The University of South Dakota (USD) is pleased to invite nominations and applications for the position of Dean of the School of Health Sciences. Reporting to Tim Ridgway, MD, Vice President for Health Affairs and Dean of the Sanford School of Medicine, the Dean of the School of Health Sciences is responsible for providing administrative leadership for the academic, research, and public service missions of the school.
This position will be expected to focus on interprofessional and multidisciplinary health education concurrently at the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion, the USD campus in Sioux Falls, and the USD Sanford School of Medicine. The new dean also will be expected to champion the School of Health Sciences and work with the Vice President for Health Affairs, and others, to present a unified force in health education and workforce development for South Dakota.
The dean will advance the educational, research, and public service missions; manage its fiscal and human resources; promote excellence among faculty, staff, and students; and lay a vital role in fundraising and alumni relations. The dean also will promote and negotiate health care education to clinical and affiliated entities, as well as to community/state professionals and leaders, and will explore growth opportunities and manage budget and resource allocation. Importantly, the dean, in conjunction with faculty colleagues, will build and monitor strategic vision, guide academics and research, and, in all, will provide operational leadership to all aspects of the School of Health Sciences.
Further, the dean works in strong collaboration with colleague deans across the University of South Dakota and provides leadership for myriad clinical affiliates throughout the state and region.
The School of Health Sciences incorporates many of the most popular and fastest growing programs at USD at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Additionally, the School of Health Sciences is home to the Interprofessional Health Education Center, the Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment, and the South Dakota Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program.
The Leadership Profile, which includes additional information about the University of South Dakota and our application procedures, can be found above. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted through the AGB Search portal system accessible via this link by January 9, 2026. Please direct all nominations and expressions of interest to USDDeanSHS@agbsearch.com or contact the AGB search consultants listed below.
Garry Owens, Ph.D.
Senior Executive Search Consultant
garry.owens@agbsearch.com
Cody Futch
Principal
cody.futch@agbsearch.com
The University of South Dakota is committed to fostering a dynamic and welcoming working and learning environment for all. USD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ideological, political, or sectarian opinions or perspectives; or race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, national origin or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. USD is committed to the principles of free expression and encourages the timely and rational discussion of topics in an environment that is intellectually and ideologically diverse.
