Senior Director for Diversity and Inclusion

Buena Vista University is a private university in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, the university is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. With an undergraduate enrollment of 1,600 students, the university’s 60-acre campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a beautiful 3,200-acre natural lake.

BVU prepares students for lifelong success through a program of blended liberal arts with real-world application. BVU expands access to a quality education by empowering the people who propel Iowa forward, focusing on rural vitality and personal prosperity. BVU firmly stands behind its motto, Education for Service, and was recently awarded the 2020 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Through their commitment to rural Iowa, BVU offers over 50 bachelor degrees and 20 master’s degrees, with 15 bachelor’s degree completion locations across the state, as well as online bachelor’s and master’s degree opportunities.

The Position
Reporting to the vice president for student success, the senior director for diversity and inclusion provides leadership for the programs and services that promote diversity and inclusion across the campus. The senior director will be responsible for organizing programming for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and providing guidance and advisement to multicultural student organizations and to international students. The senior director is also charged with maintaining the student exchange and visitor information system (SEVIS) database, chairing the campus Bias Response Team, and working collaboratively with academic affairs in supporting and guiding the diversity fellows program. BVU is also seeking to obtain the distinction of being designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution and the senior director will be a strong partner in advancing this institutional goal. In addition, the senior director enhances the visibility and awareness of diversity within the campus community through the development of opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to come together for cultural exchange and celebration.

Qualifications
The successful candidate must possess a masters’ degree in higher education or related field and three to five years of progressive experience in higher education with leadership responsibilities in student programs. A doctorate is preferred. Candidates for this leadership role should demonstrate knowledge of current trends in diversity and inclusion within higher education. The successful candidate will demonstrate a personal and professional commitment to diversity and inclusion, the ability to work collaboratively across the campus, and the aptitude to build and maintain strong relationships with students, with an emphasis on dynamic communication and collaboration. Other preferred qualifications include a supervisory and budgetary experience; visionary thinking and planning/organizational skills; experience leading teams, operating in cross-functional settings, and managing crises; and demonstrated problem-solving and strategic visioning skills. A background check will be conducted on the final candidate.

Application and Nomination

Review of applications will begin September 21, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions . Nominations for this position may be emailed to Laura Puckett-Boler at lpb@spelmanjohnson.com . Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

Visit the Buena Vista University website at www.bvu.edu

Buena Vista University is an Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act/Smoke-Free Employer.