Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Hobart and William Smith Colleges seek a Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Click here to view position profile: https://summitsearchsolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HWS_VP_DEI_Profile.pdf
Location: Geneva, New York

The Position:
The Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a collaborative, strategic, results-oriented leader who values excellence and will guide the Colleges’ efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion.

The incumbent should be able to foster a campus culture of respect and openness to change, as well as align and integrate diversity and inclusion efforts into a range of existing and new campus initiatives. The incumbent will serve as the Colleges’ diversity strategist, responsible for building consensus and effectuating cultural change to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into the Colleges’ campus climate, strategic goals, academic programs and co-curricular experiences, and various initiatives and policies.

The Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will serve as a member of the President’s senior leadership team and will work collaboratively with various campus offices including Academic and Faculty Affairs, Human Resources, Campus Life, Admissions, and Communications to address campus climate and demographics proactively through policies, programs, and outreach materials. They will participate in strategy development, long-range planning and partnership development. This role requires the ability to build effective relationships, to be influential, visionary, transformative and tactical while delivering tangible results in the areas of diversity, equity and campus engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a strategic forward-thinking leader with the ability to create and cultivate a common vision of the institution’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that can be shared among faculty, staff and administrators, as well as the Colleges’ external constituencies, particularly the wider Geneva community.
• Serves as an advisor to the President on matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Works internally and externally to establish networks of experts and organizations involved in the national discussion to advise campus leaders consistently on innovative ideas and program concepts for consideration, selection and implementation.
• Develops a shared vision of diversity, equity, and inclusion and serves as the primary lead on projects to accomplish that vision.
• Assists campus leaders in developing systems of accountability for reaching diversity goals and objectives.
• Assesses the Colleges’ needs related to equity in diversity and inclusive excellence and measure effectiveness of programs and activities related to diversity and inclusion.
• Assists faculty, senior leadership and staff searches in an advisory and oversight capacity to ensure that recruitment procedures are equitable and inclusive.
• Identifies, seeks and secures grant funding, corporate partnerships and other opportunities to leverage campus resources and further propel diversity efforts.
• Collaborates with appropriate campus offices to assess, design and implement diversity and inclusion trainings for faculty and staff.
• Supports curriculum development efforts to advance the diversity mission of HWS.
• Partners with Student Affairs to provide leadership in advancing appropriate and effective campus responses to bias incidents.
• Creates reporting mechanisms and metrics that inform decision-making and highlight activities and outcomes in support of faculty, staff and student diversity initiatives.
• Direct reports to the VP, DEI include Associate Vice President, DEI/Title IX Coordinator; Director, Intercultural Center; Director, Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP); Program Coordinator, Office of DEI; and Program Directors for Posse and First Generation Initiatives.

Qualifications:
Essential Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education required; doctoral degree preferred.
• Scholar-practitioner with current knowledge of issues, trends, and research in DEI.
• Progressive leadership experience in designing and leading change efforts related to institutional diversity, inclusion, multiculturalism, and access.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations in multiple areas including race, ancestry, religion, country of origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage people (directly and indirectly) in support of DEI initiatives, such as recruitment, retention, development, and mentorship of underrepresented faculty and staff; advancing initiatives related to teaching and learning, student relations, community partnerships, institutional research, and scholarly research.
• Experience building partnerships across internal and external communities.

Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A strong command of contemporary diversity, equity, inclusion and multiculturalism concepts and issues.
• Competence in utilizing data-driven strategies at the institutional, divisional and unit levels to evaluate and assess programs and services.
• Proven record and ability to develop institutional practices consistent with federal and state laws. Courageous.
• A change agent who prioritizes relationships and can find creative ways to push the HWS community in a positive and sustainable manner.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to facilitate difficult conversations, effectively listen to multiple points of view, build consensus on initiatives and issues and educate others of policies and plans.
• Highly relational interpersonal skills with the ability to build bridges and foster understanding amongst diverse stakeholder groups.
• Ability to cultivate a common vision and drive institutional DEI goals.
• Proactive, visible, and engaged leader who can effectively problem solve and lead others through transformational change.
• Passion for establishing a campus culture that strives to support inclusion and belonging. Commitment to shared governance.

About Hobart and William Smith Colleges:
Hobart and William Smith are a selective, residential, future-focused liberal arts institution defined by a longstanding focus on educating across academic disciplines and the close work of research and creativity that connects faculty and students. Originally founded as two institutions — Hobart for men and William Smith for women — today’s Colleges enjoy the exponential benefits of shared resources and combined spirit. Both colleges maintain their own traditions, deans and athletic programs but together provide a unique and invaluable opportunity for exploring questions of gender and difference. HWS graduated the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S., were the first in the nation to have an LGBTQ undergraduate program and among the first to offer majors and minors in Africana studies, women’s studies, and men’s studies.

Led by a faculty of accessible teachers/scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship in an ever-shifting world, the Colleges nurture intellectual, professional and ethical development to best prepare students for impact and success. On a shore-lined 320-acre campus, along with the neighboring city, Geneva, and the Finger Lakes region, abundant opportunities are created for research partnerships, hands-on learning and community engagement.

To Apply:
Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; parties who apply by October 17, 2022 will be given first consideration. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your interest in and suitability for this position. To apply online, go to: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=su308

For more information or to offer recommendations or nominations:
Tammarah Townes
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
Direct: 302-388-9480
ttownes@summitsearchsolutions.com

Hobart and William Smith Colleges are committed to providing a non-discriminatory and harassment-free educational, living, and working environment for all members of the HWS community, including students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. HWS prohibits discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities on the basis of age, color, disability, domestic violence victim status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, other forms of sexual misconduct including stalking and intimate partner violence, and gender-based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature.