Dean Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Dean roles at U.S. colleges and universities are among the most reliably sponsored academic leadership positions, with institutions regularly filing H-1B visa petitions and sponsoring permanent residence through PERM. Your doctoral credentials and administrative record are the foundation employers review before committing to sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsTitle: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Mennonite College of Nursing
Campus Location: Normal, IL
Job Summary
The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADA) provides strategic and operational leadership for the academic mission of MCN. Reporting to the dean of the college and working closely with program directors and lead coordinators, faculty, staff, and university partners, the ADA serves as the facilitator and coordinator for the program directors to ensure compliance with academic policies, manage program evaluation to ensure that Illinois State University (ISU) maintains high-quality academic programs, ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements, and serve as a champion and leader for excellence in instruction and curriculum design across all modalities of instructional delivery. The ADA serves as the chair of the Departmental Faculty Status Committee (DFSC) and thus leads all evaluations of annual performance portfolios and tenure and promotion cases. Additionally, the ADA provides leadership and oversight to the Simulation Learning Center. The ADA serves as a key member of the college’s leadership team and acts on behalf of the dean on academic matters as assigned.
University Benefit Highlights
- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time
Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/
Salary Rate / Pay Rate
$160K - $165K annual salary
Required Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in nursing or related field (master’s degree in nursing required if doctorate is not in nursing)
- Collegiate administrative and academic experience relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and administrators within the College and University
- Strong commitment to quality academic programming, student achievement, faculty development, and overall College and University success
- Proven potential for scholarly productivity and data analytical skills
- Rank of associate professor or professor required
- Licensed Registered Nurse, with license in Illinois (or eligible to be licensed in Illinois)
Preferred Qualifications
None
Work Hours
Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. Occasional evening and weekends as needed.
Functional Expectations
Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
- Effectively communicate on a daily basis.
- Remain at a workstation for extended periods.
- Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
Proposed Starting Date
July 2027
Required Applicant Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Reference list of at least 3 professional references with contact information
Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"
Contact Information for Applicants
Linda Haddad,
lghadd1@ilstu.edu
Important Information for Applicants
This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.
If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.
Title: Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: Mennonite College of Nursing
Campus Location: Normal, IL
Job Summary
The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADA) provides strategic and operational leadership for the academic mission of MCN. Reporting to the dean of the college and working closely with program directors and lead coordinators, faculty, staff, and university partners, the ADA serves as the facilitator and coordinator for the program directors to ensure compliance with academic policies, manage program evaluation to ensure that Illinois State University (ISU) maintains high-quality academic programs, ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation requirements, and serve as a champion and leader for excellence in instruction and curriculum design across all modalities of instructional delivery. The ADA serves as the chair of the Departmental Faculty Status Committee (DFSC) and thus leads all evaluations of annual performance portfolios and tenure and promotion cases. Additionally, the ADA provides leadership and oversight to the Simulation Learning Center. The ADA serves as a key member of the college’s leadership team and acts on behalf of the dean on academic matters as assigned.
University Benefit Highlights
- Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
- Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
- Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
- Paid holiday/administrative closures during Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks
- Paid benefit time
Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/
Salary Rate / Pay Rate
$160K - $165K annual salary
Required Qualifications
- Doctoral degree in nursing or related field (master’s degree in nursing required if doctorate is not in nursing)
- Collegiate administrative and academic experience relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and administrators within the College and University
- Strong commitment to quality academic programming, student achievement, faculty development, and overall College and University success
- Proven potential for scholarly productivity and data analytical skills
- Rank of associate professor or professor required
- Licensed Registered Nurse, with license in Illinois (or eligible to be licensed in Illinois)
Preferred Qualifications
None
Work Hours
Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm. Occasional evening and weekends as needed.
Functional Expectations
Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:
- Effectively communicate on a daily basis.
- Remain at a workstation for extended periods.
- Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work.
Proposed Starting Date
July 2027
Required Applicant Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Reference list of at least 3 professional references with contact information
Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"
Contact Information for Applicants
Linda Haddad,
lghadd1@ilstu.edu
Important Information for Applicants
This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.
Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.
If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.
See all 254+ Dean Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Dean roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Dean Jobs
Align your CV to U.S. accreditation standards
U.S. search committees expect CVs that foreground accreditation work, shared governance experience, and budget authority. Reframe your international administrative record using terminology that maps directly to what regional accreditors and provosts look for in Dean candidates.
Target institutions with cap-exempt H-1B status
Nonprofits affiliated with higher education qualify as cap-exempt employers, letting you start H-1B employment any time without waiting for the annual lottery. Research whether a prospective institution holds this status before applying so you understand the actual timeline.
Use Migrate Mate to find verified sponsoring universities
Filter Dean-level openings by employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history on Migrate Mate. Focusing on institutions that have sponsored academic administrators before cuts your outreach list to employers who already understand the process.
Request a PERM conversation during offer negotiation
Many universities bundle PERM labor certification into leadership offers because Dean roles are hard to fill domestically. Ask directly whether permanent residence sponsorship is on the table before you accept, since PERM timelines run 12 to 24 months and starting early matters.
Verify your prevailing wage category before the LCA is filed
Dean positions often fall under DOL wage Level III or IV. Run your offer title and location through OFLC Wage Search to confirm the prevailing wage before your employer files the LCA, so there's no last-minute salary adjustment that delays certification.
Secure your credential evaluation before the search begins
If your terminal degree was earned outside the U.S., get a course-by-course evaluation from a NACES-member service. USCIS and your employer's immigration counsel will both require it, and delays in evaluation routinely push back petition timelines by weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Dean roles qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Dean positions qualify as H-1B specialty occupations because they require at least a master's or doctoral degree in a directly related field such as education, public administration, or the academic discipline the dean oversees. Most U.S. universities are cap-exempt nonprofits, meaning they can sponsor H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery and at any point in the year.
Will a university sponsor permanent residence for a Dean?
Many do, particularly for hard-to-fill leadership roles. Universities typically sponsor green cards through the EB-2 or EB-3 employment-based categories, which require PERM labor certification filed with DOL. Some senior Dean roles may qualify for EB-1B extraordinary ability or outstanding professor status, which bypasses PERM entirely and can significantly shorten the timeline.
What degree level does USCIS require for a Dean on an H-1B?
USCIS requires that the position normally requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a specific specialty, but in practice most U.S. universities require a doctoral degree for Dean-level roles. The stronger and more consistent that degree requirement is across comparable institutions, the stronger the specialty occupation case. O*NET confirms that graduate-level education is standard for postsecondary education administrators at this level.
How do I find universities actively sponsoring Dean positions?
Search Migrate Mate for Dean openings filtered by employers with verified sponsorship history. This shows you institutions that have filed H-1B LCAs for academic leadership roles, so you can focus your applications on universities that already know how to run the process rather than those where sponsorship is uncertain.
Can a Dean on H-1B status pursue a green card simultaneously?
Yes. The H-1B carries dual intent, meaning you can pursue permanent residence while holding H-1B status without jeopardizing your nonimmigrant visa. Universities can begin PERM labor certification at any point during your H-1B period. If your I-140 petition is approved and a priority date becomes current, you can file for adjustment of status while continuing to work as Dean.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Dean jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.