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Associate Provost and Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Employer
Colby College
Location
Maine, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Mar 10, 2023

Job Details

Job Description
Department:
Provost and Dean of Faculty
Pay Rate Type:
Salary
Employee Type:
Job Summary:

Diversified Search has been retained by Colby College to assist in this search process. Candidates should provide a resume or curriculum vitae and letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications described above. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. All inquiries, nominations, and expressions of interest will be held in strict confidence. Application materials, nominations or inquiries should be sent electronically to ColbyDeanDEI@divsearch.com.

The Associate Provost and Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Associate Provost/Dean) will have a remarkable opportunity to envision and lead the strategic transformation of institutional systems and practices and the further development of a campus culture that is inclusive and equitable and where all members of the community are enabled to succeed and thrive.

ABOUT COLBY COLLEGE

Founded in 1813, Colby College is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the nation and one of America’s most selective. The College is known for its intellectual rigor, its supportive and inclusive campus community, and its global reach. A residential, four-year institution serving only undergraduates, Colby offers an academic program rooted in the deep exploration of ideas and enriched by partnerships with world-class faculty scholars. Colby prepares its students to be intellectually curious, critical and imaginative thinkers, proficient communicators, and responsible and active global citizens who are prepared to respond flexibly to changing demands and paradigms.

Colby College is an inclusive community characterized by mutual respect and open communication, and actively committed to attracting and retaining faculty, staff, and students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In the classroom and outside, students are encouraged to inquire broadly, think critically, create boldly, and engage productively in the shared enterprises of understanding and expanding human knowledge and experience. With 55 majors, 33 minors, and independent major options, Colby students have the flexibility to set their own course of study. The strong liberal arts curriculum provides excellent preparation for an unlimited range of career choices and graduate studies while giving students a better understanding of the world and their places in it. With 230 continuing faculty members, Colby College boasts a 10:1 student/faculty ratio. 70 percent of class sections have fewer than 20 students.

The academic experience at Colby is enhanced by real-world problem solving across all disciplines. Colby’s inter-session term in January, known as Jan Plan, is a time for focused study, internships, and/or research. While students are only required to complete three Jan Plans, 90 percent of students elect to do four. Students and faculty also benefit from a series of funded Colby Labs which provide resources and support for work in the arts, environment, bioscience innovation, and global engagement. During the academic year and summer, students benefit from access to world-class research institutions through partnerships and collaborations with Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Smithsonian Archives, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the Jackson Laboratory, and Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. Ongoing study of the local Belgrade Lakes provides students additional research experiences within minutes of campus. Colby students are supported in pursuing these opportunities by DavisConnects—a unique program designed to equitably provide all students with carefully planned and funded undergraduate research, internships, and global experiences.

Colby’s finances are strong and well managed. The College’s 2022/23 fiscal year operating budget totals $260 million. As of June 30, 2022, the market value of Colby’s endowment stood at $1.2 billion.

Campus and Location

Colby’s 714-acre campus, known as Mayflower Hill, is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the nation. The campus has 64 buildings, including one of the nation’s premier institutions of American art (the Colby College Museum of Art), a new state-of-the-art performing arts center slated to open in fall 2023, two libraries, 30 residence halls, three dining halls, a student union, an extensive athletic complex (including new best-in-NESCAC athletic fields and a new athletics center that opened in fall 2020), and 50 acres of fields. Most of Mayflower Hill, including all the 128-acre Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary, is a State Wildlife Management Area.

The College is a national leader in sustainability, and its commitment to the environment is evident across campus. In April 2013, Colby became one of the first higher education institutions in the U.S. to achieve carbon neutrality. All new construction at Colby is a minimum of LEED Silver certified. A 1.9-megawatt photovoltaic energy project currently produces approximately 16 percent of Colby’s energy needs.

Located in central Maine, the city of Waterville sits on the banks of the Kennebec River and provides access to a range of artistic, cultural, recreational, and athletic experiences in the local area and beyond. Waterville is approximately 60 minutes from Bangor and Portland, just over an hour from skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain, two hours from Acadia National Park, and three hours from Boston.

Students

Colby College is home to 2,200 students representing more than 40 states and 65 countries. U.S. students of color comprise 30 percent of the student body, while 11 percent of students are the first in their family to attend college. Ten percent of students are international. Colby’s student body reflects a diverse range of talents, including a large number of student organizations devoted to creative and performing arts.

Admission to Colby is highly competitive. Under the leadership of President David Greene, applications to Colby have grown from 5,148 to nearly 18,000, each successive class representing the most diverse and talented in the College’s history. The admit rate for the Class of 2026 was 7 percent. The College’s commitment to access is reflected in its aggressive and generous financial aid program. Financial aid at Colby is need-based, and the College meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, without including loans in financial aid packages. The College’s newly established Fair Shot Fund provides greater access for students from families with middle income status, capping a family’s contribution at $15,000. The Colby Commitment is among the most generous in the nation for students from low-income backgrounds; with a total annual household income of $75,000 or less and typical assets, the parent/guardian expected contribution is zero. Forty-two percent of enrolled students receive financial aid, and the average financial aid package for enrolling students is $65,000.

College Leadership

David A. Greene took office as the 20th president of Colby on July 1, 2014. Prior to this appointment, President Greene was Executive Vice President at the University of Chicago, having previously served in leadership roles at Brown University and Smith College.

Since arriving at Colby, Greene has spearheaded a multi-faceted program to enhance the College’s position as a leading liberal arts institution. Among the College’s priorities are enhancing the quality of the academic program (in both traditional and interdisciplinary fields), strengthening Colby’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, expanding the College’s global reach and focus, and connecting the liberal arts to the world of work. The College is also actively partnering with Waterville in a long-term program of economic revitalization, including Colby’s acquisition of eight properties in downtown Waterville for redevelopment. (More information about the Colby’s recent initiatives can be found at http://www.colby.edu/president/ . )

Comprehensive Campaign

Central to Colby College’s ambitions is its comprehensive campaign, which at its start was the largest comprehensive campaign ever undertaken by a liberal arts college. Publicly launched in October 2017, after just one year in a leadership phase, the campaign has already raised $700 million toward a $750-million goal. The campaign, dubbed “Dare Northward,” will make it possible for Colby to introduce transformational initiatives, build still further on its strong academic programs, improve access to a Colby education for deserving students from around the globe, and provide outstanding new facilities that both support a multidisciplinary approach to learning and connect the College to the community beyond its campus. More information about the campaign can be found at https://darenorthward.colby.edu/ .

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT COLBY COLLEGE

In June 2016, the Presidential Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was established. In response to its charge, the Task Force identified 21 key recommendations that affirmed the importance of enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion to Colby’s educational mission and to its role as a leading national liberal arts college. These recommendations are part of a fabric of efforts and initiatives touching all parts of the campus to create a more equitable and inclusive college community and are clustered into categories listed below.

College-Wide Issues – includes recommendations focused on developing a mission statement, improving data collection, developing systematic instruments to assess campus climate, developing measures to ensure accountability, defining and committing appropriate resources, and enhancing collaboration across the College.

Campus Culture & Climate – focuses on revising College policies, procedures, and practices currently based on unspoken norms, values, assumptions and perspectives and analyzing the campus environment and understanding ways in which implicit assumptions, values and norms are being expressed without clear intention.

The Student Experience a commitment to recruit, admit, enroll, and retain the most talented and accomplished students from varied backgrounds and ensuring that all students have equitable access to all Colby programs; create a genuinely inclusive and equitable student community; bridge the divide between students’ academic and cocurricular lives by building community around a vibrant intellectual and ethical culture; address the ways that gender shapes the student experience; and ensure all students have the support and guidance they need to remain physically and psychologically healthy.

Curriculum -- ensure that all students have a deep understanding of the value of diversity, equity and inclusion as a core principle of a Colby education and a deep understanding of the value of all areas of study at a liberal arts college; ensure/require that all faculty are well-prepared to teach and advise a diverse student body in equitable and inclusive ways.

Faculty -- develop and sustain a diverse faculty at Colby and establish policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that all faculty have equitable access to resources that enable them to succeed and thrive as respected, valued members of the Colby community.

Staff -- develop and sustain a diverse staff at Colby and establish policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that all staff members have equitable access to resources that enable them to succeed and thrive as respected, valued members of the Colby community.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

Despite the significant progress that Colby has made in student and faculty recruitment, the College has committed to redoubling its effort to create an inclusive campus environment in which diverse faculty, staff, and students are supported and successful with a strong sense of belonging. Colby is ever mindful
of the continuous nature of the work that this effort requires:
  • Colby has experienced a significant increase in the diversity of its campus, much of which can be attributed to deliberate efforts to recruit students and faculty of color. With Colby’s dramatic transformation in the past nine years, the College is now focusing on solidifying its infrastructure to support new populations of faculty, students, and staff in more intentional ways;
  • The Associate Provost/Dean will be an institutional leader who will be expected to work across all areas of the College to develop the College’s strategic plan for DEI and lead its execution. The person must demonstrate an understanding of Colby’s academic mission and of the needs of an increasingly diverse faculty with high standards for teaching, research, and service. Likewise, the Associate Provost/Dean must demonstrate an understanding of the changing needs and experiences of diverse students and a desire to collaborate with faculty, staff and students to ensure student success. Further, the Associate Provost/Dean must demonstrate an understanding of the role of staff members in an academic institution and a willingness to help ensure that staff are enabled to succeed and thrive in their work;
  • The growing campus diversity brings with it the need to continually reimagine faculty, student, and staff support and the policies, procedures, and structures that organize Colby’s work together. Colby’s inclusion effort demands that the College better understand how to eliminate the systems and barriers that prevent community members from fully succeeding and thriving. Beyond a focus on merely diversifying the campus community, Colby seeks to more strongly nurture a sense of belonging that confirms each person’s earned right to be at the College;
  • Working with the Center for Teaching and Learning and other institutional partners, Colby’s highly accomplished and excellent faculty has made great strides in learning to teach, advise, mentor, and support diverse students in inclusive and empowering ways. The Associate Provost/Dean will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty and staff to enable continued faculty development and curricular evolution. In addition, the Associate Provost/Dean will have the opportunity to lead and collaborate with faculty on other campus transformation and educational efforts;
  • The College’s assessment of progress toward diversity goals has been uneven. The Associate Provost/Dean will have the opportunity to partner with the Office of Institutional Research and Analytics to design and monitor a set of indicators to ensure it is making progress toward DEI goals, and a mandate to report regularly to the community; and
  • Working in partnership with the President, Provost, Dean of the College and other key College leaders, the Associate Provost/Dean will have a remarkable opportunity to envision and lead the strategic transformation of institutional systems and practices and the further development of a campus culture that is inclusive and equitable and where all members of the community are enabled to succeed and thrive.
ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting to the Provost and Dean of Faculty and serving on the Provost’s leadership team, the Associate Provost/Dean provides vision, leadership, oversight and guidance for campus-wide initiatives that support Colby’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals. The Associate Provost/Dean is a key advisor to the President and works to advance a campus culture of inclusion and a learning and working environment where all have the opportunity to succeed. The Associate Provost/Dean plays a central role by partnering with colleagues both in academic affairs and across the College to support and enrich faculty teaching, research, and service. The Associate Provost/Dean collaborates with the Dean of the College division to develop strategies and policies that integrate the curricular and co-curricular dimensions of Colby’s educational mission, with particular focus on supporting initiatives and programs that enhance the work of the faculty and the academic success of Colby’s increasingly diverse student
body. The Associate Provost/Dean also collaborates with the Office of Human Resources to develop policies and processes to recruit, train, and support a dedicated and increasingly diverse staff.

The Associate Provost/Dean works closely with the President and Provost to assess the systems, structures, and culture of the College, and recommends and leads initiatives for institutional change. The Associate Provost/Dean also works closely with the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs on faculty recruitment, hiring, mentoring, review processes, and other aspects of faculty support. In addition, the Associate Provost/Dean collaborates with the Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning, helping to build faculty development programs and other support structures that ensure that faculty are well-prepared to teach, advise, mentor and support a diverse and talented student body in inclusive and equitable ways.

The Associate Provost/Dean collaborates with the Dean of the College team, including the staff in the Dean of the College’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Associate Provost/Dean will also partner with other stakeholders across the campus, including faculty members and academic departments, the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life, the Associate Director for Talent Development in Human Resources, the Faculty Committee on DEI and the Athletics DEI Committee to coordinate the development and implementation of educational programs and trainings around intercultural competencies. Working with these campus partners, the Associate
Provost/Dean will assess and redesign policies and reform practices designed to ensure a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming community.
Initially, the Associate Provost/Dean will be expected to take the time to learn the institution – engage with faculty and departments, meet with students, staff and members of the community, build relations with senior colleagues and understand the culture of the College. With insights gained from these
interactions, the Associate Provost/Dean will work with the community to

finalize the strategic plan for diversity and lead its implementation.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

In partnership with key stakeholders, develop and lead the implementation of the College’s strategic plan for diversity and inclusivity and regularly report to the campus on efforts and initiatives:
  • Work closely with the President, Provost and campus leaders to develop and execute comprehensive strategic initiatives in order to ensure alignment with DEI principles;
  • Collaborate with the President, Provost, the Dean of the College, and the Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer to provide vision, leadership, coordination, and strategic planning for diversity and inclusive excellence throughout the College;
  • Collaborate with College partners to ensure that policies and programming are aligned with the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion;
  • Provide leadership and coordination for institutional assessment initiatives (including campus climate studies), utilize metrics/scorecards for evaluating goals and tracking progress, and lead the development of annual reports to the community;
  • Promote, assist, and support diversity and inclusion initiatives led by faculty members, faculty committees, and academic departments, and support faculty members navigating challenging interactions with colleagues and students or with campus policies and processes;
  • Build relationships and encourage engagement of faculty, staff, students, and alumni in support of diversity and inclusion initiatives;
  • Develop partnerships and opportunities with faculty and staff members that advance the intersection of academic and co-curricular work;
  • Develop partnerships and opportunities with the Office of Advancement to build a broad base of support with alumni and families; and
  • Perform additional duties as assigned in a fast-paced division that sometimes dictates a change in duties, responsibilities, and/or activities.
Qualifications
  • Master’s degree, Ph.D. or other terminal degree strongly preferred. Appropriate lived experience demonstrating an ability to achieve the position requirements will be considered.
  • Proven expertise and sufficient experience demonstrating the successful development, implementation and achievement of DEI strategic goals.
  • Demonstrated strategic vision and insight, along with the ability to conceptualize organizational issues and develop strategic plans at all levels.
  • Proven openness to exploring different ideas, creating inclusive solutions, and engaging colleagues across organizational lines.
  • Ability to lead and manage major institutional change initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to understand and respond to the culture of a liberal arts college campus.
  • Transparent disposition and habit of collaboration; strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy; superb listening and influencing skills; flexibility and an ability to embrace ambiguity.
  • Ability to cultivate and sustain trust and credibility with colleagues.
  • Energetic leadership with high ethical standards and a commitment to excellence, honesty, and integrity.
  • Demonstrated ability to effect change, empower people, influence others and successfully manage challenge and conflict.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills, and ability to manage multiple tasks.
  • A self-starter who performs well under stress and works effectively in a team environment.
  • Ability to assess the needs of students, faculty, and staff and offer appropriate support.
  • Experience with and commitment to working with individuals of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, religious backgrounds and people of various gender identities or sexual orientations.
  • Experience working in an academic setting and an understanding of the role of academic and student affairs on a residential college campus are considered as assets.
  • Well-developed, insightful understanding of diversity issues in a complex organizational setting.
  • Higher education experience and/or background is considered a valuable asset.
Key Relationships

The Associate Provost/Dean is a visible senior leader at the College and will work closely with the President, Provost, Dean of the College, Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer, and other campus leaders. As a key member of the Provost’s leadership team, the Associate Provost/Dean works closely with others in the office, including the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, the Associate Provost for Teaching and Learning, the Associate Provost for Curricular Planning, and the Senior Associate Provost, and with faculty members, department chairs, and other senior leaders in academic affairs. The Associate Provost/Dean also works closely with colleagues in the Dean of the College division and with the Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer and her team.

To Apply

Diversified Search has been retained by Colby College to assist in this search process. Candidates should provide a resume or curriculum vitae and letter of interest that addresses the responsibilities and qualifications described above. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made. All inquiries, nominations, and expressions of interest will be held in strict confidence. Application materials, nominations or inquiries should be sent electronically to ColbyAPDEI@divsearch.com

SEARCH TEAM

Euris E. Belle

Managing Director

404 942-6307

Euris.belle@divsearch.com

Christine Falcone

Senior Search Associate

484 288-0295

Christine.falcone@divsearch.com

Nora Maurer

Senior Search Coordinator

419 651-4209

Nora.Maurer@divsearch.com

Company

Colby College

Founded in 1813, Colby College is the 12th oldest liberal arts college in the United States.

Distinctive in its offerings, Colby provides an intimate, undergraduate-focused learning environment with a breadth of programs presenting students and faculty with unparalleled opportunities. A vibrant and fully integrated academic, residential, and cocurricular experience is sustained by a diverse and supportive community. Located in Waterville, Maine, Colby is a global institution with students representing nearly every U.S. state and approximately 70 countries.

Colby’s model provides the scale and impact of larger universities coupled with intensive learning in a community committed to scholarship and discovery, multidisciplinary approaches to integrated learning, study in the liberal arts, and leading-edge programs addressing the world’s most complex challenges. Its network of partnerships with prestigious cultural, research, medical, and business institutions extends educational and scholarly collaborations, providing students with unmatched experiences leading to postgraduate success.

The College’s wide variety of programs and labs provides students and the community access to unique experiences: the Colby College Museum of Art, the finest college art museum in the country, and the Lunder Institute for American Art have made the College a nationally and internationally recognized center for art scholarship; DavisConnects prepares students for lifelong success by combining a forward-thinking liberal arts education with extensive internship, research, and global opportunities for all students regardless of their personal networks and financial circumstances; and the 350,000-square-foot Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center, is the most advanced and comprehensive NCAA D-III facility in the country. In fall 2021, Colby opened the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the first such institute at a liberal arts college. Colby’s new Island Campus, consisting of Allen and Benner islands, gives Colby a significant presence on the coast of Maine for a wide range of academic programs and activities and undisturbed environments ideal for conducting interdisciplinary experiences.

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