Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Chatham University

Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Chatham University invites applications and nominations for the position of Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (VPDEI). Reporting directly to President David Finegold, this leader will serve as a member of the President's Council and as a key strategic advisor to the president and members of the leadership team. They will collaborate with stakeholders across the university to provide empathetic leadership and expert strategic direction to further advance an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, diverse, and mutually respectful for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The next CDO/VPDEI will share Chatham's core value that diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to innovation and delivering a transformational education for all its students.

The CDO/VPDEI will serve as a visible campus and community leader, leading the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion https://chatham.edu/student-experience/diversity-equity-inclusion/index.html with intersectional perspectives on programs that include the Chatham Worldview Network, R.I.S.E. Mentorship Program, and exciting new initiatives, such as Search Advocates, Diversity Fellows, and Chatham's partnership with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and Tree of Life Synagogue to combat identity-based violence and discrimination in all its forms. The position supervises the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, an administrative support professional, and several student employees. Additionally, the CDO/VPDEI co-chairs the 15-member Diversity & Inclusion Council, which has additional faculty, staff and students serving on 9 sub-committees. The CDO/VPDEI will also provide leadership and coordination for a range of diversity efforts on campus, playing a key role in:

• Leading the completion of and providing oversight to Chatham's first University-wide DEI Strategic Plan
• Overseeing the staff who work with different groups on campus to effectively engage in complex social justice conversations through the Diversity Dialogues program, and a for-credit Intergroup Dialogues class for undergraduate and graduate students
• Programming and professional development to enhance awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, including the University-wide Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Professional Development Day held for all faculty and staff
• Provide effective leadership through partnerships with key departments to promote recruitment, hiring, and retention of more diverse faculty, staff, and students Working with colleagues to deepen connections between Chatham and its community partners in the Pittsburgh region.

Chatham University

Founded in 1869, Chatham University enrolls over 2,300 students from more than 30 countries in the Schools of Health Sciences, the Falk School of Sustainability and Environment, the School of Arts, Science and Business, and the School for Continuing and Professional Studies. Located in Pittsburgh, PA-one of the country's most livable cities and great college towns-Chatham is spread across three distinct locations: the historic arboretum, Shadyside Campus; Chatham Eastside in fast-growing Bakery Square; and 388-acre Eden Hall Campus, one of the world's most sustainable campuses, built to carry on the legacy of Chatham alum and environmental icon, Rachel Carson '29. Chatham is perennially ranked as one of the greenest colleges in the United States by Sierra Magazine and the Princeton Review. The University is a proud member of the select group of New American Colleges and Universities (NACU), institutions that combine an excellent liberal arts education with strong professional degree programs. Chatham recognizes that understanding difference and being able to work effectively in diverse teams goes to the heart of a liberal arts education and preparing students to succeed and tackle the many challenges facing the 21st Century economy.

At a time when many Pennsylvania's colleges and universities have been shrinking due to the fall in the number of high school graduates, Chatham has been experiencing unprecedented growth - since going all-gender six years ago, the size of its new undergraduate class has increased by over 120%. This growth, combined with a wide range of community partnerships in Pittsburgh's thriving Eds & Meds cluster, positions Chatham and the new CDO/VPDEI well to have a positive impact on social justice issues well beyond the campus.

Chatham was founded to create educational opportunities for an under-served population - the first college in Western Pennsylvania to provide young women the chance to get a degree. It successfully transitioned to an all-gender institution in 2015, while continuing to be a champion for its core values of women's leadership and gender equity through the work of The Women's Institute, The Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics, the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship, the Women & Gender Studies Major, and the Women's Leadership Certificate: https://chatham.edu/mission-and-values/womens-leadership/ . Chatham is proud to be ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Report among all the national universities in Pennsylvania for social mobility, determined by the percentage of Pell-eligible students and their graduation rates. Chatham's mission is "to prepare students to build lives of purpose, value and fulfilling work...by preparing graduates to be informed and engaged citizens in their communities; to recognize and respect diversity of culture, identity, and opinion; and to live sustainably." Building on this mission, Chatham is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive learning, living, and working environments for all members of the campus community. Learn more at: www.chatham.edu .

Experience and Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be an advocate, a skilled convener, and an expert on DEI. The CDO/VP will possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and will build and sustain community and collaborative relationships. Additional qualifications include experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through successful strategies and initiatives, and the use of data and research to inform strategic analysis, assessment, and measurement of effective diversity and inclusion programs. In addition to the work with a wide range of internal stakeholders, the successful candidate should be able to demonstrate effective engagement with community partners.

A terminal degree and experience working in higher education is preferred, but not required. Chatham University offers a competitive salary, an excellent benefits package, including tuition remission for qualified personnel and covering tuition for dependents at over 600 partner colleges, and a generous retirement plan. Chatham is committed to investing in the ongoing professional development of the CDO/VPDEI to ensure their success. Toward this end, the CDO/VP will benefit from personal professional development opportunities tailored to their needs - i.e. to attend and present at professional conferences, and engage in leadership development initiatives. There is also a strong and cooperative local network of peer CDOs/VP in Pittsburgh with which the CDO can engage.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents:

• CV or resume
• Cover letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile.

All documents should be uploaded at the same time at the time of application.

The Committee will begin reviewing applications on 12/10/2021 and the application process will remain open until we have filled the position. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 23, 2021.

Chatham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Chatham University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, or national origin.