Job Description
About Sacred Heart University
As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.
About Sacred Heart University:
As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science & Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition, and Best Business Schools: 2024 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu
Job Title: Program Director and Department Chair, Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor, Dental Hygiene
Department: Dental Hygiene
Reports To: Dean, College of Health Professions
Anticipated Start Date: August 2026
Contract Length: 12-months
About the College of Health Professions:
The College of Health Professions (CHP) at Sacred Heart University prepares students for meaningful careers in today’s dynamic healthcare environment through inclusive, collaborative, and experiential learning. With state-of-the-art facilities and a strong emphasis on interprofessional education, CHP offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the clinical and health sciences. Students gain hands-on experience through advanced simulation, clinical placements, and global service-learning. Guided by the University's mission, the College fosters excellence, compassion, and a commitment to social justice, community, and the common good.
The College of Health Professions invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure-track faculty position as the founding Program Director for the BS in Dental Hygiene Program. The successful candidate will also serve as Chair of the Dental Hygiene Department and provide academic, clinical, and administrative leadership for this newly established program and department, guiding its development, launch, and ongoing effectiveness, including attainment and maintenance of Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The Director ensures integration of didactic, laboratory, and clinical education; oversees curriculum design and assessment; oversees operation of the dental clinic; develops and sustains clinical education partnerships; and leads faculty recruitment and supervision to ensure high-quality program delivery, student success, and alignment with workforce needs. Faculty rank will be commensurate with qualifications.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Program Leadership, Administration & Accreditation
• Provide overall leadership, administration, and strategic direction for the BS in Dental Hygiene program.
• Lead program development, implementation, and continuous evaluation to ensure alignment with institutional mission, workforce needs, and accreditation standards.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with CODA accreditation standards and oversee all accreditation activities, including reporting, self-study preparation, and site visits in collaboration with institutional leadership.
• Develop, implement, and maintain program policies, procedures, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Collaborate with college leadership on budgeting, staffing, enrollment planning, and resource allocation.
• In collaboration with the clinical coordinator, serve as a liaison with clinical affiliates, healthcare partners, and advisory stakeholders to support program quality and clinical placement capacity.
• In collaboration with the clinical coordinators and dental staff, oversee the operation of the dental clinic, including overseeing patient standards, staff management, budgeting, equipment maintenance and procurement, inventory, HIPAA compliance, infection control, and regulatory compliance to deliver high-quality, patient-centered clinical training.
• Support student recruitment, admissions processes, and community engagement efforts to promote program visibility and sustainability.
Curriculum, Assessment, & Academic Oversight
• Oversee development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a competency-based curriculum across didactic, laboratory, and clinical education components in alignment with University and CODA standards.
• Ensure curriculum alignment with accreditation standards, professional certification expectations, and workforce needs.
• Develop policies, manuals, and student handbooks.
• Coordinate course scheduling, sequencing, and faculty assignments to support effective program delivery.
• In collaboration with the clinical coordinator, engage in clinical education planning and evaluation in collaboration with clinical sites and clinical instructors.
• Direct systematic program assessment and continuous quality improvement processes using student learning outcomes, clinical performance data, and credentialing results.
• Monitor program effectiveness indicators, including retention, progression, completion, and certification pass rates.
Academic & Professional Responsibilities
• Recruit, supervise, retain, and evaluate program faculty and clinical instructors, ensuring instructional quality and consistency with program standards.
• Provide instructional leadership in collaboration with faculty to support curriculum development, assessment, and revision.
• Teach within the program as appropriate, utilizing effective, evidence-based, and student-centered instructional approaches.
• Advise and mentor students regarding academic progression, clinical performance, and professional development.
• Address student concerns and academic issues in alignment with university policies and student success standards.
• Foster a student-centered learning environment that promotes professionalism, clinical competence, and ethical practice.
• Maintain current expertise and professional competence through continuing professional education.
• Engage in service and scholarly activities consistent with the discipline and faculty expectations.
• Fulfill the roles and responsibilities of a clinical faculty member as outlined in the Faculty Handbook.
Required Qualifications:
• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Graduate of a CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene program or equivalent preparation.
• Current Connecticut licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), or eligible.
• Current state of Connecticut local anesthesia certificate.
• Demonstrated strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and processes or demonstrated ability to rapidly assume accreditation leadership responsibilities.
• Familiarity with infection control, OSHA, and HIPAA requirements.
• Minimum of three years full-time clinical experience as a dental hygienist.
• Minimum of two years teaching or clinical instruction experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, student assessment, and educational theory.
• Experience with supervision, instruction, and evaluation of students in clinical settings.
• Experience in the operations of an on-campus dental clinic.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Prior experience as a program director, clinical coordinator, or other relevant formal academic leadership role.
• Evidence of scholarly activity, professional engagement, and/or leadership in the field.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements:
This position requires on-campus presence, with occasional evening or weekend responsibilities. The work may involve standing for extended periods, use of standard classroom and discipline specific laboratory and clinical technologies, and interaction with students and university personnel.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
All applications must be submitted through the University’s online application portal; materials submitted via email or other means will not be accepted or considered. Only complete applications will be reviewed.
Interested applicants, please submit the following materials via this online portal:
• Cover letter addressing the applicant’s specific qualifications for this position
• Curriculum vitae/resumé
• Written statement (maximum of two pages) that describes the applicant’s teaching philosophy and approach, specifically addressing how their teaching practices support the University’s Mission.
• Contact information for three professional references
◦ References will only be contacted if the candidate is invited for an on-campus interview. Letters of recommendation will also be requested from finalists
For questions about the application process, please contact Stephanie Clines, PhD, LAT, ATC, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for the College of Health Professions, at cliness@sacredheart.edu.
Review of applications will begin on June 22 and continue until the position is filled.
Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.
Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.
