PRESS RELEASES

Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES) selected by Rush University for Dean of the College of Nursing Search

(January 16, 2026, WEST HARTFORD, CT) Academic Career & Executive Search (ACES), a leading higher education-focused executive search firm, has been selected to recruit the next Dean of the College of Nursing at Rush University.  Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, will be leading the search.

The Dean of the College of Nursing will provide leadership for the continued growth of the College’s research enterprise through team science, translational scholarship, and integrated PhD and DNP pathways. Bringing political and relational acumen, collaborative strength, and the capacity to lead across academic, clinical, and policy spheres, the Dean will steward faculty recruitment and retention, foster a high-performance and inclusive culture, safeguard enrollment health, advance succession planning, and ensure operational alignment within a complex academic health system. Central to this role is strengthening academic–practice partnerships with Rush University Medical Center and its nursing entities, advancing technology-enabled and interprofessional education, championing student success, affordability, and the social determinants of learning, and serving as a visible advocate for philanthropic investment and external research funding. The Dean will also ensure long-term institutional vitality by strengthening faculty pipelines, mentoring emerging leaders, and building the structures needed for sustained programmatic and organizational continuity.

Reporting to the Provost, the Dean will lead 135 faculty and 93 staff supporting more than 1,150 master’s and doctoral (DNP and PhD) students.

Rush University is an elite academic health system comprising Rush University Medical Center, Rush Copley Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital, and a broad network of outpatient facilities. Nationally recognized for excellence in patient care, medical discovery, health equity, and community partnership, Rush is a perennial U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals Honor Roll institution with several clinical programs, such as neurology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics ranked in the nation’s Top 10. All three Rush hospitals hold Magnet® designation, the highest recognition for nursing excellence, underscoring the system’s long-standing leadership in nursing practice and professional development.  Enrolling approximately 2,770 students across the College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, and Rush Medical College, Rush emphasizes hands-on clinical experience in diverse, high-acuity settings and scholarship that informs practice and health policy. The College of Nursing is consistently ranked among the nation’s top nursing schools, with multiple DNP programs in the Top 5 nationally and No. 1 in Illinois. Rush is also recognized for LGBTQ Healthcare Equality, disability inclusion, and its nationally regarded Anchor Mission, which reflects a deep, sustained commitment to community health, equity, and economic vitality on Chicago’s West Side.

Affordable Excellence 

Academic Career & Executive Search, a higher education focused search firm, specializes in affordable excellence, providing perfectly matched candidates to institutions quickly and accurately. Their methodologies, based on frequent touchpoints, pinpoint ideal candidates with speed and meticulous care resulting in highly successful placements.

They offer flexible service/pricing levels for all positions, ensuring affordability.

Contact Jennifer Muller, Managing Partner, at 860-740-2600 or Jennifer@ACESrch.com, or visit https://acesrch.com/.