Job Description

For best consideration, complete applications should be received before April 10, 2026.

Complete information is available on the Search Profile

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.

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.

MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE

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.