The University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an accomplished, caring, and energetic leader to become the next Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students (herein referred to as the “Dean of Students”). This leader will join a strong and dedicated team committed to students’ intellectual, personal, and social development and to their physical and psychological well-being.
The Dean of Students is central to creating and nurturing opportunities for students to be hands-on leaders through UVA’s unique system of student self-governance. They will play a key role in preserving student self-governance and the Honor System, both foundational underpinnings of the UVA experience, while charting new ground in preparing and empowering UVA students to become tomorrow's leaders.
Serving as a strategic thought partner to UVA’s Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer, Kenyon Bonner, the Dean of Students will be a key member of the senior leadership team in this student-facing role. They will bring to UVA a strong reputation of exceptional leadership, management, and team development and will have the ability to foster trust across all levels of the institution. Above all, they will have an overwhelming and enthusiastic commitment to students.
Broadly, the Division of Student Affairs advocates for students and supports their development as citizen-leaders. Six core values guide the work of Student Affairs in serving both undergraduate and graduate students: academic rigor, honor, student self-governance, service, wellness, and diversity.
In November 2023, UVA named Kenyon Bonner as the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer. Since beginning the position on January 16, 2024, VP Bonner has emphasized key elements of the University’s 2030 Plan as important guideposts for the division of student affairs, including:
- Recruiting and supporting exceptionally talented, diverse, and service-oriented students, regardless of their economic circumstances.
- Promoting a culture of integrity, mutual respect, excellence, and collaboration.
- Strengthening an inclusive community of trust that consistently lives its values and supports belonging.
- Preparing students to be servant-leaders in a diverse, globally connected world.
- Providing outstanding student health and wellness care and support.
- Approaching learning as an opportunity for discovery.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer, the Dean of Students provides senior leadership and managerial direction for a fifty-person organization made up of the following student services:
- Office of African-American Affairs
- Rotunda and University Events
- Fraternity & Sorority Life
- Multicultural Student Services
- Orientation & Transition Programs
- Hoos First
- Student Engagement
- Event Management
The University’s intention is to cultivate the most vibrant community in higher education; support exceptionally talented, diverse, and service-oriented students, regardless of their economic circumstances; and prepare students to be servant-leaders in a diverse, globally connected world. The Office of the Dean of Students fulfills these goals by facilitating a student experience that builds community and belonging; challenges and supports students to explore and build skills; and fosters a safe environment that promotes student well-being.
KEY PRIORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and Management
- Provide strategic leadership and vision for the team reporting to the Dean of Students, in coordination with the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer and the broader Division of Student Affairs leadership team.
- Recruit, develop, and mentor staff to achieve stated goals; promote collaboration and mutual care and support throughout the Dean of Student’s direct reports and the entire Division.
- Manage the associated operations, including planning, personnel, and budget.
- Support fundraising efforts in partnership with the VPSA, Office of Advancement, and other University leaders.
- Maintain open communications with the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer to share information and engage in issue-spotting and creative problem solving to benefit the University community.
- Stay informed and educate the University community and stakeholders regarding issues and trends affecting the student experience and student affairs practice generally.
- Proactively identify opportunities to apply an entrepreneurial mindset, innovation, and creativity to address areas for improvement and growth.
- Play a key role in divisional planning, resource allocation, and policy formulation, ensuring compliance with federal and state laws including those which govern students' rights.
- Work collaboratively with units, departments, schools, and stakeholders within and outside the University to enhance the student experience.
- Represent the Vice President at meetings and events as needed; serve as chair or member of University, Vice Presidential, ad-hoc, and other committees.
Student Experience
- Together with the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer and other colleagues, serve as an advocate for and liaison between students and University leadership. Advise and help problem-solve with students, staff and faculty, families, and others as needs arise.
- Design processes, practices, and programmatic interventions that empower the team to facilitate a vibrant, world-class student experience for all University students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional).
- Serve as an engaging and approachable leader who earns the trust and respect of students. Enrich on-campus life and social engagement for students of all backgrounds.
- Facilitate collaboration across all personnel and students to provide opportunities for students and student organizations to enhance a sense of community and belonging at the University.
- Engage personnel in promoting student involvement in university life, including supporting students in fulfilling the responsibilities delegated to them by the Board of Visitors and student self-governance, by creating a range of opportunities for students to partner with student affairs and other stakeholders to achieve goals and develop skills.
- Actively support a community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion, and expect the same from all personnel.
- Serve as a key leader who maintains a calm demeanor in determining the University's crisis response and follow up, including outreach and support to students and their families.
- Promote and support opportunities and interactions that expose students to different experiences and viewpoints and that provide them with an opportunity to learn.
- Help determine and sustain policies and practices which promote a safe environment for students, and that support students' general well-being.
UVA’s Dean of Students will be an experienced, student-centered, and energetic leader who embraces forward-thinking strategies to anticipate students’ needs and support their wellbeing. They will be a collaborator and relationship-builder, expected to lead an accomplished and deeply experienced team, and work successfully with a wide range of constituencies across the University and the community. The Dean of Students will bring a passion for working with students and thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The successful candidate will actively promote the values and practices of inclusion, diversity, equity, and belonging.
The ideal candidate will have the following experience and characteristics:
- A master’s degree in a related field and a minimum of ten years of experience in roles demonstrating increasing levels of leadership in complex, demanding, higher education environments are required.
- Successful experience in organizational design, building and motivating effective teams, recruiting, supervising, coaching, retaining, and developing a diverse, happy, and high-performing staff and faculty.
- An exceptional history of extensive direct student engagement, understanding and commitment to student learning, development, and empowerment, and a true passion for all students.
- Ability to provide outstanding student advising and support.
- Proven and trusted strategic thought partner to senior leadership.
- Demonstrated mastery in calmly and strategically managing major crises.
- Exceptional ability to connect and build trust across numerous groups, including students, their families, faculty, staff, alumni, faculty, donors, and the greater community within which the University resides.
- Experience in communicating with public media, such as reporters for newspapers and television.
- Demonstrated ability to foster innovation and program improvement using methods informed by data.
- Knowledge of trends affecting student affairs practice, as well as legal and policy issues in higher education, including Title IX regulations.
- Knowledge of applicable Federal laws pertaining to students, such as FERPA.
- Success working with other student affairs leaders and units, as well as University and community constituencies; ability to build collaborative relationships characterized by mutual respect, trust, and commitment to shared goals.
- Budget, planning and forecasting experience.
- Highest level of integrity; ability to lead, listen and serve.
- Ambition with personal humility.
- Successful track record of building trust and creating a culture of collaboration and teamwork.
- Inspirational and enthusiastic, with great energy and sense of humor.
- Excellent emotional intelligence; calm under pressure.
- Highly effective communicator with all constituencies.
TO APPLY OR NOMINATE
UVA Executive Search Group, an internal search firm in the Office of the President, has been retained for the Senior Associate Vice President and Dean of Students search. To apply, please submit a letter of interest and a CV via this advertisement in Workday.
Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to UVA Executive Search Group at dos-search@virginia.edu.
The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.
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