Vice President for Campus Life

 

Wake Forest University seeks a strategic, innovative, and student-centered leader to serve as its next vice president for campus life. 

 

The nation’s premier collegiate university, Wake Forest is dedicated to educating the whole person and upholding the promise of its motto, Pro Humanitate – for humanity. The University is a distinctive institution, combining a rigorous academic liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs for its lively academic community of more than 8,000 students from 49 states and over 50 countries. Recognized by U.S. News as a "Top 30 National University" for 24 consecutive years, Wake Forest is committed to educating students to be bold thinkers who can address the most challenging problems of today’s world. This commitment is made manifest through the close student-faculty engagement of a residential liberal arts college with the breadth and resources of a nationally prominent research university. Additionally, the University's membership in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference adds to both the student experience and global reputation. Over the last decade, Wake Forest has also become a national leader in its attention to student well-being, with new or fully renovated facilities supporting each person’s ability to thrive; in teaching and programs advancing leadership and character as core features of many students’ personal development; and in engaging students to think more deeply about their vocational choices as they navigate the transition from college to career. Ultimately, Wake Forest is a place where a vibrant and diverse learning community weds the pursuit of knowledge, the enjoyment of rich personal experiences, and a commitment to public service.

 

The vice president for campus life will join Wake Forest in the midst of an exciting leadership transition. Reporting dually to President Susan R. Wente, who took office in July 2021, and Provost Rogan Kersh, the new vice president will work with key stakeholders to imagine, develop, and sustain a vibrant student experience within the framework of a collegiate university - a holistic undergraduate experience rooted in the intellectual vitality of the liberal arts (with its foundation of required courses in the arts, humanities, literature, social sciences, and STEM disciplines) and coupled with outstanding graduate and professional programs. As a member of the president's cabinet, the vice president will provide strategic, visionary, and comprehensive leadership to a $53 million student affairs portfolio that encompasses a constellation of offices promoting seamless student support and helping shape a culture of belonging and engagement across the University.

 

The vice president for campus life will be an experienced, dynamic, collaborative, and nimble leader who builds trust and forms strong partnerships to advance student-centered initiatives that enhance the student experience and support student learning and development. The vice president will possess a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms; deft leadership, communication, collaboration, external engagement, and creative problem-solving skills; exceptional administrative, financial, and managerial acumen; and a deep familiarity with current issues and trends influencing campus life and student development. 

 

Wake Forest seeks a vice president for campus life who respects the strong liberal arts background of the University on the one hand and is energetically creative and entrepreneurial on the other, shaping the future by learning from and building upon the past. Embracing Pro Humanitate, the vice president will work closely with senior colleagues, the faculty, and students to support a thriving future for the University and the students it serves.

 

A detailed leadership profile is available at wittkieffer.com.

 

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile and a CV or resume. WittKieffer is assisting Wake Forest University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by October 21, 2021.

 

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Robin Mamlet, Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., and Jessica Herrington at WakeForestVPCL@wittkieffer.com.

 

Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce while promoting an inclusive work environment committed to excellence. In adherence with applicable laws and as provided by University policies, the University prohibits discrimination in its employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and veteran status and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.