting Information:

Review of applications will begin December 14, 2024. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To apply, submit the following documents:
• a letter of application;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a Leadership Philosophy Statement (submitted under "Other Document #1") that outlines: 1) the values that serve as guideposts for your academic leadership approach, 2) the qualities you possess that make you a strong, collaborative leader, and 3) specific examples that describe your leadership in action, illustrating how you have embodied the values and qualities noted in 1 and 2.
• Within the submitted materials, please include information on inclusive practices you have used in previous workplaces to foster a sense of belonging among all members of the workplace community.
• Contact information for three professional references.

For questions, please contact Dr. Linda Plitt Donaldson, Search Chair, 540-568-2705 or plittdlx@jmu.edu.

CHBS is working to identify and dismantle oppressive racist and discriminatory policies, practices, and processes while advancing inclusive excellence and promoting a culture in which every member can flourish. We promote access, inclusion, and diversity for all students, faculty, staff constituents, and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The University is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality. Consider joining us in achieving our goal of continuing to grow as a diverse college that embodies an atmosphere.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.