Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search Seeks Founding Dean for School of Nursing at Emory & Henry College 

August 4, 2020 – Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search has been chosen by Emory & Henry College in Emory, VA to find a founding dean for its new school of nursing.

Reporting to the vice president for health sciences, the dean of nursing will be charged with creating and fostering a collegial and collaborative environment that promotes innovation and excellence in nursing education, clinical practice and community service, said the search firm. This position will be responsible for daily operations, fiscal administration and overall management of the School of Nursing.

The dean of nursing will be responsible for crafting an innovative and entrepreneurial vision and mission for strategically expanding the nursing program offerings to meet the healthcare and workforce needs of the region, said the search firm. The individual must also develop a strategic plan for nursing that aligns with the colleges’ mission and the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan.

The new dean must also recruit develop and retain a diverse and collaborative community of faculty and staff. He or she will be expected to manage the day-to-day operations of the School of Nursing, serve as a visible advocate for nursing within Emory & Henry College and the surrounding communities, work in close partnership with the healthcare community as well as civic leaders and other external stakeholders to achieve common goals, and work collaboratively with the school’s Office of Advancement and the vice president for health sciences to identify and establish fundraising priorities and secure gifts to support the School of Nursing.

Key Qualifications

Candidates must have an earned doctorate (Ph.D., DNP, EdD, DNSc, or similar terminal degree) from a regionally accredited institution, said Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search. Current licensure or license eligibility as a registered nurse in Virginia is also required. Prospects should have previous administrative experience in higher education and nursing education; demonstrated strong organizational leadership and executive presence; and a distinguished record of excellence in teaching, research, and service commensurate with a tenured appointment at the rank of associate or full professor.

Previous experience in nursing clinical practice is also needed for the role. Candidates should have demonstrated success in developing collaborative partnerships within and across the institution as well as within the local healthcare community; excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to interact with a broad range of constituents including students, staff, faculty, and the local community; and an established record of professional involvement in the nursing profession, among other qualifications.

Related: Academic Sector Pumping Big Fees Into Search Firms

Emory & Henry currently offers an online RN-BSN program and has obtained approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The new School of Nursing will be housed on the health sciences campus in Marion, VA, also home to the School of Health Sciences, which includes graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and clinical mental health counseling. Emory & Henry College has a strong partnership with Ballad Health, the regional health system, as well as many local providers in the area health care community. The college has also partnered with the Mel Leaman Free Clinic, which has relocated to the Emory & Henry health sciences campus. The clinic provides clinical practice opportunities for faculty and strong rural healthcare clinical education experiences for the school’s students.

Respected Recruiters

Hyatt-Fennell was founded in 2010 with the merger of Gallagher-Fennell Higher Education Services and the Charitable Resources Group. Its clients include higher education institutions, K-12 and independent schools, civic and religious organizations, health care facilities, and cultural and social welfare institutions. The firm provides counsel in all areas of executive search, including building client and candidate relationships, conducting prospect and candidate research and interviews, overseeing final selection of candidate and negotiating terms of acceptance. Among its recent assignments, Hyatt-Fennell has helped to place the new provost at Marywood University in Scranton, PA, the president of Notre Dame College in South Euclid, OH and the president of Caldwell University in Caldwell, NJ.

Ms. Hyatt, who has over 20 years of executive search consulting experience, is responsible for recruiting senior-administrative professionals for educational and non-profit organizations. Before partnering with Marylouise Fennell, she was the president and owner of the Charitable Resources Group, providing executive search and fundraising expertise to her clients. Ms. Hyatt brings over 30 years of management and organizational leadership experience to her role with clients.

Dr. Fennell, a Sister of Mercy, has more than 35 years of experience in higher education administration and executive search. She co-founded Hyatt-Fennell with Ms. Hyatt to meet the growing need for specialized search services that focus on small and mid-sized higher education institutions across the U.S. Prior to Hyatt-Fennell, Dr. Fennell taught and served in various executive roles at several colleges and universities, including as president of Carlow University (PA). She has extensive experience in corporate relations and financial investment, and serves as a consultant and board member for various educational institutions and financial organizations.

Related: Why Universities Have Stepped Up Efforts to Involve Search Firms

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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