Description
Chair & Associate/Full Professor,
Department of Occupational Therapy
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in partnership with the national search firm Scott Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Chair & Associate/Full Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy. The Department of Occupational Therapy chair position offers a unique opportunity to lead a newly developed academic department focused on educating clinical scholars and advancing excellence in occupational therapy and occupational science education, research, and community engagement.
This tenured associate/full professor, 12-month appointment serves as both academic leader and administrator, shaping the program’s future while advancing the university’s mission. The chair will maintain an active academic role through teaching, clinical education oversight, scholarship, and community partnerships, while fostering a culture of inquiry consistent with SIHS tenure and promotion standards. Working closely with the Dean of IHS, the chair will provide strategic leadership in curriculum innovation, faculty recruitment and mentorship, student admissions, accreditation compliance, and resource and budget management. The role also includes cultivating a positive, ethical, and productive departmental climate; promoting interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration; and contributing to university governance, professional service, and initiatives that strengthen the department, school, university, and the occupational therapy profession.
Responsibilities:
- Provide academic and administrative leadership for the Department of OT, including strategic planning, curriculum development, faculty mentorship, and resource management, guiding the department’s growth in alignment with the university’s mission and priorities.
- Foster a culture of inquiry consistent with SIHS tenure and promotion standards.
- Cultivate a positive, ethical, and productive departmental climate.
- Promote interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration.
- Contribute to university governance, professional service, and initiatives that strengthen the department, school, university, and the occupational therapy profession.
Required Qualifications:
- Post-professional doctoral degree (PhD, ScD, EdD, or equivalent) in occupational therapy, occupational science, rehabilitation Science, or a related or complementary health field from an institution accredited by a USDE-recognized regional accrediting body
- Eligibility for Occupational Therapist licensure in the State of Nevada
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with accreditation processes
- Leadership and management experience in higher education
- Experience in curriculum and course development and administration
- Professional organization representation throughout career tenure
- Demonstrated record of professional development
- Demonstrated skills in virtual, computer software, and AI environment
Required Experience:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 8 years of documented professional experience in occupational therapy encompassing the following areas:
Clinical and Professional Practice
- 8 years of clinical practice as a licensed occupational therapist
- Thorough understanding of the role and scope of practice of the occupational therapy assistant
Academic Experience
- Minimum of 4 years in a full-time academic appointment with full-time teaching responsibilities at the post-baccalaureate level
- Demonstrated scholarship through research, publications, presentations, and scholarship of application or teaching and learning
- Record of scholarly Productivity that meets SIHS tenure and promotion standards at the Associate or Full Professor level
Administrative Leadership
- Administrative experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation
- Experience in personnel management, including faculty and staff supervision and development
- Experience in budget development and fiscal management
About University of Nevada, Las Vegas:
University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public, urban research institution that holds the nation’s highest recognition for both research and community engagement from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching – R1, the gold standard for research institutions. These distinctions underscore UNLV’s vision to become one of the nation’s premier public universities for research, education, and community impact.
UNLV research is central to Nevada’s economic renaissance, increasing the availability of good-paying jobs and the secondary industries that support them. We put our expertise to work through projects and partnerships that solve challenges, create opportunities, and answer the profound questions of our time. UNLV research also directly translates to teaching, elevating student learning and bringing context to issues facing our state, nation, and world.
About the School of Integrated Health Sciences:
The School of Integrated Health Sciences is at University of Nevada, Las Vegas brings together impactful research and transformative education to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. With more than 3,900 degrees awarded since 2013, the School has built meaningful momentum while maintaining a strong focus on quality patient care and community impact. Its Physical Therapy program ranks in the top 25% nationally, reflecting both academic rigor and a commitment to clinical excellence.
Students benefit from integrated, hands-on curriculum in Physical Therapy, Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences, Health Physics and Diagnostic Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, and Applied Health Sciences. Working alongside respected faculty and researchers, students gain practical experience that bridges classroom learning with real-world application, preparing them for careers across healthcare and research settings.
About the Community:
Las Vegas is widely known for its world class entertainment, yet it also offers a dynamic and fast-growing community that extends well beyond the Strip. The region’s economy is anchored not only in tourism and conventions, but also in healthcare, technology, logistics, and a steadily expanding education sector, creating meaningful professional opportunities and cross sector collaboration. With no state income tax, a relatively moderate cost of living compared to many major metropolitan areas, and year-round sunshine, the area offers both quality of life and career opportunity. Residents enjoy vibrant arts and cultural programming at venues like The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, easy access to outdoor recreation at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and a growing network of civic and academic partnerships that foster innovation, research, and community engagement.
Application and Nomination Process:
All correspondence relating to the position of Chair & Associate/Full Professor, Department of Occupational Therapy at University of Nevada, Las Vegas should be directed in confidence to the University’s executive search consultant:
Christopher S. Healy, President
Scott Healy & Associates
A complete application should include the following:
1. Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
2. Updated CV;
3. Contact information for three (3) professional references with title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)
Applications received by April 13, 2026 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
The University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). Discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including unlawful harassment, which is a form of discrimination, is illegal under federal and state law. Where unlawful discrimination is found to have occurred, UNLV will act to stop the unlawful discrimination, to prevent its recurrence, to remedy its effects, and to discipline those responsible. Women, minorities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
