Dean

The University of Louisville (UofL) is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and inspirational leader to serve as the next Dean of the School of Dentistry. This is an exciting opportunity for a distinguished scholar and educator to guide a thriving dental school into the future, shaping the future of oral health education, research, and clinical care for Kentucky and beyond.

Reporting to Executive Vice President and University Provost, the Dean of Dentistry serves as the chief academic officer of the School, overseeing its educational programs, research enterprise, clinical operations, and community engagement efforts. This is a role for a leader who is not just looking to manage, but to innovate and inspire—someone ready to champion cutting-edge research, expand patient care access, and elevate ULSD’s impact on the national stage. The next Dean will have the opportunity to build on ULSD’s legacy of excellence while forging new pathways in dental education, advanced technology integration, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Founded in 1887, the School of Dentistry has a long-standing tradition of preparing highly skilled dental professionals, advancing research in oral and craniofacial health, and delivering critical dental services to underserved populations through its extensive clinical network. The School operates with an annual budget of $77 million, supporting its academic, clinical, and research enterprises. The School’s Doctor of Dental Medicine, Dental Hygiene, and Advanced Specialty programs offer cutting-edge training in digital dentistry, biomaterials, and interprofessional healthcare delivery. With state-of-the-art facilities, a strong research foundation, and expanding clinical and community programs, ULSD provides a platform for a leader eager to drive transformational change in the field.

The next Dean will inherit a school that is poised for significant growth and innovation, with the potential to expand research initiatives, build strategic industry and community partnerships, and enhance the student experience through forward-thinking curricula and experiential learning opportunities. ULSD enjoys strong institutional support, a dynamic faculty, and deep connections to the broader healthcare community—ensuring that the new Dean will have the resources, backing, and talent necessary to achieve bold ambitions.

This is a moment of tremendous potential. The next Dean of the School of Dentistry will have the chance to lead a thriving, forward-looking institution at a research powerhouse in a vibrant and growing city. For an innovative and passionate leader, ULSD offers the ideal platform to shape the future of dental education, research, and patient care while making a lasting impact on oral health in Kentucky and beyond.

Inquiries, referrals, and resumes accompanied by a cover letter will be held in strict confidence and should be submitted electronically below. 

Dan Rodas is leading this search with Sam Ruth, Ibaad Nazeer, and Rachel Banderob.