Senior Advisor to the Chancellor/Chief Inclusion Officer

Texas Christian University (TCU) is accepting inquiries, nominations, and applications for a strategic, courageous, and unifying leader to serve as the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor/Chief Inclusion Officer.

Located on the historical homeland of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, TCU began as a progressive and personal college for individuals with a dream to learn and lead. Since its founding in 1873, the University has grown to more than 11,000 students, 717 full-time faculty, 2,308 staff, and 90,700 alumni. TCU continues to draw inspiration from its historical roots with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), whose hallmarks include an openness and willingness to engage difference, an intentional approach to ecumenism and interfaith engagement, and a commitment to academic rigor.

Today, one in four TCU students are students of color. Across the student body, 43% come from outside Texas, including 76 countries; 79% receive some kind of financial assistance; 15% are the first in their families to attend college; close to 500 students are military affiliated; and they represent more than 60 faith traditions. The dynamic and diverse student body continuously strives for a better TCU, making this a pivotal and transformational time in the University's history. 

In 2020, TCU’s Board of Trustees and the Office of the Chancellor announced the formation of the Race & Reconciliation Initiative. The nine-month intensive exploration of TCU’s history resulted in recommendations presented in April 2021 that were wholeheartedly endorsed by the Board. The ongoing work of this committee aligns with the vision and implementation of TCU’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Through TCU's commitment to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, inclusive excellence, and academic efforts such as the Race & Reconciliation Initiative, TCU has declared its intent to do better, learn better, and forge a more inclusive university for future generations. 

The Senior Advisor to the Chancellor/Chief Inclusion Officer will help to lead that charge and spark the change that TCU seeks. While this is not a new position for the campus, the scope of the role has expanded as the University strives to create a true sense of belonging for all. Reporting to Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr., and a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet, the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor/Chief Inclusion Officer will collaborate with others across the campus and in the community to develop a comprehensive vision for ensuring TCU values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are evident throughout every facet of the University. The new leader will develop a plan to augment those areas that need improvement and highlight those which could serve as best practices as well as oversee the Offices of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and Institutional Equity (OIE). 

The ideal candidate will have a proven record in developing and implementing strategic plans for inclusive excellence and establishing metrics and reporting mechanisms to drive culture change. Candidates will bring a deep and broad understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion and be able to view this work through a multicultural, interfaith, and multidisciplinary lens. Experience in inspiring and empowering cultural transformation, skill in motivating and unifying people around a vision, and an ability to nurture positive and collaborative relationships are core to this role. The Senior Advisor to the Chancellor/Chief Inclusion Officer will possess the courage to engage in difficult conversations, the conviction to speak the language of cultural activism to advocate for disenfranchised groups, the compassion to facilitate healing for communities that are hurting, and the creativity to build infrastructure and secure resources to advance the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion. A master's degree is required; a terminal degree is preferred. 

WittKieffer is assisting TCU in this search. 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 the profile found at www.wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate applications should be received by July 30, 2021.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Shelley Arakawa, J.D., Alejandra Gillette-Teran, and Charlene Aguilar 

TCUChiefInclusionOfficer@wittkieffer.com

As an AA/EEO employer, TCU recruits, hires, and promotes qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ethnic origin, disability, genetic information, covered veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.