Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

Job Description:

Historically ranked among the top three northern regional universities by U.S. News and World Report—and experiencing a period of unprecedented growth and innovation as recognized by its recent elevation into the national category — Fairfield is a Jesuit, Catholic university that prepares students for leadership and service in a constantly changing world. Founded in 1942, Fairfield University is a doctoral professional university that holds the liberal arts as central to its institutional identity. The private, co-educational university has more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in its 5 schools and colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Charles F. Dolan School of Business, the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, the School of Engineering, and the recently renamed School of Education and Human Development. Fairfield University is built upon the 500 year-old Ignatian tradition of “meeting the world as it is” through scholarship and service. Fairfield is distinguished by a rigorous curriculum, close interaction among faculty and students, and a beautiful, 210-acre campus with views of the Long Island Sound.

As a value-based, student-centric, outcomes-focused institution, Fairfield is pleased to have placed among the Top 50 of all universities in the recent Center for Education and the Workforce at Georgetown study ranking higher education institutions on their return on investment for students. Additionally, more than 98% of graduates have secured full-time employment, enrolled in a graduate or professional school, or are participating in a volunteer service program within six months after graduation. Fairfield also ranks among the best colleges and universities in the country for loan- default rates and is proud to graduate traditionally underrepresented students at the same rate as non-minority students.

Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (VPDI) is the University’s diversity strategist and authority on all matters pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and engagement. The Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion will serve as an advocate, mentor and organization resource for diversity and acts as Chair of the President’s Working Group on Inclusive Excellence. In this inaugural role, the VPDI will unite the campus community through collaboration with committees, groups, and individuals involved in diversity related work and develop and implement proactive diversity initiatives that support a learning and working environment where all community members have an opportunity to thrive and succeed.

The VPDI will lead institutional and cultural growth at Fairfield University by grounding diversity and inclusion work in Jesuit and Catholic values, crafting a common vision and language, and establishing opportunities for deeper engagement, learning, and cross-connection. The VPDI will actively engage with students, faculty, and staff to promote behaviors, attitudes, and policies that support an inclusive culture; collaborate with executive leadership to address any conduct contrary to the values of the University, such as bias, racism, or discrimination; and assess the need for learning and development and implement impactful training related to cultural competency, gender differences, race and ethnicity, disabilities and other topics to increase awareness and foster institutional equity and inclusion.

Serving as the spokesperson and primary liaison to the community, the VPDI will lead the University’s community engagement efforts for the mutually beneficial creation and exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity. The VPDI will establish collaborations with other institutions of higher education and the broader local, regional/state, national, and global communities.

Fairfield University invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. Interested candidates should confidentially submit a curriculum vitae and letter of interest (Adobe PDF files preferred) to:

Joi Hayes-Scott

Consultant to the Search Committee

fairfield.vpdi@russellreynolds.com .



Please see the full position profile here. For fullest consideration, materials should be received as soon as possible and preferably by Monday, September 12.

Category:

President - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, Veterans, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with a disability.

Load a resume or CV first, then upload supporting documents including a cover letter at the bottom of the third page under the "My Experience" section where it says to upload a Resume/CV. You will be able to upload up to 5 other documents in this section. You will be unable to edit your application, so please have all documents available before applying. Faculty Positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email the additional documents to the applicable contact in the job description. Staff positions : If you need to upload more than 5 documents, please either combine them to upload or email them to hr@fairfield.edu