Description

The University of Oklahoma Health Campus (OUHC)

The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing

Executive Director of Experiential Learning

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist the University of Oklahoma Health Campus, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, in its search for Executive Director of Experiential Learning. 

For full consideration, please apply by January 12, 2026.

Join one of the nation’s premier academic health centers and shape the future of nursing education across a growing, multi-campus system, as Executive Director of Experiential Learning (Executive Director). The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus (OUHC) offers an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished leader in simulation and experiential learning to provide impact at scale, spanning five (soon to be six) learning sites and engaging in transformative interprofessional collaboration across health disciplines. This is a pivotal leadership role for someone who brings both executive-level perspective and hands-on simulation expertise to elevate excellence in teaching, learning, and innovation.

OU’s College of Nursing is nationally recognized for its innovative simulation programs, having earned INACSL Standards Endorsement, the only program in Oklahoma and one of just a few worldwide to achieve this distinction. The Executive Director, working under the leadership of Dean Craft, will have the support of a highly skilled core faculty and oversight of the simulation and lab operating budget, providing a strong foundation to advance simulation-based learning and educational innovation. The College continues to make significant investments in simulation and laboratory infrastructure, including a recent $4 million lab refurbishment and ongoing upgrades across all sites. Programs have also been expanded to meet Oklahoma’s health care workforce needs, including the state’s first public university CRNA track and a shortened accelerated BSN program. The College’s research profile is rising as well. OU secured $75.2 million in NIH funding for FY 2024, moving up to 102nd among 2,838 institutions nationwide in NIH rankings. It is one of only a few comprehensive academic health centers in the country that consolidates all seven health professions colleges, offering rich opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall quality, strategy, and implementation of simulation and experiential learning across all OU College of Nursing locations. They provide strategic leadership for experiential learning within the undergraduate and graduate programs, oversee operational and administrative functions including the budget and nancial planning; grants and contracts; employee management, development, and engagement; internal and external communication; and implement policies, procedures, and programs in support of college objectives and to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of daily operations, administrative affairs and support, and stakeholder engagement. The Executive Director will collaborate with the Assistant Deans of Academic Affairs, Program Directors, the Associate Dean for Research and PhD Studies, the Executive Director of Student Affairs, the Experiential Learning staff, and other college leadership and membership as appropriate.

This is a 12-month faculty position reporting to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. It carries approximately 80% administrative release time, negotiated annually based on the demands of the role and the needs of the College.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teaching/Learning

• Oversee Experiential Learning for both Undergraduate and Graduate Programs at all College of Nursing sites
• Collaborate with Assistant Deans and faculty to develop educational innovations in clinical simulation
• Support and guide clinical education faculty related to their faculty appointment, teaching assignments, etc., as related to experiential learning; Anticipates and requests additional faculty hires as needed to support simulation processes

• Student Support

• Collaborate with Department Chairs, Academic Affairs, and Student Affairs to ensure an excellent student experience that prepares graduates to succeed in meeting their life and career goals, consistent with student experience

• Operations

• In collaboration with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, develop and manage the budget for experiential learning
• Ensure nancial accountability for operating budget and capital purchases for clinical simulation enterprise
• Oversee simulation operations on all learning sites, including the development of new sites
• Analyze and report relevant data to the College Dean, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, and standing committees as needed
• Participate in ongoing evaluation and improvement of the simulation program
• Ensure compliance with relevant safety, regulatory, and accreditation standards, including maintaining documentation and records as required
• Oversee the development and delivery of ongoing professional development related to simulation and experiential learning

• University, Campus, and Community Relations

• Demonstrate effective, collaborative, and civil communication patterns with students, stakeholders, faculty, and staff
• Lead simulation-based research to demonstrate the impact of simulation on practice and patient outcomes

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• A strong and demonstrated commitment to integrating the clinical mission in the academy
• Proven ability to provide leadership in a complex environment
• Demonstrated leadership and effectiveness in building strong working relationships with a collaborative style
• Enjoy interacting with people and the ability to easily connect with faculty and staff in the College and University, across disciplines, and among external entities in the community
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a welcoming faculty, staff, and student environment as a faculty member
• Evidence of successful collaborations with community partners and faculty teams in an academic setting; effective communication skills; knowledge of nursing academic curricula and programs; ability to plan and conduct effective meetings
• Demonstrated ability to be engaging and persuasive with strong teamwork skills; politically astute, diplomatic, and able to manage by influence
• Flexible and capable of responding to multiple demands in a time-sensitive manner
• Ability to exercise professional judgment in all matters related to academic affairs
• Proficient with MS Office applications, learning management software, and other technology used in teaching, research, and practice

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate degree in Nursing and a Terminal Degree in Nursing, Health, Science, or Social Science related field
• Eligible for or hold a current registered nurse license for the State of Oklahoma
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical practice experience for licensed applicants
• Faculty teaching in advanced practice programs (NP, CNS, or CRNA) must hold appropriate specialty certification and have a minimum of one (1) year of advanced practice registered nurse experience in the specialty
• Certification as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience teaching at a school or college of Nursing
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in Healthcare Simulation leadership

Faculty teaching in the PhD Program must meet the OUHC Graduate College faculty appointment guidelines for Associate Member or Full Member Appointment at level 3 or 4 authority.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A record of scholarship and extramural funding

About OUHC

The mission of the University of Oklahoma Health Campus, as a comprehensive academic health center, is to educate students, residents, and other trainees in professional and graduate programs to become Oklahoma’s future team of healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers, and educators; to advance distinctive basic, translational, clinical, and population research; to innovate and commercialize discoveries; and to deliver exceptional patient care across the full breadth of adult, women’s, and children’s specialties. OUHC is the State of Oklahoma's major health professions educational institution, training physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, public health specialists, and a wide range of allied health personnel. 

OUHC has a total operating budget over $900 million (FY 2025). It employs over 4,500 faculty and staff (full- and part-time) and enrolls nearly 3,900 students across its health sciences programs. It is one of only a few comprehensive health centers in the nation with seven health professional Colleges. The College of Medicine is the centerpiece of a 300-acre campus of the Oklahoma Health Center, which also includes the Colleges of Allied Health, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Graduate College. 

OUHC faculty and students use the clinical, laboratory, and teaching facilities of the OU Medical System (which includes OU Medical Center, the Children's Hospital, and OU Medical Center-Edmond), the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Dean A. McGee Eye Institute, other affiliated hospitals in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, three major hospital systems in Tulsa, the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Muskogee, and clinics in various locations in Oklahoma. 

Research grants and contracts and sponsored program activities at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus totaled more than $217 million in FY 2024. 

About the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing  

In 2023, OU’s Fran & Earl Ziegler College of Nursing was awarded more than $2.7 million through two HRSA federal grants designed to address both the nursing and nurse-faculty shortages in Oklahoma. Concurrently, the College received a seven-year, $10.5 million NIH award to launch the CIRCLE (Center for Indigenous Resilience, Culture, and Maternal Health Equity) research center. This initiative partners with Indigenous communities to investigate maternal health disparities, honor Indigenous cultural frameworks, and ultimately advance equitable health outcomes.

Bolstered by this momentum, the College has dramatically scaled its operations. By 2024, all qualified BSN applicants have been accepted for multiple consecutive cycles, nearly doubling historical enrollment. Faculty numbers have grown and new or renovated facilities, including a 14,200-sq-ft simulation center and upgraded labs across multiple sites, are now in place. OU is home to the largest nursing program in Oklahoma with sites in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, Duncan, and Norman.

In September 2023, the OU Board of Regents authorized renovations to nursing facilities and academic spaces to accommodate this surge. More recently, in September 2025, the Regents approved further enhancements: The creation of a CRNA track at a public institution, the shortening of the accelerated BSN program to 12 months, and continuation of the policy to accept all qualified BSN applicants—now in its fourth consecutive year.

The college’s research reputation has grown too: OU Health Campus announced $75.2 million in NIH funding for FY 2024, lifting its ranking among biomedical institutions to 102 of 2,838. Rising graduate numbers highlight the College’s strengthened role in preparing nurses to meet the state’s pressing healthcare needs by strengthening Oklahoma’s healthcare workforce.

Living in the Area

Oklahoma City, the capital and largest city in the state, is a vibrant hub of history, culture, and entertainment. With a population of 675,000, Oklahoma City serves as a major center for the oil industry and related manufacturing while offering a welcoming, community-oriented atmosphere.

Residents and visitors alike can spend the day exploring powerful landmarks such as the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum or admire world-class collections at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy — from sailing or biking around Lake Hefner to uncovering the city’s rich cowboy heritage through guided tours. For those seeking adventure beyond the city limits, the Black Mesa Nature Preserve and Little Sahara State Park offer breathtaking scenery and off-road excitement.

Known affectionately as “The Big Friendly,” Oklahoma City lives up to its name. Its residents are among the most welcoming in the nation — ranking fifth in volunteer rate and second in volunteer hours among the 51 largest U.S. cities (Volunteering in America). Add in a cost of living that’s 15.6% lower than the national average, and it’s easy to see why Oklahoma City is such a great place to live, work, and grow.

To Apply 

For full consideration, please apply by January 12, 2026.

To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjyemdfs

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to OUEDExperientialLearning@acesrch.com.

Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com. 

Institutional Information

The University, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/expression (consistent with applicable law), age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Institutional Equity Office at www.ou.edu/eoo.