Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice

Tufts is a student-centered research university that educates approximately 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students, across eight schools—Arts and Sciences, Dental Medicine, Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Law and Diplomacy, Medicine, Nutrition Science and Policy, and Veterinary Medicine—the College of Civic Life, and the University College. The University College facilitates the development of university-wide degree and non-degree programs for matriculated students and offers educational programs for non-matriculated student populations, including pre-K through high school students, working professionals, and lifelong learners. Ranked nationally among the top 28 universities by U.S. News and World Report, Tufts’ broad range of schools form an innovative, interdisciplinary university of creative scholars who have a profound impact on one another and the world. As one of America’s leading research universities with great accomplishments in education, research, and innovation, Tufts was selected to join the Association of American Universities (AAU) in May 2021.

Recent programmatic initiatives and investments have been guided by the university’s T10 strategic plan. In 2016, Tufts significantly deepened its commitment to the arts and humanities with the acquisition of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), now part of the School of Arts and Sciences. During the 2017-18 academic year, Tufts launched the public phase of its comprehensive Brighter World campaign, which seeks to raise $1.5 billion to strengthen teaching and research, support a distinctive culture of collaboration and innovation, increase financial aid and bolster Tufts’ ability to attract the finest students from all backgrounds, and advance the university’s capacity to translate ideas into practical solutions for global problems. Most recently, in July of 2020, an important strategic initiative, “Tufts as an Anti-Racist Institution”, was announced and formalized as a pledge to eradicate any structural racism in the institution and take the steps necessary to become a more equitable university tomorrow than it is today.

Tufts seeks a senior leader who will cultivate and execute key strategic priorities for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) and support, guide, and coordinate efforts, activities, and policies across all of Tufts’ campuses. The Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (VPDEIJ) will broaden the understanding of diversity to include antiracism, antisemitism, and the full spectrum of ethnicities, national origins, ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, beliefs, religions and faiths, cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, and levels of ability. In this inaugural role, the VPDEIJ will be comfortable with vast dimensions of identity, with a fundamental inclination to listen with compassion to all perspectives and experiences. The VPDEIJ will drive innovation and find solutions that lead to tangible, transformative results and advances a welcoming, collaborative culture at Tufts for the entire community – students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

Reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President ad interim, Caroline Genco, the VPDEIJ will work closely with a team of four vice provosts of faculty affairs, research, innovation, and education. The VPDEIJ will manage a $1.5 million budget and a team of four direct reports: two chief diversity officers, the program director of the Antiracist Institution Initiative, and a program administrator.

The VPDEIJ will be responsible for providing vision, leadership, and oversight of the faculty, staff, and student experience through the following key areas: best practices; communication and community building; programming; strategy and evaluation; and training and education. The VPDEIJ will be empowered to inform and implement the institution’s strategy, processes, and infrastructure related to building a more diverse and inclusive community, and will work closely with the chief diversity officers, who are responsible for the Medford/Somerville and SMFA campuses and the health sciences schools, respectively, and the assistant or associate deans for diversity and inclusion (ADDIs) in respective units and schools to implement Tufts’ diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice strategies. The VPDEIJ will also ensure that the alumni experience is inclusive and is integrated into the larger DEIJ conversations within the Tufts community.

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

Joi Hayes-Scott and Yen Ling Shek

Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.

tufts.vpdeij@russellreynolds.com

For fullest consideration, materials should be received as soon as possible and preferably by Monday, July 25.

For more information, please see the full position specification.

Tufts University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.