Lafayette College seeks a dynamic educator to fill the role of Dean of Equity and Inclusion. The Dean provides leadership and vision in helping to create and sustain an environment of inclusivity and a community that supports development for all students. The Dean, a senior leader within the Division of Campus Life and the College as a whole, will provide highly-visible leadership and expertise on issues of diversity, social justice, and inclusion.
Reporting to the Vice President for Campus Life and serving on the President’s Administrative Leadership Team, this is a twelve-month, full-time position that oversees several areas within Campus Life, including Religious and Spiritual Life, Intercultural Development, Gender and Sexuality Programs, and International Student Advising. The Dean of Equity and Inclusion is expected to collaborate with administrators, faculty, students, and community partners to develop and articulate policies that positively impact the student experience and ensure a campus climate that acknowledges and celebrates a diverse student body.
This is an exciting time to join Lafayette College’s nearly 200-year history as it embarks upon an ambitious plan to grow the student enrollment by approximately 400 students over the next decade. Simultaneously, the College has increased its allocation of financial aid resources to provide additional aid to recruit and retain the most diverse and talented student body possible. During the 2015-2016 academic year, Lafayette provided more than $40 million in financial aid to students. In addition, Lafayette recently launched the Connected Communities Program to more fully integrate students’ academic, social, and personal experiences and to offer more opportunities for students to learn invaluable life skills outside of the classroom. This approach is adopted in support of a holistic education on various competencies including intercultural competency, sustainability, civic engagement and wellness.
The Dean of Equity and Inclusion will play an instrumental role in helping us on this exciting journey by helping to shape the student experience in ways that match our vision and ensuring that all students have equal opportunity to thrive at Lafayette. The ideal candidate will have substantial administrative experience, national presence in thought leadership on issues of diversity and inclusivity, and a demonstrated aptitude for collaboration and innovation.
Responsibilities
Provide leadership for departments that include Intercultural Development, Religious and Spiritual Life, International Student Advising, and Gender and Sexuality Programs; provide support to other offices at the request or in the absence of the Vice President for Campus Life.
Facilitate the provision of formal and informal advising for cultural, affinity-based, religious/spiritual and social justice student organizations either directly or through supervision of directors of those areas.
Plan and implement small and large scale programs and events to promote diversity and inclusion including new student orientation and welcome weeks, heritage months, social justice speaker series, Intercultural Competency Certificate and collaborations with academic departments. Collaborate with the other senior members on Campus Life and College initiatives.
Partner with the Dean of Students to ensure that all students are well supported in their education pursuits and that the residential and educational experiences of students are equitable.
Collaborate with colleagues in Admissions, Financial aid, Advising and Co-curricular Programs, Provost’s Office and College Relations to recruit and retain a diverse student population and to support and cultivate a strong alumni body.
Partner with College Relations to cultivate the McDonough Network affinity group, serving and connecting current students and alumni.
Remain current with best practices in social justice and inclusion.
Augment/modify existing programs, where appropriate, that resonate for students and respect existing culture and the pace of change.
Lead the Division of Campus Life’s assessment efforts in collaboration with the Vice President for Campus Life.
Serve as a member of the College Diversity Council.
Collaborate with other key campus offices/personnel on applicable issues/topics.
Serve on Division and College-wide committees as requested by the Vice President for Campus Life.
Participate in the College’s On-Call Emergency Response rotation and be available to assist the College in crisis response, including bias-response.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Campus Life.
Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Personnel, Counseling or related field, terminal degree in an appropriate discipline preferred
At least 8 years of experience in student affairs with two years at the Department Head or higher level
Experience in a predominantly residential liberal arts setting
Demonstrated ability to advocate for and with students
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with faculty
Experience supervising and leading professional staff
Demonstrated commitment to mentoring mid-level professionals
Experience successfully managing budgets
Experience with and theoretical understanding of co-curricular and extra-curricular education
Experience with assessment and learning outcome development
Working knowledge of theory related to social justice, race, pedagogy and student development
Ability to network and build relationships with staff colleagues across campus, regionally, and nationally.
Lafayette College is a private, liberal arts residential college with approximately 2,500 students, all of whom are undergraduates, hailing from 46 U.S. states and Territories in 48 countries. Located on College Hill in Easton, Pennsylvania, the campus is situated in the Lehigh Valley, population 800,000, about 70 miles west of New York City and 60 miles north of Philadelphia. Lafayette is one of the most selective institutions in the United States, admitting only 28% \of applicants for its 185th entering class of students. Lafayette leads American liberal arts colleges with the most Goldwater Scholarship recipients within the past six years.
Ranked #36 of National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News, #55 in Forbes Magazine’s Top Colleges, #5 of Top 50 Leading Liberal Arts and Universities by the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education and other accolades by Kiplinger, PayScale and Business Insider, Lafayette College combines engineering programs within its liberal arts curriculum. Lafayette offers bachelor of arts degrees in 37 fields, and bachelor of science degrees in 14 fields, including four in engineering. Lafayette College employees more than 215 full-time faculty and approximately 600 administrative and support staff members. Lafayette’s endowment is approximately 750 million, with total assets amounting to nearly $1.2 billion.
All members of the Lafayette community share responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. Lafayette College seeks to nurture the inquiring mind and to integrate intellectual, social, and personal growth. The College strives to develop students’ skills of critical thinking, verbal communication, and quantitative reasoning and their capacity for creative endeavor; it encourages students to examine the traditions of their own culture and those of others; to develop systems of values that include an understanding of personal, social, and professional responsibility; and to regard education as an indispensable, lifelong process.
Compensation
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
Excellent benefits package
To apply please submit materials through this website. https://apply.interfolio.com/37826