Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Macalester College, a global leader among liberal arts colleges, invites nominations and applications for its inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion. Reporting directly to Dr. Suzanne Rivera who joined the College in 2020 as Macalester’s 17th president, the vice president will serve as a dynamic thought leader, partner, and member of the senior leadership team. The vice president will collaborate with the College’s diverse stakeholders to provide leadership and strategic direction, together creating an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and respectful to students who are engaged citizens with a "we/us" outlook on the world.

Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Macalester was founded in 1874 as a Presbyterian but nonsectarian college with a firm belief in the transformational power of a liberal arts education. Macalester is ranked among the top 30 liberal arts colleges in the country and was named one of the 25 most-innovative colleges in the United States. Animated by the mission of high standards for academic excellence, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society, Macalester enrolls 2,049 students coming from every state and 95 countries. The College’s rigorous and distinctive curriculum offers 39 majors taught by more than 250 full- and part-time faculty. Diverse interdisciplinary concentration — including cognitive science, community and global health, and urban studies — exemplify how faculty collaborate across disciplines to actively create relevant, distinctive programs for students. Read more about Macalester at www.macalester.edu.

This is an extraordinary opportunity at a critical time for an accomplished and visionary leader to join a liberal arts college focused on the development of future leaders not only to create a more just and peaceful world, but also to truly prepare students to be in the world as it looks now. As we navigate this current moment and beyond — facing, learning from, and responding to COVID and systemic racism — the inaugural vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion will show strong commitment to fostering a student-centered environment and enhance the institution’s commitments to global citizenship, service to society, justice, and activism.

The inaugural vice president will be a strategic, energetic, courageous, and collaborative leader who models and promotes a culture of inclusive excellence, inclusion in learning and teaching, institutional equity, and community flourishing. The vice president will possess in-depth knowledge of theory and practice with regard to institutional equity and diversity and be a skilled administrator who can bring strategic initiatives to fruition. Outstanding leadership, interpersonal skills, and strategic planning experience are essential, as is the ability to promote a culture of mutual trust and respect, collaboration and transparency. The ideal candidate will bring thought leadership, experience, and effective practices in advancing diversity, equity, anti-racism, and inclusion outcomes. A bachelor's degree is required and an advanced degree preferred.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search:

Charlene Aguilar, Ed.M., Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D. and Jessica Herrington
MacalesterVPDEI@wittkieffer.com

Macalester College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome candidates whose background may contribute to the further diversification of our community.