Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Villanova, Pennsylvania


Employer: Villanova University
Industry: Office of the President
Salary: Competitive
Job type: Full-Time

Posting Details (Default Section)

Posting Number:
20244117S

Position Title:
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Position Type:
Staff

Location:
Villanova, PA

Recruitment Type:
Internal/External Applicants

Work Schedule:
full-time/12-months

Avg Hours Week

Department:
709 - Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Position Summary:
Villanova University, a premier institution of higher education, provides a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts; a shared commitment to the Augustinian ideals of truth, unity, and love; and a community dedicated to service to others. The University seeks a visionary leader, experienced administrator, and vocal champion of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion who will join the President's cabinet and help to steward Villanova's pursuit of its greatest aspirations, modeling an inclusive environment that welcomes and leverages diversity in all its forms. Villanova invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The ideal candidate will be deeply student-centered, drawing inspiration from Villanova's Catholic-Augustinian character.

Founded in 1842, Villanova is a Catholic, Augustinian community of higher education, committed to excellence and distinction in the discovery, dissemination, and application of knowledge. Villanova's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of a transformative academic community dedicated to the continuous development of the whole person. These values inform every aspect of the Villanova experience, serving as the guidepost for a community of learners who are driven to think critically, solve problems, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. Located just outside of Philadelphia, Villanova is the only Augustinian Catholic university in the nation. The University's six colleges enroll more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students.

The Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ( VPDEI ) reports directly to the president, Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA , PhD, and joins cabinet leadership driven by a shared vision for Villanova and its 10-year Strategic Plan rooted in Augustinian values and restless in a desire to ignite change. The next VPDEI will continue to engage with academic, administrative, and other units of the University to develop strategies to foster a Villanova community where individual differences are acknowledged, valued, and appreciated. As partner and colleague, the VPDEI builds bridges and serves as mentor and guide to Villanova constituents while articulating and communicating a strategic vision for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Villanova University.

This is an opportunity for a dynamic, confident, catalytic, collaborative, and strategic professional to partner with the full Villanova University community to advance the University's vision of an inclusive, equitable community. The VPDEI will work to elevate and advance policies and practices while continuing to promote inclusion and equity - joining Villanova at a time of exciting growth. The VPDEI will steward area resources to achieve strategic goals in collaboration with a vibrant community that includes involved and empowered students, dedicated faculty, staff and administrators, an engaged Board of Trustees and committed alumni.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University's mission. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Oversee the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, which includes the Dr. Terry Nance Center for Dialogue.
  • Review, evaluate and communicate, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the effectiveness of current diversity and inclusion strategies, including making recommendations on best practices and proposing new programs and initiatives where appropriate.
  • Supervise the design, development and delivery of training and professional development programs that assist faculty, staff and students in achieving the University's diversity and inclusion vision.
  • Collaboratively establish and assess plans for recruitment, retention and the success of diverse faculty, staff and students.
  • Work with Institutional Research and leadership to amend or develop and update metrics and dashboards to track and monitor the progression of diversity initiatives.
  • Coordinate with external audiences, including the Villanova community, on diversity initiatives and contribute to the national conversation on the development of best practices in diversity and inclusion leadership.
  • Participate in grant proposals, fundraising and establishing corporate partnerships to leverage University resources.
  • Help to assess academic instruction and make improvements to promote greater cultural awareness.
Minimum Qualifications:
Villanova University seeks in its next Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion a visionary leader, experienced administrator, and vocal champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of student-centered practice in an educational or similar environment.

A master's degree is required.

Knowledge of national best practices and theory regarding organizational diversity, equity and inclusion with an additional focus on human development, training and change management is required.

In addition, the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is expected to possess and display the following attributes:
  • A warm and genuine leadership style, with openness and a willingness to mentor, model, connect, educate and otherwise support all persons;
  • Substantial senior-level higher education administrative experience;
  • The highest level of integrity as an officer of the institution; ability to establish an environment of transparency, open communication in the University and carry out interactions in a professional manner.
  • A broad understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion frameworks. Understanding and support of the dialogic approach.
  • Be familiar with curriculum diversification, training and the ability to assess the educational impact of diversity;
  • A broad understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion frameworks to listen as well as speak to and engage with race, gender, accessibility, sexual orientation, class, intersectionality and inequity issues, drawing links to the academic community;
  • Knowledge steeped in current research, discourse and best practices;
  • Ability to assess a campus climate and examine HR employment strategies designed to foster workplace and workforce diversity with experience in using data and research to inform analysis, develop measurable goals and benchmarks and create systems of accountability;
  • Ability to successfully facilitate conversations around diversity and inclusion; skill in listening with empathy and compassion; ability to communicate with clarity and transparency; experience as a problem-solver;
  • Familiarity with DEI issues and how they manifest in the context of contemporary higher education and possess the ability to leverage previous experiences to address those challenges;
  • Understanding of and respect for shared governance with strong relational abilities and influencing skills, emotional intelligence, excellent verbal and written communication skills;
  • Demonstrated capability to use technology as a tool to communicate initiatives and outcomes; and the ability to oversee written communication and statements;
  • Capacity to maintain highly confidential information concerning University matters;
  • Courageous, unafraid to address conflict; demonstrates ongoing sensitivity to diversity and a commitment to inclusion and excellence; empathizes across constituencies; proactive; results-oriented; creative; forward-thinking; a trailblazer.
  • Track record of fostering collaboration and relationships across disciplines and organizational units.
  • Demonstrated success in managing budgets effectively, responsibly, and collaboratively; capacity to create an environment of fiscal responsibility.
  • An understanding of current and future trends in higher education and issues affecting private universities and colleges.
  • The ability to implement innovative ideas to help enhance the experience for members of the community
Preferred Qualifications:
  • An earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant field is preferred.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

Special Message to Applicants:
All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting Villanova University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by the September 6, 2024.

Nominations, inquiries and application materials can be directed to:
Charlene Aguilar, Ed.M.
Villanova-VPDEI@Wittkieffer.com

Posting Date:
08/06/2024

Closing Date (11:59pm ET):

Salary Posting Information:
Commensurate with experience.

Salary Band:
M

Job Classification:
exempt

Created: 2024-08-22
Reference: 20244117S
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
City: Villanova


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