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The Director of Rural Health Initiatives and Programs provides strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination for institution-wide rural health education, workforce development, outreach, and service initiatives. This role is responsible for advancing the University’s mission to improve health outcomes in rural communities—particularly across Iowa by developing sustainable education pathways, strengthening the rural healthcare workforce, expanding community partnerships, and securing external funding.

The Director serves as the central integrator across rural-focused programs, including but not limited to nursing workforce development, rural healthcare education pathways, simulation-based outreach, and transition-to-practice supports. The position requires deep expertise in rural health systems, health professions education, and cross-sector collaboration.

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Provide vision and strategic direction for a comprehensive portfolio of rural health initiatives spanning education, workforce, community outreach, and service.


• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of rural health programs that address workforce shortages, access to care, and health disparities in rural communities.


• Align rural health initiatives with institutional priorities, state workforce needs, and legislative or policy opportunities.


• Define and operationalize institutional standards for “rural” in education, scholarship, and service programs.

Workforce Development and Education

• Oversee initiatives that expand and support the rural healthcare workforce, including:
  
  
  
  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (ARNP/DNP and certificate) education pathways.
  
  
  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner training and hybrid delivery models.
  
  
  • Transition-to-practice and residency-style supports for providers entering rural practice.
  
  
  • Other rural health focused tracks such as the BSN or MSN-Entry into Practice.
  
  
  
  


• Develop scholarship programs targeted to students living, learning, or working in rural communities and ensure clear expectations, compliance, and outcome tracking.


• Support curricular and co-curricular programming focused on rural practice readiness (e.g., rural health seminars, clinic operations, community engagement).

Program Oversight and Integration

• Provide leadership and coordination for rural-focused pipeline programs such as:
  
  
  
  • Rural healthcare education programs (e.g., multi-year rural scholar initiatives).
  
  
  • Interprofessional rural learning experiences, mentoring, and rural clinical placements.
  
  
  
  


• Ensure consistency, sustainability, and integration across programs housed in different colleges, departments, and clinical partners.


• Guide development of regional and preceptor-based models that support rural learners and faculty.

Community Engagement and Outreach

• Strengthen partnerships with rural hospitals, clinics, critical access hospitals, first responders, public health agencies, and community organizations.


• Collaborate on state-wide and regional outreach initiatives, including mobile or simulation-based training programs for rural healthcare professionals and emergency responders.


• Serve as an ambassador for the institution’s rural health mission with community stakeholders, professional organizations, and policy leaders.

Funding, Grants, and Sustainability

• Identify, pursue, and steward external funding including state appropriations, federal grants, philanthropy, and corporate sponsorships.


• Lead or support development of business and sustainability plans for rural outreach and education programs.


• Provide accountability for grant deliverables, budgets, and reporting requirements.


• Collaborate with advancement and government relations teams on legislative and funding priorities related to rural health.

Evaluation, Outcomes, and Reporting

• Establish clear outcome measures tied to workforce expansion, rural placement, retention, and community impact.


• Monitor program effectiveness, learner outcomes, and return-on-investment for rural initiatives.


• Prepare reports, briefings, and presentations for institutional leadership, funders, and external partners.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise staff supporting rural health initiatives, scholarships, and program operations.


• Lead cross-college and interprofessional teams spanning nursing, medicine, public health, and clinical care.


• Serve as an internal consultative expert on rural health strategy, workforce policy, and program development.

• Earned doctorate in nursing or a doctorate in related field with a degree in nursing from an accredited school of nursing.

• Demonstrated expertise in rural health systems, workforce development, or health professions education.


• Current UI faculty or staff eligible for rank of associate professor or higher in the clinical or tenure track.


• Significant leadership experience managing complex programs, grants or initiatives.


• Strong record of collaboration with academic, clinical, and community partners.


• Acknowledged record of service and teaching success in a school or college of nursing.

• Current or eligible licensure as a Registered Nurse.


• Selected candidate must complete the State of Iowa Registered Nurse licensure prior to appointment.

• Experience working directly with rural or underserved communities.


• Knowledge of state and federal rural health policy, funding mechanisms, and workforce programs.


• Experience with applying for and receiving external funding.


• Experience in interprofessional education or academic health center environments.


• Evidence of professional productivity consisting of publications and scholarly presentations.


• Unmistakable evidence of National and or International recognition by peers.