Job Details

Type: Full-Time, Staff
Posted: 11/11/2025
Category: Medicine Deans / Administration
Location: Joplin Campus, Missouri
Job ID: R-0002603

Position Overview

KCU seeks a visionary and collaborative Vice Dean to oversee academic and clinical operations for its College of Dental Medicine (CDM). The Vice Dean supports the Dean in implementing the College’s strategic vision, ensuring academic excellence, compliance with accreditation standards, and advancing the mission of serving rural and underserved communities.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Leadership

• Oversee academic programs and ensure alignment with KCU’s mission and values.

• Supervise faculty to deliver a student-centered, competency-based curriculum.

• Promote teaching excellence, scholarly activity, and continuous improvement.

• Ensure compliance with CODA standards and licensure requirements.

Clinical Operations & Community Engagement

• Manage the CDM Oral Health Center.

• Ensure high-quality, patient-centered clinical care and student learning.

• Develop partnerships with community health centers and rural clinics.

• Integrate community-based clinical rotations into the curriculum.

Administrative Leadership

• Assist with faculty recruitment, development, and evaluation.

• Participate in budgeting, staffing, and resource allocation.

• Engage in strategic planning, enrollment growth, and advancement activities.

Interprofessional & Institutional Collaboration

• Promote interprofessional education with other KCU colleges.

• Represent the College on institutional committees and external boards.

Qualifications

Required

• DDS or DMD from a CODA-accredited institution.

• Academic achievement at Associate or Full Professor level.

• Active dental license (or eligibility) in Missouri.

• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership in dental education or clinical administration.

• Experience in academic leadership, faculty development, curriculum management, and accreditation compliance.

• Commitment to student success and community engagement.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (MPH, EdD, MBA, PhD).

• Experience with rural or underserved populations.

• Familiarity with CODA accreditation.

• Scholarly activity or leadership in professional organizations.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and operational leadership

• Student- and patient-centered mindset

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Commitment to rural health and community engagement

• Ability to build and lead high-performing academic and clinical teams

Application & Additional Information

• Application Link: Apply Here

• Equal Opportunity Employer

• Comprehensive benefits package offered

About KCU:
Founded in 1916, KCU is a fully accredited, private not-for-profit health sciences university with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Biosciences, and a developing College of Dental Medicine. The university emphasizes education for underserved and rural populations and offers a variety of graduate degrees.