Dean of the Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences

HOOD COLLEGE; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Hood College in Frederick, Maryland seeks a mission‑driven leader to serve as Dean of the Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences. The dean will oversee current programs, guide new academic offerings, and advance partnerships and resources in line with Hood’s strategic priorities.

Reporting to the provost, this 12-month, non-tenure-track administrative position coordinates with faculty and staff, promotes student‑centered outcomes, and helps grow enrollment while aligning

Qualifications

• Experience leading behavioral and health sciences programs.
• Strong fiscal management and fundraising ability.

Responsibilities

• Advance the profile and visibility of the School through its curriculum and academic programs (existing and new).
• Champion the School's fiscal needs and demonstrate sound administrative judgment in prioritizing resources.

Job description

Posting Details

• • Posted on November 9, 2026

Locations

Showing 1 location Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, MD 21701, USA

• On-site
• Administrative (5+)
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: DEANO002246
• Supervisor : Paige Eager

Description

Hood College seeks a mission-driven, innovative leader to serve as the Dean of the Ruth Whitaker Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences .

Establishing the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences was a priority of the College’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan ( For a Greater Hood ). Serving a large and highly interdisciplinary group of constituents, the dean will advance the vision for the Holmes School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, oversee the current programs in the School, guide the development of new academic programs, leverage partnerships to grow the School’s reputation and resources, and direct new initiatives in response to the College’s strategic priorities, as well as regional marketplace needs.

The projected start date for this position is no later than July 1, 2027.

This is a 12-month, non-tenure-track administrative position that serves a total of 32 full‑time faculty and staff, all of whom are student‑focused and deeply engaged in the academic life of the campus. The dean will report to the provost and will work in partnership with the larger campus community, academic leadership team, and external constituencies. The dean is evaluated annually based upon quantitative and qualitative criteria.

The School consists of undergraduate programs in nursing, sociology and social work, psychology , art therapy, and public health, as well as graduate programs in counseling , health informatics, nursing, nutrition, trauma, and thanatology. The DNP will tentatively launch in fall 2028.

Consistent with Hood’s College mission, the programs collectively housed in the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences are focused on preparing graduates to support and advocate for the needs of diverse communities by providing a holistic study of health and behavior as a continuum of physical, mental, and social well‑being. The School provides an interdisciplinary learning environment consistent with the College’s liberal arts foundation and applied through research and practice environments. For this position, we seek a dynamic, service‑oriented, forward‑thinking, and highly engaged leader with an interdisciplinary and holistic view of human health who will further strengthen and support the exceptional programs and faculty that comprise the School. They must embrace, equally, the significance of physical, psychological, and social impacts on human health, and reflect a deep understanding of the ways in which racial and social disparities impact access to necessary health services.

Essential Duties include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Overall, strategic priorities for the Dean will include:

• Advance the profile and visibility of the School through its curriculum and academic programs (both existing and new) that meet emerging needs in the behavioral and health science sector.
• Champion the fiscal needs of the School and demonstrate sound administrative judgment in prioritizing and allocating resources.
• Collaborate with department chairs to ensure the quality of the School’s academic programs through a student‑centered, outcomes‑based assessment practices focused on continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with other department and program leaders and the Provost to develop unique and relevant interdisciplinary programs.
• Deepen and further our partnerships in the local and regional community to recruit students to Hood’s programs, create internship and co‑operative arrangements, and ensure job placement upon graduation.
• Engage in undergraduate and/or graduate‑level teaching in their field of expertise, exhibiting superior pedagogical strategies.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with faculty and staff in each academic area of the School, with particular attention paid to chairs, program directors, and academic support staff.
• Grow undergraduate and graduate enrollment and maintain relevancy of all offerings within the school.
• Increase resources for the School by securing external funding, through working in close partnership with the College’s Office of