Provost

Luther College

Provost

Luther College invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations of candidates in its search for the newly created position of Provost. Luther seeks a forward-thinking and collaborative leader with a deep and abiding commitment to the college’s mission and values. The Provost will join Luther at an unprecedented time in higher education and the institution’s history. Joining President Jenifer K. Ward, a highly dedicated and student-focused faculty and staff, a vibrant and supportive campus community, and an engaged Board of Regents, the Provost will have strong and energized partners at Luther. 

Ranked among the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, Luther is a Phi Beta Kappa campus nationally recognized for its engaging Paideia program, the number of students awarded prestigious Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, and the percentage of students who study abroad. Luther’s identity as a college in the Lutheran tradition (ELCA) and its membership in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) mark it as a community that is both rooted and open. Neither sectarian nor secular, Luther College shapes lives of meaning and purpose in service to the neighbor.

Luther College’s central campus is situated on nearly 200 acres of limestone bluff country, and in the heart of Decorah, a warm and vibrant town. With a population of 8,000, Decorah offers plentiful recreation; a charming downtown with numerous restaurants, coffeehouses, craft breweries, an independent bookstore, and a nationally recognized museum of Norwegian-American culture; natural beauty; and a close-knit community—all while providing the conveniences of a city many times its size. Recently, U.S. News & World Report named Decorah High School a top high school in Iowa. Decorah was also featured in Smithsonian Magazine’s annual list of the 20 best small towns to visit in America, as well as being named on Forbes’ “America’s Prettiest Towns” list and the 2015 Best Choice Reviews list of the 50 best small towns in America. Traveliowa.com has Decorah appearing on 10 different “top location” lists. In 2020, Thrillist named Decorah “The Must-Visit Small Town” in Iowa.

The Provost at Luther will be a key voice in the President’s Cabinet and will lead a division that creates an integrated approach to student-facing work, overseeing academic affairs, student engagement, and student success. As the chief academic officer, the Provost will be an individual with academic training, and will understand and affirm the crucial importance at Luther of co-curricular programs and initiatives; the residential experience; student leadership development; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and retention—preferably with demonstrated experience in one of more of these areas.

The Provost, in concert with the President, will provide energetic and creative leadership and the vision that will take the college to new heights. Reporting to the Provost will be the departments currently in three separate divisions (Academics, Student Life, Student Success). The Provost will be assisted by associate or vice provosts or deans in these areas. Additionally, the Provost will serve as staff liaison to the Board of Regents’ Academic Affairs and Student Life Committees.

The Provost will bring to the role a record of teaching, scholarly, and administrative prowess reflective of Luther’s own high standards, coupled with an eye for innovation, a strong work ethic, and a collegial spirit. The successful candidate will possess a Ph.D. or its equivalent in one of the disciplines represented on campus. 

The full position description is available at: www.storbecksearch.com/active-searches.

For best consideration, please send all confidential nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest by January 13, 2021. All materials should be submitted to: 

Julie E. Tea, Partner   

Brian Bustin, Senior Associate

LutherProvost@storbecksearch.com

For more information, please visit Luther College’s home page at www.luther.edu.

Luther College seeks to build a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students.

Luther College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.