President

Santa Clara University

President

 

Santa Clara University seeks a visionary, inspirational, and engaged leader with a deep commitment to the values of a Jesuit, Catholic education—someone who possesses the ability and experience to build and articulate a comprehensive, unifying vision among all constituents. This is a pivotal and transformational moment for higher education and for Santa Clara as the University considers the possibility of the appointment of its first lay president. The next president will bring decisiveness; discernment; a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and exceptional leadership in mobilizing and operationalizing the path forward.

 

Founded in 1851, and located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University blends high-tech innovation with an emphasis on personal, humanistic formation and social consciousness that animate the Jesuit, Catholic educational tradition. In the 2022 “Best Colleges” rankings of U.S. News & World Report, Santa Clara was ranked at No. 55, or the top 15% of 400 top national universities. Through more than 50 majors, minors, and special programs in six schools and colleges, the University seeks to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion, who cultivate knowledge and faith to build a more humane, just, and sustainable world. At the undergraduate level, Santa Clara offers degrees in arts and sciences, business and engineering. A substantial graduate program supports degrees in arts and sciences, theology, business, education and counseling psychology, engineering, and law. The University is home to more than 5,850 undergraduate students, 3,000 graduate students, 900 faculty, over 1,050 staff, and more than 104,000 alumni living worldwide.

 

As the University emerges from the pandemic, it finds itself in a strong financial position. Santa Clara has an annual ope­­­­­rating budget of approximately $545 million and an endowment of over $1.5 billion. Today, the University has virtually no deferred maintenance and recently opened state of the art facilities to enhance student learning and faculty research. The beautiful and historic 106-acre campus is adjacent to San Jose, the 10th largest city in the U.S., and community members are able to take advantage of the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse regions in the world.

 

The new president will strengthen and energize the community, galvanizing it around a distinctive and compelling vision in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of cura personalis—educating each person to flourish in mind, body, and spirit—and cultivating a social consciousness and commitment to justice that will infuse all aspects of the University. This vision will be built by and in support of a campus community grounded in mutual trust, respect, transparency, community, and collaboration where creativity and innovation can thrive. The president will lend their personal leadership and character to cultivating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where all members feel valued and have a sense of belonging, as well as a campus where environmental sustainability is central to decision-making and planning. Of paramount importance will be the creation of a sustainable business model that delivers affordable education opportunity, extending a transformative Jesuit education to ever wider circles of students and supporting its long-term health and the wellbeing of its students, faculty and staff. In addition, the president will foster deep relationships with alumni, business leaders, and the broader Silicon Valley community to leverage the tremendous support and opportunities afforded by this vibrant, entrepreneurial, and innovative region.

 

To achieve these objectives, Santa Clara seeks a president with vision, reflective discernment, an engaged and collaborative style, strategic and operational leadership, creativity and innovative spirit, exceptional communication skills, and energy and integrity to inspire and unite the community around a common vision for the future. The president will have experience as a leader of an enterprise of similar size and complexity and with a substantial record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion. The successful candidate will identify deeply with, and be able to serve as a compelling communicator of, the distinctive character and mission of a Jesuit, Catholic university, and have a proven history of productive and collaborative relationships with internal and external University constituencies, possess a transparent, inspiring and decisive leadership, and be adept at building consensus. An earned doctorate or terminal degree is desired. There is an openness to nontraditional candidates who, through previous experience and leadership in transformational undertakings and commitment to excellence in higher education, would garner the respect of the campus and broader communities.

 

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume, and a letter of interest addressing the responsibilities and requirements described in the leadership profile that can be found at www.wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 3, 2021 and submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal. Nominations and inquiries can be directed to the WittKieffer consultants supporting this search, Suzanne Teer, Shelley Arakawa, J.D., and Alejandra Gillette-Teran, at SantaClaraPresident@wittkieffer.com.

 

 

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. The Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is Belinda Guthrie, Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 408-551-3043, bguthrie@scu.edu, www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). 

 

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.