CRSHE Director

Department Summary

The Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver is accepting applications for an Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs. The Morgridge College of Education is a graduate professional school dedicated to creating positive change by unleashing the power of learning. The college infuses social justice diversity and inclusion across its advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction counseling psychology early childhood special education education leadership and public policy higher education research methods and library information science school counseling school psychology and teacher preparation. Morgridges mission is to be a force for positive change in the lives of individuals organizations and communities by preparing highly competent socially responsible ethical and caring professionals; engaging in learning partnerships; contributing high-quality research; and modeling excellence in all our educational programs.

Position Summary

The University of Denvers Morgridge College of Education invites applications for Director of The Center for Rural School Health & Education (CRSHE) from a qualified internal candidate. This positon will begin April 1 2026.

The Center for Rural School Health & Education in theUniversity of Denver Morgridge College of Educationisdedicated to partnering with rural schools to improve health and education projects are created and implemented in close collaboration with community partners and resources are developed in response to expressed community needs and interests.

All CRSHE initiatives embody principles of social justice racial equity and community engagement and contribute to the vision of all children youth and adults in rural communities living healthy meaningful lives. We conduct research to identify tailored solutions to achieve health and education equity in rural schools and communities.

CRSHE provides the following services:

1. Strategic planning and support for implementing changes
2. Training technical assistance and professional learning communities
3. Convening funders University and community partners
4. Research and evaluation
5. Grant writing and management support
6. Community-based participatory research workshops

The Center employs a highly collaborative leadership style: The Director reports to the leader of the Morgridge College of Education (MCE). The Director leads the CRSHE Leadership Team which meets weekly to provide its best thinking across all areas of the Center. Collaboration and inclusion is highly valued. The Leadership Team supports all Center projects and initiatives whether or not individuals are directly assigned to the projects. This creates a sense of shared ownership and mutual investment; it also positions Leadership Team members to speak broadly about Center activities to partners. As recipients of this collaboration and inclusion we extend invitations to each other for co-authorship co-PIship etc.

Essential Functions

The Interim Director supports the Center vision mission focus areas services and resources by overseeing the following essential functions: Center identity partnership development and funding. Most or all activities are accomplished collaboratively with the Center Leadership Team. Each area is described in detail below.

Center Identity

1. Convene and facilitate the CRSHE Leadership Team in establishing and accomplishing Center operations related to administration research community outreach and services community resources and services and virtual learning
2. Spearhead PR opportunities

Partnership Development

1. Develop and maintain local state and national partnerships
2. Cultivate relationships and conduct community meetings to better understand rural school priorities and needs
3. Develop and maintain DU partnerships within and outside of Morgridge
4. Represent the Center on boards collaboratives and other initiatives

Funding

1. Create a diverse and sustainable funding portfolio by:
   1. Submitting research and programmatic grant proposals
   2. Finding funding mechanisms to sustain successful initiatives
   3. Strengthening and sustaining relations with donors and funders in partnership with the Morgridge Director of Development and MCE leadership

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Center Identity

• Visionary and big picture thinker
• Positive public personae with positive reputation and strong track record in publishing grant acquisition and partnership development
• Knowledgeable about CRSHE
• Structured thinker (especially for developing systems and procedures)
• Strong local state and national connections
• Able to align Center with MCE and DU strategic plans
• Knowledge of funding trends and how to strategically position the Center
• Is respected by DU and external partners
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Funding Acquisition

• Successful track record in large grant acquisition
• Knowledgeable about grant opportunities and trends at DU state and national levels
• Strong relationships with funders and donors
• Able to propose compelling ideas to funders
• Able to develop and track grant proposal work plans across Center wide initiatives
• Able to coordinate a team to submit large applications including knowledge of the different components of a grant proposal
• Able to mentor faculty in grant writing
• Able to present self effectively at galas and other fundraising activities
• Knowledgeable of mixed methods research rural school health and education literature and gaps that need to be addressed

Partnership Development

• Skilled at building meaningful partnerships with rural communities schools and organizations
• Networked in DU at the state and nationally
• Has a positive reputation locally at the state nationally and globally
• Able to travel
• Highly interpersonal and multilingual (e.g. community/academic audiences)
• Strong communication skills
• Deep knowledge of rural community needs
• Establish collaborations with MCE faculty
• Explore opportunities and collaborate with faculty across DU
• Establish partnerships and generate programmatic ideas with state and regional level organizations such as CASB CDE Colorado Rural Schools Alliance Colorado BOCES Superintendent Advisory Councils BOCES directors and schools

Required Qualifications

• PhD in education social sciences public health or related area
• Experience writing and receiving federal state foundation grants
• Experience leading teams in fundraising and programmatic initiatives
• Deep knowledge of rural school health and education

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior Center director experience or equivalent leadership experience

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Application Deadline
For consideration please submit your application materials by 5:00 p.m. (MST) April 11 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Range:

The annual stipend is $20000. In addition $7000 will be provided annually to support the operations and activities of CRSHE.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate departmental budget availability internal salary equity considerations and available market information but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits including medical dental retirement paid time off tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.