Director of recruitment Jobs in Murfreesboro, TN

DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Middle Tennessee State University seeks an accomplished, visionary leader with a strong background in nursing practice, academic scholarship, and administrative experience who can advance the School of Nursing’s mission of preparing the next generation of nursing professionals through excellence in education, research, and service. The candidate must be committed to innovative teaching, robust research/creative activity, and meaningful service, while seeking to attract culturally and academically diverse faculty who value working with diverse students.

For additional information please see the full profile at the link below:

https://myersmcrae.com/api/admin/create-job/file/Files/PDF/MTSU-Dir-SchoolofNursing-2026-Final-1772645412164-236257087.pdf

Middle Tennessee State University offers exceptional academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels that prepare students to thrive in their chosen profession and prioritize student success. As one of Tennessee’s largest comprehensive universities, MTSU places high value on outstanding teaching, research, creative activity, and public service that support the emerging needs and challenges of our state, nation, and world.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

The No. 1 producer of college graduates for greater Nashville, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has more than 300 graduate and undergraduate majors and concentrations
to help students reach their career goals. From the acclaimed academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities to MTSU campus life and its thriving Blue Raider athletic programs, MTSU is known for doing it all. With more than 250 student organizations, there is always plenty to do. Great facilities on campus are coupled with a college-friendly town, lots of local entertainment, plenty of access to athletic events, and a beautiful physical environment.

Situated at the geographic center of the state in Murfreesboro, MTSU is a comprehensive university that embraces its role as a preferred destination for Tennessee undergraduates while expanding its reach nationally and internationally through signature programs and select master’s and doctoral programs. The combination of high-quality programs, student resources, incredible scholarship programs, and low tuition costs is unmatched in Tennessee. In fact, MTSU has the lowest tuition rate of any major university in Tennessee.

With an enrollment of more than 20,000 students and more than 300 majors and concentrations, MTSU is the largest locally governed university in Tennessee. It is the No. 1 producer of graduates for the Greater Nashville economy; a top choice for first-generation and transfer students; a leader in adult degree completion programs; and home to the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, one of the largest and most comprehensive facilities of its kind on a college campus. MTSU Online features 73 fully online majors, concentrations, and certificates, offering accessible and engaging educational experiences students can access from anywhere in the world.

While MTSU has been named to The Princeton Review’s list of the Best Colleges in the U.S. six years in a row, it also has been named one of the best places to earn an undergraduate degree in the nation by The Princeton Review, which called it “a go-to choice for those wishing to receive a quality and affordable education.” It is also featured on the best colleges lists of The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and U.S. News and World Report.

PURPOSE, VISION, AND VALUES

MTSU Purpose

To fulfill its mission as a comprehensive, public institution of higher education, the University’s diverse community of students, faculty, and staff:

• Educates and challenges students through a broad array of high-quality, affordable bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral programs grounded in a common core of arts and sciences;
• Collaboratively promotes excellence through innovative teaching and learning, research, creative activity, service, and engagement;
• Fosters a student-centered environment conducive to lifelong learning, personal development, and success for all students, including first-generation, Pell-eligible, transfer, veteran, non-traditional, and international students;
• Enhances access through unique programs, distance learning, and advising to meet the needs of a diverse student population;
• Supports student learning through effective teaching and advising, experiential and integrative learning, emerging technologies, research, and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities;
• Attracts and retains exceptional faculty and staff and develops resources to support excellence in instruction, research, creative activity, and public and professional service;
• Develops and sustains academic partnerships, entrepreneurial activities, and public service to support instruction, research, and communities throughout the region;
• Promotes ongoing engagement with its alumni, partners, and friends; and
• Serves as an emerging center for international study, understanding, and exchange.

Middle Tennessee State University educates students to:

• Think logically, critically, and creatively;
• Make sound judgments informed by ethical, moral, and aesthetic values;
• Acquire knowledge of a discipline or a group of related disciplines;
• Examine, analyze, and shape the rapidly changing world through scientific knowledge, creative undertakings, and an understanding of culture and history;
• Communicate clearly and precisely and understand the proper role of free expression and civic engagement in our society; and
• Demonstrate the effective and adaptive use of current and evolving technologies.

MTSU Vision

To provide the highest quality education and student experience, enabling members of our community to excel in professional, scholarly, and public life.

MTSU Community Standards and Values

MTSU is committed to developing and nurturing a community devoted to learning, growth, and service. Each person who joins or affiliates with the community does so freely and accepts and practices the following core values and expectations:

• Honesty and Integrity. The notions of personal and academic honesty and integrity are central to the existence of the MTSU community. All members of the community will strive to achieve and maintain the highest standards of academic achievement in the classroom and personal and social responsibility on and off campus.
• Respect for Diversity. The MTSU community is composed of individuals of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, cultures, and ways of thinking. We respect individual differences and unique perspectives as we acknowledge our commonalities.
• Engagement in the Community. All members of the community are encouraged to participate in educationally purposeful activities that support and enhance the MTSU experience. Active involvement and personal investment in academic and student life are hallmarks of an engaged citizen.
• Commitment to Nonviolence. MTSU is committed to the principles of non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution. Community members will freely express their ideas and resolve differences using reason and persuasion.

COLLEGE OF BEHAVIORAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Founded in 2010, the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences (CBHS), of which the School of Nursing is a part, offers degree programs that prepare students for careers in health-related professions, fields that enhance the human condition, and roles that serve and protect our communities.

CBHS Mission: We learn, lead, and serve to improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of Tennessee, our Nation, and world.

CBHS Vision: All are prepared, equipped, and inspired to enhance their profession, serve others, and improve the human condition.

CBHS Grand Challenges: Grand challenges are important national or global problems that create, lead to, or contribute to uncertain futures and that have the potential to capture the public’s imagination. Our Grand Challenges compel us to frame ambitious but achievable goals that harness science, technology, innovation, and interdisciplinary teamwork.

• Create and Integrate Services and Experiences for Healthy Living and Improving Quality of Life
• Enhance, Innovate, and Expand Rural Health Services
• Promote Autonomy and Improve Outcomes for Those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Design and Develop Stronger and Safer Communities

THE OPPORTUNITY

Middle Tennessee State University seeks an accomplished, visionary leader with a strong background in nursing practice, academic scholarship, and administrative experience who can advance the School of Nursing’s mission of preparing the next generation of nursing professionals through excellence in education, research, and service. Reporting directly to the Dean of the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, the Director must have the academic credentials to qualify at the full professor rank. Expedited tenure upon appointment is possible. This is a 12-month position with a start date of August 1, 2026.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director serves as the chief academic and administrative officer of the School of Nursing and will provide strategic leadership in the following areas:

• Clinical Partnerships: Build, strengthen, and expand the number of clinical affiliation agreements and clinical rotation sites to support high-quality student learning experiences.
• Program Innovation: Lead efforts in innovative program design and educational delivery methods to meet the evolving needs of students and the nursing profession.
• Curriculum and Accreditation: Oversee program development, curriculum quality, accreditation compliance, and continuous program evaluation.
• Faculty and Staff Development: Recruit, mentor, and support faculty and staff in teaching, practice, research, and service roles.
• Nursing Education Growth: Develop and expand nursing education opportunities, including new program initiatives, advanced degree pathways, and continuing education programs.
• Resource Management: Administer budgets, facilities, and resources to ensure effective and sustainable operations.
• Community Engagement: Build strong connections with health care systems, professional organizations, and community partners to advance nursing education and practice.
• Advocacy and Representation: Represent the School of Nursing within the college, university, and broader professional community.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

A PhD or equivalent terminal degree in nursing, nursing education, or nursing science is required by the appointment date.

Related Experience

• Cumulative of three (3) years of full-time or part-time clinical practice as a registered nurse.
• Five (5) years of experience in nursing education.
• Three (3) years of administrative and leadership experience in higher education.

License/Registration/Certification

A current, active, and unencumbered Tennessee Registered Nurse license or the multistate licensure privilege to practice as a registered nurse in Tennessee is required.

Recommendations

Applicants with the following will receive special consideration:

• Record of achievement in teaching, scholarship, and service.
• Experience in curriculum development and revision.
• Experience with budget management, accreditation, faculty evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Evidence of collaborative leadership, strategic planning, and innovation in higher education.

PETER W. GRANDJEAN, PH.D.

Dean of the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences

Peter W. Grandjean earned his B.A. from Anderson University, his M.S. from Texas Christian University, and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. An internationally recognized professor and researcher, he specializes in lipid metabolism, lipid transport, and vascular physiology, with a focus on understanding acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise in individuals with cardiometabolic disease.

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Grandjean has authored or co-authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. He has delivered an equal number of invited presentations, symposia, and tutorials and has secured sustained external grant and contract funding to support his research. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a member of the American Physiological Society and the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

In 2024, Dr. Grandjean was appointed Dean of the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences at Middle Tennessee State University, where he leads the university’s second-largest college. Prior to this role, he built a distinguished academic leadership career at Auburn University, served as Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Baylor University, and was Dean of the School of Applied Sciences at University of Mississippi. As dean, he oversees programs dedicated to improving the health and well-being of individuals and communities across Middle Tennessee and the broader Southeast region.

MURFREESBORO

The geographic center of Tennessee, Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area and is only 34 miles southeast of downtown Nashville, a healthcare industry hub and with the nation’s largest concentration of health care companies. According to the Nashville Health Care Council, about 900 companies in the healthcare ecosystem are based in Nashville. With a population of 165,430, Murfreesboro is the sixth-largest city in Tennessee. It is also the county seat of Rutherford County, serving as the state capital from 1818 to 1826. Murfreesboro is located in Rutherford County which has been the fastest growing county in Tennessee for eight years in a row according to a 2024 study by the Tennessee State Data Center Boyd Business Economic Research Center.

The West Fork of the Stones River flows through Murfreesboro. A walking trail, the Greenway, parallels the river for several miles. A smaller waterway, Lytle Creek, flows through downtown, including historic Cannonsburgh Village, which is a reproduction of what a working pioneer village would have looked like from the period of the 1830s to the 1930s. Murfreesboro is home to a number of natural and man-made lakes, plus several small wetlands, including Todd’s Lake and the Murfree Spring wetland area. It is also home to several parks and the Murfreesboro Greenway System, a system of greenways with 12 miles of paved paths and 11 trail heads.

Several points of interest include the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, Oaklands Historic House Museum, Stones River Greenway Arboretum, Stones River National Battlefield, and, of course, Middle Tennessee State University. The Earth Experience, the Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History; Batey Farms; MayDay Brewery, Center for the Arts, The Avenue Murfreesboro add to the adventures as do many restaurants and shopping opportunities.

According to Murfreesboro’s 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in Rutherford County are Nissan, Rutherford County government and schools, Amazon Fulfillment Center, City of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University, Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford, Ingram Content Group, Taylor Farms, Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Asurion.

Elementary education within the city is overseen by Murfreesboro City Schools while secondary schools are overseen by Rutherford County Schools, which has 50 schools. The Japanese Supplementary School in Middle Tennessee, a weekend Japanese education program, holds its classes in Peck Hall at Middle Tennessee State University, while its school offices are in Jefferson Square. Top ranked private schools in Murfreesboro include St. Rose Catholic School, Franklin Road Christian School, Providence Christian Academy, The Webb School Bell Buckle, Lighthouse Christian School & Preschool Antioch, Lancaster Christian Academy Smyrna, and Redeemer Classical Academy Murfreesboro.

APPLICATION & NOMINATION PROCESS

Confidential inquiries are welcomed, and nominations are invited.

Applications

All application packets must include the following:

• A letter of application that includes the candidate’s (a) interest in and qualifications for the position, (b) leadership philosophy, and (c) vision and goal for nursing education.
• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial transcripts of all degrees and certificates earned (Official transcript will be required of finalists.)
• At least four references with full contact information including e-mail (References will not be contacted without consent from applicant.)

Submit application materials (preferably as PDFs) online. Additional information
is requested with the submission of materials. For best consideration, complete applications
should be received before April 10, 2026.

Nominations

Submit nominations with complete contact and e-mail information for the individual being nominated.

Consultant

Middle Tennessee State University has retained Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting to assist the Search Committee in its identification and review of Director of the School of Nursing candidates. Jennifer Barfield, Executive Vice President of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting, is the lead consultant for this search. Request a conversation regarding this search at JenniferBarfield@myersmcrae.com.

At Middle Tennessee State University, we fully embrace, value, and respect the backgrounds, cultures, and identities of our students, faculty, staff, visitors and all who partner or do business with us. Our vision is to foster a culture of inclusive excellence through our diverse people, philosophies, and perspectives in order to advance MTSU as a national leader who leverages diversity to achieve its goals.