Kneedler Distinguished Scholar/Professor - FNP - #140586

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is at the WCU Biltmore Park Instructional Site in Asheville, NC.

The School of Nursing ( SON) at Western Carolina University invites accomplished and visionary scholars to apply for the Mary Kneedler Distinguished Scholar/Professor position in the Family Nurse Practitioner ( FNP) program.

This is a 12-month position, tenured at hire, at the rank of associate professor (Distinguished Scholar) or full professor (Distinguished Professor). The distinguished scholar/professor designation is for an initial five-year term, renewable for additional terms at the discretion of the Dean of the Health and Human Sciences. Anticipated begin date is August 2025.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and scholarly accomplishments. We seek a dynamic leader committed to directing and advancing the FNP program into the future, with a strategic vision aligning with our mission and regional healthcare needs. The selected candidate may be hired into the Program Director role.

The distinguished scholar/professor will provide leadership in curriculum development, program innovation, and strategic planning to elevate the FNP program's impact. This role involves delivering high-quality instruction and mentorship across classroom, clinical, and simulation settings while fostering an environment of academic rigor and student engagement. The individual will be responsible for program leadership and oversee student admissions, mentor faculty and students, and lead efforts to maintain and enhance the program's academic excellence. The distinguished professorship provides a competitive salary, a stipend, and a professional development fund, which is replenished annually.

The distinguished scholar/professor is expected to write grant proposals and pursue external funding. The individual will demonstrate a commitment to the Boyer Model of Scholarship, promoting integration of teaching, research, and service. The distinguished scholar/professor will engage in scholarly activities that address health disparities and contribute to Western Carolina University's mission of engaged and integrated learning, as well as the stewardship of place.

This role also includes active involvement in service and leadership within the School, College, and University. The distinguished scholar/professor will play a crucial role in establishing strategic partnerships, securing resources to support program growth, and driving initiatives that position the FNP program as a leader in nursing education. The candidate should possess a forward-thinking approach to education and a commitment to collaboration across disciplines.

The WCU School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education ( CCNE) and features cutting-edge facilities on the Cullowhee campus and at the Biltmore Park instructional site in Asheville, North Carolina. Our FNP program is well integrated into diverse clinical environments, providing opportunities to impact healthcare delivery across rural and urban communities in the region.

Western Carolina University seeks a distinguished FNP leader dedicated to academic excellence, visionary leadership, and the advancement of nursing practice through education and research.

WCU embraces its role as a regionally engaged university and is designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a community engaged university. Preference will be given to candidates who can demonstrate a commitment to public engagement through their teaching, service, and scholarship

Prefer two years teaching experience at the BSN level or higher.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include cover letter, curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts from highest degree earned* and a list of three professional references with full contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Terri Durbin, Director - School of Nursing, at tdurbin@email.wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as "Degree Awarded," "Degree Conferred," or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program.
Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.