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Vice President for Student Engagement and Transformation and Dean of Students

  • Company: Widener University
  • Location: Chester, PA
  • Date:

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About Widener University

Since its founding in 1821, Widener has undergone multiple transformations to become a selective, nationally ranked, doctoral university. Today, Widener offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, as well as certificate programs, to 5,600 students across three campuses and online.

Widener’s distinctive collection of programs reflects its foundational belief that the liberal arts and sciences and professional/pre-professional programs are mutually reinforcing. The University is proud to embrace the following seven schools and colleges:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • College of Health and Human Services
  • School of Business Administration
  • School of Engineering
  • School of Nursing
  • Schools of Law:
    • Commonwealth Law School (in Harrisburg, PA)
    • Delaware Law School (in Wilmington, DE)

Widener University’s oldest campus in the City of Chester is located just off I-95 and is only twenty minutes from Philadelphia, the nation’s sixth largest city and home to world-class art, culture, sports, entertainment, and history. The Chester campus sits on 110 acres and has benefited from over $220 million in new construction and renovations over the past decade.

On its other two campuses, Widener has the unusual distinction of hosting two independent law schools: Widener University Commonwealth Law School and Widener University Delaware Law School. Widener University Commonwealth Law is focused in particular on the interaction of law and government and leverages its location in the Pennsylvania state capital to enrich students’ experiences. Widener University Delaware Law, the only accredited law school in Delaware, has particular strength in corporate law and is an integral part of the legal community in America’s corporate capital.

The Role of Vice President for Student Engagement and Transformation and Dean of Students

Widener University seeks an experienced, strategic, and forward-looking leader for the inaugural position of Vice President for Student Engagement and Transformation and Dean of Students. Reporting to President Stacey Robertson and serving as a member of her core leadership team, the Vice President and Dean will partner with an experienced team of student life leaders to elevate student engagement, enhance student success, and serve as an effective representative of the student experience at all levels of the University.

The Vice President for Student Engagement and Transformation and Dean of Students is the chief student affairs officer at Widener University and is a visible and accessible leader on campus and in the local community. Reporting directly to President Stacey Robertson, the Vice President serves as a collaborative and collegial member of her Leadership Team, which includes:

  • Chief Diversity Officer
  • Provost
  • Vice President for Administration and Finance
  • Vice President for Enrollment
  • Vice President for Library and Information Services
  • Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff
  • Vice President for University Advancement.

The Vice President for Student Engagement and Transformation and Dean of Students’ portfolio is robust and includes oversight of the following areas:

  • Athletics
  • Auxiliary Services
  • Campus Safety
  • CARE Team
  • Community Standards
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
  • Fraternity & Sorority Life
  • Health Services
  • Housing and Residence Life
  • International Student Services and Immigration
  • Pride Recreation
  • Student Engagement
  • Student Inclusion and Belonging

Under the new organizational structure, the Vice President will oversee approximately 108 staff members across the division, including the following direct reports:

  • Associate Vice President of Campus Experience
  • Associate Dean for Well Being and Belonging
  • Director of Athletics and Pride Recreation
  • Interim Assistant Dean for Student Living
  • Assistant Dean for Student Engagement

The new Vice President will be expected to bring a bold, forward-looking perspective to the University’s thinking about undergraduate and graduate student engagement, transformation, inclusion, and belonging in the face of the changing landscape of higher education. They will interact with the Board of Trustees as well as city leaders and community members in Chester as well as the greater Philadelphia area.

Contact Information

This is a full-time position that will be performed on site at the Chester, Pennsylvania campus. Salary commensurate with experience with a generous benefits package.

Please send nominations, applications, and queries in confidence and electronically to [email protected].

Widener University is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment practices on any basis including sex, race, national origin or ethnicity, religion, disability, status as a veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or other protected status covered by federal, state or local law.