Dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions

Dean of the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions

Concordia College seeks a dynamic Dean to provide visionary strategic, academic, and administrative leadership for the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions. The ideal candidate will inspire collaboration and advance the School’s vision and the mission of Concordia College. With recent enrollment growth and a compelling strategic  vision  and the  mission  set forth by President Colin Irvine, this is an exciting time to join Concordia College, a mission-driven and collaborative institution with a reputation for preparing exceptional leaders in health professions and related fields.

About the School

The  Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions  is one of Concordia College’s three academic Schools, dedicated to preparing the next generation of health professionals, leaders, and change agents.  Programs  span Nursing, Social Work, Public Health, Healthcare Leadership, Exercise Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Sociology, Clinical Laboratory Science, and multiple pre-health professions pathways. The School also houses the interdisciplinary  Center for Population Health , which is poised for further development as a hub for applied research, community partnerships, and innovative programming in health equity and systems change. Looking ahead, the School is deeply committed to simulation-based learning experiences and boasts a growing simulation program across all health professions programs; the School also aspires to explore the practical and ethical application of artificial intelligence in health professions practice and policy.

The School’s twenty full-time faculty, along with a wide network of highly qualified adjuncts and professional staff, bring together deep disciplinary expertise with significant professional experience. Together, they create a dynamic environment that integrates classroom and simulation-based instruction with clinical placements and internships, under a shared commitment to interprofessional, team-based learning. The director of pre-health professions also reports to the Dean of the School and works closely with students seeking admissions to health professions programming, such as medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dentistry, etc. Through a committed network of advisors, the College provides support for pre-health professions students, most of whom major in the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Health Professions.

With a record of high licensure pass rates, strong graduate school placement, and outstanding employment outcomes, the School has earned a reputation for producing competent, compassionate professionals with strong leadership capacity ready to meet pressing health needs.

The 23,000 square foot  Heimarck Center  provides state-of-the-art teaching and simulation spaces designed for contemporary health education. The Heimarck Center, along with the newly renovated  Integrated Science Center , are the key teaching and research spaces for the School of Health Professions.

Strong partnerships with regional healthcare systems and organizations ensure that students are exceptionally well prepared for professional roles or further study, while also providing fertile ground for community-engaged scholarship and collaboration.

The School is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation. The Dean will play a pivotal role in sustaining this momentum and leading the School into its next chapter of excellence.

About the College

Concordia College  is a vibrant primarily undergraduate institution whose mission is to “influence the affairs of the world by sending into society thoughtful and informed men and women dedicated to the Christian life.”  With 1913 undergraduate students, the College is committed to academic and inclusive excellence and holistic student development across all dimensions of campus life. The College is also committed to growth in graduate education with six master’s programs currently offered.  Undergraduate enrollment has experienced significant growth under the direction of President Colin Irvine’s  strategic leadership , with the college experiencing its largest enrollment since 2018.  Undergraduate students are significantly involved in the life of the campus, with over 55% of the student body participating in either Division III athletics or music ensembles.  Strategic priorities focus on growing enrollment and ensuring student success, while expanding innovative programs, including those that connect the liberal arts with professional preparation and connect student’s co-curricular and academic interests. Concordia embraces its calling to educate students for lives of meaning, service, and leadership in a global society.

About Fargo Moorhead

Fargo, North Dakota – Moorhead, Minnesota  is a vibrant and rapidly growing metro region straddling the Red River. With a population of more than 250,000, the area offers the cultural, educational, and economic amenities of a larger city while maintaining an affordable cost of living and a strong sense of community. It is home to a thriving arts scene, diverse dining, abundant outdoor recreation, and five colleges and universities, making it a dynamic college town. For health professionals, the region is particularly appealing : it serves as a regional hub for healthcare, anchored by world-class systems like Sanford Health and Essentia Health, offering extensive opportunities for clinical partnerships, research, and professional collaboration. Fargo-Moorhead’s combination of career opportunities, quality of life, and welcoming community makes it an ideal place to live and work.

The Opportunity

The next Dean will play a pivotal role in shaping the Sanford Heimarck School’s future. Priorities include :

• Driving enrollment growth  by supporting existing programs, enhancing student recruitment and retention strategies, and forging new partnerships.
• Developing new undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs  to meet workforce needs, with a commitment to development of new graduate or post-baccalaureate programming.
• Fully launching the  Center for Population Health ,  establishing it as a regional leader in interprofessional and team-based learning, collaborative research and community impact.   The Dean will promote excellence in teaching, foster faculty development, and grow community and healthcare partnerships, ensuring that Concordia graduates continue to achieve outstanding licensure, placement, and career outcomes.

This role offers a unique opportunity to expand the School’s reach, enhance innovation, and lead mission-driven health professions education at a pivotal moment for both Concordia and the community it serves.

As a member of the Provost’s leadership team, the Dean will work closely with the Provost and other campus leaders to strengthen collaboration, promote shared governance, and implement consistent academic strategies and policies.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership

Faculty Development and Supervision

Student Success and Enrollment Growth

Administrative and Operational Oversight

Collaboration with the Provost and Provost Leadership Team

External Relations and Campus Relationships

This is an 11-month position with a start date of July 1, 2026.  In addition to the Dean duties noted above, the successful candidate will either teach at least one course per semester or maintain a fundraising portfolio with expectation to meet revenue generation goals.  The teaching or fundraising portfolio will be determined based on experience and interest of the successful candidate.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Key Competencies

Position Opening Date :

11 / 6 / 2025

Position Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Screening Begins : 1 / 12 / 2026

Benefits and Salary :

Salary – 115,000.00 - 150,000.00

EEO / AA Statement :

Concordia College will not discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, veteran’s status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, public assistance status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other legally protected status.

Employment Contingencies :

Background Check

Location : Moorhead, Minnesota

Special Instructions to Applicants :

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Documents Needed to Apply