Dean Of Optometry

The Dean of Optometry serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Optometry. As such, the Dean is responsible for overseeing all personnel, budgetary, and curricular matters within the School and is committed to promoting and fostering excellence in teaching, research, professional practice, and service.

Description of Duties

• The Founding Dean of the School of Optometry will play an instrumental role in developing and implementing the vision and programs that will contribute significantly to UTRGV's important role in enhancing the health care available to the population of South Texas. This is an exciting time for the School of Optometry to build and prepare for the future in which technology and new methodologies are changing the landscape of health care.

• Ensures that the academic and patient care missions of the School of Optometry are accomplished.

• Leads the accreditation process and maintenance of ACOE accreditation, including working closely with university stakeholders to prepare and submit accreditation reports. Continuously provides oversight of programmatic assessment processes and products.

• Provides leadership for recruiting, promoting, and retaining highly qualified and outstanding faculty, staff, and students to the School. Establishes appropriate mechanisms to select, support, and retain highly qualified faculty, department chairs, administrators, and other staff, and acts to ensure their professional success, maximizing their ability to contribute to the School and UTRGV.

• Responsible for providing leadership in curricular development, and scheduling academic programs, improving student advising, administering the budget of the School, supervising nonacademic personnel, and interacting with students in activities related to instructional programs, including instructing in lecture and laboratory activities.

• Manages an academic organization and works effectively and collaboratively with community leaders, interdisciplinary professionals, and colleagues in a complex university environment.

• Grows the School's resource base by leading efforts in raising funds from interested donors for endowments, to support scholarships, professorships, chairs, and programs.

• Works well at all levels in a complex environment, fostering a spirit of collaboration with faculty, colleagues, and administrators.

• Works with faculty and other stakeholders in formulating policies and in establishing and achieving goals and objectives.

• Ensures the efficient administration of School matters pertaining to personnel, facilities, budget, equipment and planning.

• Supervises the School's service outreach throughout the Rio Grande Valley, providing patient care services, enhancing interdisciplinary and inter-professional collaborations, and developing and enhancing positive relationships with alumni, industry, and educational institutions and government agencies.

• As the responsible officer at the School level, the Dean of Optometry recommends to the University administration on the evaluation of faculty for retention (or separation), tenure, and promotion.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received

General direction from the assigned supervisor.

Supervision Given

Supervises assigned faculty and staff.

Required Education

Doctor of Optometry degree from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), must be board certified.

Preferred Education

N/A

Licenses/Certifications

Hold a license to practice Optometry in Texas or obtain within 12 months of hire.

Required Experience

• Leadership experience in an academic optometric program at the Department Chair or higher administrative level and/or leadership at the department chair or higher administrative level at a teaching hospital or similar facility where optometric students practice clinical skills and has experience to provide leadership in optometric education, scholarly activity, and patient care.

• Demonstrated experience navigating state legislative and licensing environments.

• Must have strong demonstration of leadership experience and meet requirements for appointment at the rank of Professor.

• Must have demonstrated outstanding optometric educator abilities and excellent organization skills. Demonstrated leadership and administrative experience, abilities, and qualities to manage academic and clinical programs at the professional doctoral level.

Preferred Experience

Experience with ACOE accreditation requirements and activities. Knowledge of and experience with the legislative and licensing environment in Texas.

Equipment

Use of standard office equipment.

Working Conditions

Needs to be able to successfully perform all required duties. Office Environment; some travel and weekend work is required. UTRGV is a distributed institution, which requires presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment across the Rio Grande Valley.

Other

Must have demonstrated outstanding optometric educator abilities and excellent organization skills. Demonstrated leadership and administrative experience, abilities, and qualities to manage academic and clinical programs at the professional doctoral level. Must have a history of demonstrating strong character, collegiality, and outstanding integrity.

Physical Capabilities

N/A

Employment Category Full-Time Minimum Salary Commensurate with Experience Posted Salary Commensurate with Experience Position Available Date 06/17/2024 Grant Funded Position No If Yes, Provide Grant Expiration Date