Director, Center of Excellence Search Prospectus THE POSITION: DIRECTOR, CENTER OF EXCELLENCE The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Public Health (UTSPH); The Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (TTUHSC-PLFSOM); and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) invite nominations and applications for the position of Director for the Center of Excellence. The Director will lead the development of and provide leadership for COE programs, recruit, mentor, supervise staff, and attract external funding for long-term sustainability of the Center of Excellence. The Director reports to the Provost who also serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at UTEP. SALARY: Competitive, based on experience and qualifications. The position comes with excellent fringe benefits. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie Research University (High Research Activity) with an elective classification of Community Engagement. It is an urban university offering bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to more than 22,000 students. A member of the University of Texas System (www.utsystem.edu), UTEP serves the Paso del Norte border region which includes far west Texas, southeast New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The student population closely mirrors the demographics of the region from which it draws over 90% of its students. About 76% of students are Hispanic. UTEP is an institution on the move! It has a national reputation as a leader in research, innovative educational initiatives, and community-based activities of special relevance to the US-Mexico border region and the Hispanic population. UTEP is recognized as a national model in demonstrating that a university with a fundamental commitment to Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc.
access and diversity can also achieve high levels of excellence in academic programs and research. In fact, UTEP has set a goal to become the first national research university in the United States that serves a 21st century demographic. The 21 st century demographic is the predominantly Mexican-American population of West Texas along with the Hispanic populations of Texas as a whole and the United States. The international and multicultural characteristics of the Paso del Norte provide faculty with unique opportunities to address the border region s most challenging health issues. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER-HOUSTON, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: At six campuses across Texas, The University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH) works to improve the state of public health in Texas every day. Each of the campuses is strategically placed to meet the public health education and research needs of the diverse populations across Texas. UTSPH is the only school of public health in the nation with regional campuses. The mission of The University of Texas School of Public Health (UTSPH) is to improve and sustain the health of people by providing the highest quality graduate education, research and community service for Texas, the nation, and the world; to provide quality graduate education in the basic disciplines and practices of public health; to extend the evidence base within those disciplines; and to assist public health practitioners, locally, nationally, and internationally, in solving public health problems. THE TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER-PAUL L. FOSTER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: At The Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (TTUHSC-PLFSOM) it is clear that life on the border is different than other parts of the country in terms of quality and quantity of health care, and the diseases that are prevalent in the area. Living on the border of a developing country gives insight to diseases and conditions affecting the lives of billions around the world. The mission of the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso is to provide exceptional opportunities for students, trainees, and physicians; to advance knowledge through innovative scholarship and research in medicine with a focus on international health and health care disparities; and to provide exemplary patient care and service to the entire El Paso Community and beyond. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 2
Candidates will appreciate El Paso s big skies, wide open vistas, sunny weather, affordable cost of living, friendly people, relaxed lifestyle, year-round outdoor recreational activities, excellent symphony orchestra, nationally recognized museum of art, and vibrant cultural scene. El Paso is ranked as one of the safest cities of its size in the United States. The unique blend of cultures and customs makes the city of just over 700,000 feel like a small town. THE PASO DEL NORTE HEALTH FOUNDATION: The Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) is one of the largest private foundations on the U.S./Mexico border. It was established in 1995 from the sale of the not-for-profit Providence Memorial Hospital to Tenet Healthcare Corporation. The Foundation s mission is to promote health and prevent disease in the region through leadership in health education, research and advocacy. The service region of the Foundation is a unique binational environment that stretches across two countries and three states and serves the 2.3 million people living in Dona Ana and Luna Counties in New Mexico; El Paso and Hudspeth Counties in Texas; and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. The Foundation works effectively across these boundaries in partnership and collaboration with other organizations to plan, and implement programs that promote health and prevent disease. As of today, the Foundation has committed nearly $112 million to more than 260 agencies in the region. THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE: The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, School of Public Health (UTSPH); The Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (TTUHSC-PLFSOM); and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF) have established a fourinstitutional partnership to create a Center of Excellence (COE) designed to serve as a widely recognized model, in and beyond the U.S., for advocacy of proper nutrition, healthy eating behaviors, and physical activity; promotion of effective programs and public policies; and dissemination of up-to-date, accurate, and reliable information for implementing into action related to nutrition and physical activity in the Paso del Norte region. The purpose of the proposed COE is to deploy innovative and sustainable mixed strategy solutions to ensure children and youth of the region maintain a healthy weight and strong body through physical activity and proper nutrition, by coordinating with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and unifying multidisciplinary expertise and resources of the three regional partner universities. The COE, facilitated Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 3
by the partner institutions and PdNHF, will lead community efforts for new things to do and new ways of doing translation and action to achieve better health for the region s children and youth. The proposed COE leadership for this planning phase will be shepherded by Dr. Junius Gonzales, an experienced and nationally recognized leader in creating and sustaining effective partnership teams across multiple sectors focused on adapting, disseminating, and implementing evidence-based practices to meet local needs. The partner Universities and Foundation recognize the critical need to combat the obesity epidemic faced by the young people of the nation and particularly of the U.S.- Mexico border region. To address this, the COE proposes a socio-ecological model of health to promote meaningful change in nutrition and physical activity in the region at five levels: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy. At the individual and interpersonal levels, the COE will work to change attitudes and social norms about physical activity and healthy eating and establish new fitness and nutrition family-based programs. At the organizational level, emphasis will be placed on physical activity and healthy food choices in workplaces, schools, and health provider settings. At the community level, the COE will advocate for such changes as the building of more neighborhood parks and playgrounds and increased availability and affordability of local, healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables. At the policy and environment level, the COE will focus on public policy change for improved physical activity and nutrition in the Paso del Norte region. The proposed COE will be led by a nationally known Director, an Executive Council chaired by Dr. Junius Gonzales, UTEP Provost, and includes representatives from each of the partner institutions. The COE will have an External Board of Advisors (BOA) that will ensure that the activities of the Center are consistent with its vision, goals, and objectives. The BOA will include regional and national leaders in nutrition, physical activity, and policy advocacy for children s and youth s health. The PdNHF will play a key role in shaping the Center s movement when a recognized director is in place. All four partners are committed to sustaining the Center of Excellence beyond Foundation funding. The partners academic programs naturally contribute to sustainability by educating a workforce that can continue to build the region s capacity to address healthy nutrition and physical activity promotion. The partner institutions are also committed to leveraging their resources, sponsored activities, and expertise to sustain the Center through securing external funding as well as committing their own resources. All partners are confident that sustainability beyond Foundation funding is achievable based on their successful record and growing portfolio of sponsored project activities. The four-institutional partnership is committed to planning the exciting development of the COE with a visionary director at its helm. One critical component, to be launched from the start with the COE Director s arrival is meaningful community engagement an often complex yet powerful vehicle for ensuring sustainability and change. The region has many community assets that can help achieve economies of scale, scope, and learning. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 4
OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE To fulfill the goal of reducing child overweight by 5% over five years VISION The vision of the proposed Center of Excellence (COE) is to be a national model for advocacy of proper nutrition, healthy eating behaviors, and physical activity; promotion of effective programs and public policies; and dissemination of up to date, accurate, and reliable information related to nutrition and physical activity in the Paso del Norte region and beyond. A special population of focus is children and adolescents. PURPOSE The purpose of the proposed Center of Excellence is to deploy innovative and sustainable mixed strategy solutions to ensure that children and youth of the region maintain a healthy weight and strong body through physical activity and proper nutrition, by coordinating with the Paso del Norte Foundation and unifying multidisciplinary expertise and resources of the three regional partner universities. (Texas Tech University Health Science Center, University of Texas at El Paso and University of Texas School of Public Health El Paso Regional Campus) THE POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The successful candidate will assume a key role in the design and implementation of innovative and sustainable mixed strategy solutions to ensure children and youth of the region maintain a healthy weight and strong body through physical activity and proper nutrition, by coordinating with the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and unifying multidisciplinary expertise and resources of the three regional partner universities. The successful candidate will be expected to work cooperatively with leaders across the community, including health, business, education, not-for-profit organizations, government and education. Assignment as Director, Center of Excellence and, depending on qualifications, may hold a faculty appointment in an academic department within the university. The Center Director will provide general direction and strategy and serve as the single point of contact with the PdNHF senior program officer. In addition, this person will design a strategy and coordinate with other organizations, the Executive Council, the HEAL Coalition, and other community leaders to promote COE initiatives. The COE will Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 5
be directed by a national leader who brings a history of success in moving a policy agenda related to children s health and specifically nutrition and physical activity. In addition to having world-class expertise in community-based health initiatives, it is highly desirable that the director has proven experiences as a team leader and implementer of transparent processes. Qualifications: An earned doctorate is required for appointment along with a sustained record of teaching excellence, scholarship, publication, extramural funding, policy advocacy and professional and community involvement and service. Preference is for at least five years of experience in health policy-related research and/ or academic programs in a university or government setting. The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate a successful record of (a) leadership in higher education and/or health services research administration; (b) fund-raising and grant development; and (c) program and policy development experience. The successful candidate will have strong organizational, personnel, budget, fiscal management, creative ideas and strategic planning skills. Further, he/she must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to establish collaborative relationships and programs with business, social, public and private community groups and organizations. The successful candidate must have the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff and students. The Center Director should be comfortable working with ambiguity and multiple community stakeholders. Speaking Spanish is a bonus, but not required. The Director needs to be able to provide leadership within the COE and also for community partners as research is translated in practice. The Director must be able to work with multiple political bodies, such as El Paso, to support policy change for healthy eating and active living. HOW TO APPLY: The Search Committee will accept confidential applications and nominations until the position is filled. Candidate screening will begin immediately. For best consideration, applications and nominations should be provided instantly. An application should include a letter describing relevant experiences and interest in the position; a resume; and the names of five references with titles, addresses, business and home telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. Individuals who wish to nominate a candidate should submit a letter of nomination, including the name, position, address and telephone number and email address of the nominee. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, an executive search firm, is assisting the universities in the search. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to: Jan Greenwood or Betty Turner Asher Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 42 Business Center Drive, Suite 206 Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850.650.2277 Fax: 850.650.2272 Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 6
E-mail: jangreenwood@greenwoodsearch.com bettyasher@greenwoodsearch.com For more information about The University of Texas at El Paso, The University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston School of Public Health (UTSPH), The Texas Tech University Health Science Center-Paul L. Foster School of Medicine and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation (PdNHF), please visit the following Web sites http://www.utep.edu/ https://sph.uth.tmc.edu/ http://www.ttuhsc.edu/fostersom/ http://www.pdnhf.org/ The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation in employment or the provision of services. Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. 7