Vice President for Student Affairs

Search for the Vice President for Student Affairs

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Los Angeles, CA

Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU), the only Catholic liberal arts university primarily for women in the western United States, seeks an experienced and visionary Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) to capitalize on institutional momentum and provide exceptional student support. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution in the heart of Los Angeles, MSMU is renowned for increasing social mobility of its graduates, building leadership skills, offering a dynamic learning experience in both the liberal arts and sciences, and fostering a spirit to serve others in the tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. As MSMU nears its centennial, it seeks a new VPSA who will help further the university’s mission of providing a transformational student experience through innovative student programming, services, and partnerships across the university.

Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Mount Saint Mary’s is the only women’s university in Los Angeles and one of the most diverse in the nation. The University is known nationally for its research on gender equity, its innovative health and science programs, and its commitment to community service and global justice. As a leading liberal arts institution, Mount Saint Mary’s provides year-round, flexible and online programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Weekend, evening and graduate programs are offered to both women and men. MSMU serves approximately 2,900 students, including approximately 600 graduate students. The Chalon Campus houses the majority of traditionally-aged undergraduate students, while just 16 miles away near downtown Los Angeles, the Doheny Campus is home to additional academic offerings, including graduate education. The Chalon campus is in the Brentwood neighborhood overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean; the Doheny campus is centrally located to all that downtown Los Angeles has to offer.

This is an exciting moment for MSMU, as the university embarks on a new strategic planning process, built upon the successful conclusion of the most recent strategic plan, “Innovation for Excellence: Transforming Lives.” The VPSA will join a highly aspirational university at a time when the university is thinking creatively about how to ensure a transformational student experience for all students well into the future to remain competitive in a tough Los Angeles higher education environment. The VPSA will have the opportunity to leverage this highly-committed university community and its many curricular and co-curricular strengths while finding new ways to support its diverse student body, with the goal of empowering students as leaders, learners, and advocates for a just society. In doing so, the VPSA will address the following key opportunities and challenges:

  • Develop a vision and strategy for the Division of Student Affairs as part of the new Strategic Planning process
  • Build collaborations across the university for a more seamless co-curricular experience
  • Develop and strengthen support structures to meet the needs of a diverse student body
  • Cultivate a dedicated student affairs team
  • Serve as a strategic, creative, and thoughtful partner on the senior leadership team

Mount Saint Mary’s University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/7181. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.

Lindsay Gold and Ludi Chow

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA 94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Mount Saint Mary’s University is an equal opportunity employer. The University is thoroughly committed both to providing equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees, and to providing a work environment that is free from harassment, discrimination and retaliation.