Dean, School of Pharmacy

Position Details

Position Information

Position Type
Faculty

Faculty Track

Position Title
Dean, School of Pharmacy

Employment Status
Full Time

Months
12

Campus
Portland, ME

Description

THE OPPORTUNITY
The University of New England ( UNE ) invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Pharmacy. The Dean provides academic and administrative leadership to advance the School’s mission in education, service, scholarship, and research. The School of Pharmacy is organized administratively within the Westbrook College of Health Professions. Reporting directly to the Dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions, the Dean of Pharmacy will partner closely with faculty and staff within the School, as well as with other programs across the University, including Maine’s only College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Dental Medicine.

The Dean will be a key part of a team of academic leaders within the Westbook College of Health Professions. In addition, the Dean will work closely with numerous centers that support health professions education and scholarship, including the Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice ( CAIEP ), the Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation Center ( ISIC ), and the Center for Excellence in Public Health ( CEPH ).

NOMINATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
The University of New England has retained the services of the executive search firm Korn Ferry. Applicants should submit the following two documents (in two separate PDFs):

1. An up-to-date and detailed curriculum vitae .
2. A letter of interest (not to exceed 4 pages) describing why you are interested in the role of Dean of the School of Pharmacy at the University of New England, why your professional experience would lead to your success, and why now is a good time for you to consider this opportunity.

For priority consideration, please submit all application materials by Monday, August 26, 2024 . The two PDF documents should be sent directly to Dr. Josh Ward at Josh.Ward@KornFerry.com .

About the School of Pharmacy
The University of New England School of Pharmacy is a student-centered, teaching-intensive institution. The School’s four-year, fully accredited Pharm.D. program is an integrated curriculum with small group learning experiences and lab courses throughout all didactic semesters. A state-of-the-art simulation lab provides students hands-on clinical care learning within an interprofessional health care team. Diverse global learning opportunities offer students career flexibility.

Faculty engage in active student-centered research projects supported through institutional, foundational, and federal grants. Faculty have also worked to expand the scope of services and advance the profession of pharmacy in clinical settings in the State of Maine. The University offers a Pre-Professional Pharmacy program (two years), which provides the coursework necessary for admission into the PharmD program. The School offers a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy Science degree for those pharmacy students who complete the Pre-Professional pharmacy program after their second year in PharmD program.

The School has long established clinical partnerships with some of Maine’s largest health systems including MaineHealth and Northern Light Health. Additionally, community practice sites are also well-integrated experiential offerings. For more information about the School of Pharmacy, please visit the following websites:

Academic Programs: www.une.edu/pharmacy/programs
Departments: www.une.edu/pharmacy/departments
Strategic Plan: www.une.edu/sites/default/files/cop_strategicplan_booklet_110619.pdf
Faculty and Administration: www.une.edu/pharmacy/people
Photos, Videos, and Publications: www.une.edu/pharmacy/about/upcloselook

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About the University of New England
With roots dating to 1831, the University of New England ( UNE ) has evolved to become the largest private university in Maine. UNE has established itself as a leading comprehensive university with particular strengths in the health sciences and marine sciences and a wide range of academic programs offered both onsite and online to nearly 6,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. UNE is guided by the core values of student-centeredness, diversity, inclusion, relentless inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, learning everywhere, progressive change, and stewardship of our planet.

UNE’s more than 70 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online degree programs are offered through six colleges – the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Dental Medicine, the Westbrook College of Health Professions, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, the College of Professional Studies, and a recently-established College of Business. UNE is home to Maine’s only medical school and only physician assistant program and northern New England’s only dental school. UNE’s robust research agenda garners more NIH funding in biomedical research than any other college or university in Maine. UNE is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine – the coastal Biddeford Campus and Portland Campus for the Health Sciences – and also has a unique study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco. UNE is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

During a tumultuous time for higher education, UNE has bucked the trends, emerging from a global pandemic with robust enrollment numbers, a bold plan to move its medical college from Biddeford to Portland in order to create a unique, interprofessional health sciences campus there, and a host of new academic programs and student support initiatives designed to meet the workplace needs of an ever-changing economy. While many other institutions were content to merely keep their doors open during the pandemic, UNE’s dedicated faculty and professional staff were determined to seize every opportunity during a time of much change and realignment for the industry. Guided by the recently refreshed Our World, Our Future strategic plan, UNE has done just that. As a result, the University’s credit rating has recently been upgraded to A2 from Moody’s Investor Services and A+ (with positive outlook) from Fitch Ratings.

UNE emphasizes inclusion, diversity, and meeting the needs of first-generation students while consciously immersing students in an environment that prioritizes viewpoint diversity. Indeed, one of UNE’s distinguishing characteristics is its commitment to fostering a robust marketplace of ideas so that students may develop the respect for opposing viewpoints and intellectual curiosity needed to be productive participants in our increasingly polarized society. The University invites guest speakers to campus whose ideas span various ideological spectra and, through an array of interrelated programs, exposes students to multiple views on important topics, both inside and outside the classroom.

Perennially included on “best colleges” lists by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review, Forbes, and others, UNE prides itself on its excellent student outcomes. It has recently been ranked first in Maine for value added by Brookings and first in Maine for job placement by Zippia. Meanwhile, UNE students enjoy an exceptionally low student-loan default rate of just 0.6% compared to 2.3% nationally. UNE’s clinical programs also boast exceptional board pass rates, while the aspiring doctors in UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine earn a residency choice match rate that is among the ten best in the country. For more information about these and other accolades, visit www.une.edu/about/glance .

About UNE President James D. Herbert
President James D. Herbert is the sixth president of the University of New England, serving since July 2017. Under President Herbert’s leadership, UNE has redoubled its commitment to collaborative, team-based clinical education; launched a slate of new undergraduate and graduate academic programs; expanded marine programs and several health profession programs; reorganized student support services to be more student-centric; expanded physical facilities on both campuses, including new athletic facilities and a new home for Maine’s only medical school; significantly increased fundraising, including securing the largest gift in the University’s history; bolstered DEI structures and programming; greatly improved financial footing, as reflected by significant credit upgrades; and implemented and renewed UNE’s strategic plan “Our World, Our Future.” As a champion of the academy as the ultimate marketplace of ideas, President Herbert founded a number of programs to encourage viewpoint diversity and civil, robust discourse on campus, including “The President’s Forum,” a moderated discussion series that facilitates discussion of timely topics to promote a deeper understanding of critical issues facing society.

Herbert arrived at UNE via Drexel University in Philadelphia, where he held several senior administrative positions, including interim provost and executive vice provost and dean of the Graduate College. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include cognitive behavior therapy—including newer mindfulness and psychological acceptance-based models of behavior therapy, anxiety, mood, and eating disorders, remote Internet-based treatment, and the promotion of evidence-based practice in mental health.

About UNE Provost Gwendolyn Mahon
Provost Gwendolyn Mahon joined UNE in November 2022, bringing her passion for higher education and extensive leadership in the field to campus. As a first-generation college graduate, Provost Mahon is passionate about helping others access the opportunities that higher education has provided her and has a keen understanding of the importance of a student-centered philosophy and a community-engaged approach in higher education.

During her first year at UNE, Provost Mahon implemented several programmatic changes to enhance various academic programs. She has established new majors in Computer Science and Statistics, initiated the development of a faculty information system to better support and streamline the faculty reappointment, promotion, and tenure process, and made several organizational changes to enhance visibility and spur growth of key degree offerings. This includes the creation of the School of Education, School of Computer Science and Data Analytics, and College of Business. Most recently, she opened UNE’s inaugural Honors College, which will enroll its first cohort of students in the fall of 2024.

Prior to arriving at UNE, Provost Mahon spent 24 years at Rutgers University, where she filled multiple leadership roles, including dean of the Rutgers School of Health Professions. She holds a master’s degree in medical genetics from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and a doctorate in biomedical science from Rutgers School of Graduate Studies. Her research is focused on molecular oncology, specifically signal transduction pathways involved in leukemogenesis and cell motility.

Life in Maine
The University of New England is located on two beautiful campuses in Maine – an oceanfront coastal campus of Biddeford and a vibrant health sciences campus in Portland, a city of great appeal and historic significance. With breathtaking scenery, a rich cultural environment, world-class dining, low crime rates, and classic New England charm, southern Maine provides an unparalleled quality of life. The quality of life is exemplified by safe towns and cities, top school systems, and a variety of highly accessible outdoor activities, from the beach to the mountains. Whether you enjoy local shopping in Portland’s Old Port, sampling unique breweries and distilleries in Biddeford, strolling the harbor-side trail on the Eastern Promenade, hiking, sailing, skiing, or the arts, the area offers something for everyone. The greater Portland region combines city living with small-town charm, frequently cited as one of the best cities in America to live and work.

Responsibilities

The Dean of the School of Pharmacy will be a strategic thinker with deep experience in pharmacy education. The ideal candidate will be an innovative and inclusive collaborator with demonstrated breadth of understanding and experience in innovative curricular design, online learning, assessment of educational effectiveness, new program development, and the general trends, opportunities, and challenges facing pharmacy education both regionally and nationally.

The successful candidate must demonstrate a steadfast commitment to building infrastructure that supports disciplinary and interprofessional teaching and learning, external clinical partnerships, research and scholarship, and community outreach.

The Dean’s primary responsibilities and expectations for leadership include:

• Report directly to the Dean of the Westbrook College of Health Professions ( WCHP ) while having responsibility for providing direct and indirect supervision of all School of Pharmacy faculty and professional staff
• In collaboration with the Dean of the WCHP, the Assistant Provost for Graduate Admissions and Recruitment, and the Associate Provost for Student Success, be responsible for developing and implementing effective student recruitment, enrollment and retention strategies for the School
• Promote key differentiators that distinguish the School’s academic offerings
• Stay abreast of national and regional trends as it relates to pharmacy practice and education
• Provide oversight for the quality and outcomes of academic programming
• Develop effective faculty mentoring and development programs to ensure successful career advancement of the School’s faculty, including promotion in rank and/or tenure
• Lead disciplinary accreditation and credentialing endeavors
• In collaboration with the Dean of WCHP, oversee and coordinate the administration of the School’s operating budgets
• Facilitate the ongoing implementation of the School’s strategic plan in coordination with the WCHP and University strategic plan
• Cultivate/enhance relationships with regional clinical partners to support experiential/clinical learning opportunities for all programs
• Advance interprofessional education and collaborative academic endeavors
• Provide leadership for the School of Pharmacy on institutional DEI endeavors
• Collaborate with the Associate Provost for Research and Scholarship, grow extramurally funded research, and enhance scholarly productivity within the School of Pharmacy
• Collaborate with other leaders across WCHP on various college initiatives
• Engage in external community outreach and institutional advancement
• Perform other duties as necessary

Qualifications

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE / PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidates will have a demonstrated understanding of current and future trends in pharmacy practice and education, interprofessional practice/education, and healthcare. Experience as a strategic and visionary leader who has a clear understanding of what it takes to grow and advance academic programs in a competitive higher education environment is required. The ideal candidate will also possess strong financial and management skills with the ability to effectively partner with a broad range of constituents internally and externally. The successful candidate will be a persuasive communicator with strong and highly effective interpersonal and collaborative skills.

EDUCATION AND FACULTY RANK REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must have a PharmD, PhD, or other appropriate terminal doctorate and be eligible for a faculty appointment at the rank of Full Professor at the University of New England upon hire. Candidates who are currently at the Associate Professor rank will be considered if they are eligible to be hired into the role at the rank of Full Professor.

EEO Statement Summary

Consistent with federal and state law and University policy, the University of New England is committed to the fundamental concept of equal opportunity for all of the members of the University community. The University prohibits, and will not tolerate, discrimination in employment, the provision of academic services or in any other area of University life based on race, color, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, ethnicity, genetic information, HIV status, or status as a veteran. Prohibited bias factors should not motivate decisions regarding students, employees, applicants for admission, applicants for employment, contractors, volunteers or participants in and/or users of institutional programs, services, and activities.

COVID Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number
2022F0150P

Open Date
08/15/2024

Close Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Documents Needed to Apply
Required Documents Optional Documents