Provost and Executive Vice President

Provost and Executive Vice President

Western Washington University (Western), is a public comprehensive institution dedicated to serving the people of the state of Washington. It is committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. Western invites nominations and applications for the role of Provost and Executive Vice President.

Since 1893, Western has educated students to explore widely, think critically, communicate clearly and connect ideas creatively to address our most challenging needs, problems, and questions. Offering more than 200 academic programs on its main campus in Bellingham, WA and seven satellite sites around the Puget Sound area, Western serves more than 15,000 students and has been the top master's-granting institution in the Pacific Northwest for 22 years. Sitting on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples, the Western community expresses its respect and gratitude to their Indigenous neighbors, for their enduring care and protection of their shared lands and waterways.  https://www.wwu.edu/tribal-lands-statement

Western provides an active student-centered learning environment with a liberal arts and sciences foundation and robust co-curricular, internship, research, creative, and service-learning opportunities. There is a widely shared vision of Western as a higher education leader in a culturally responsive 21st century learning environment, applying its critical strengths to societal issues as well as creating a welcoming community for a diversity of people, ideas, and programs. To that end, Western has embraced a style that is collegial, transparent, and timely in its engagement and communication with on- and off-campus stakeholders. Western is particularly proud of its position as a leader in multidisciplinary environmental education and sustainable campus operations. In addition, Western is not only committed to the academic growth of its students, but to empowering them to be engaged and active agents of positive change in the world.

Reporting to President Sabah Randhawa, the next provost will join a talented team of leaders at an exciting moment. At the midway-point of the strategic plan, Western's next provost will provide critical leadership in achieving the aspirational goals of advancement of inclusive success, increasing Washington impact, and enhancing academic excellence. They will also play an instrumental role in shaping the next strategic plan.

The next provost will develop and execute a plan for increasing graduate education; strengthening excellence and innovation; and establishing strong operational and budget processes to support Western's growth and success. The successful Provost candidate will be an experienced academic leader with a high level of energy, enthusiasm, and drive to advance the University’s aspirational strategic goals. The next Provost will have a strong track record in managing change in a dynamic environment, with superb leadership and communication skills, sound organizational acumen, and experience in building collaborations. The Provost must have the ability to adapt to Western culture that values tradition, inclusion, service, and shared governance, while being astute in challenging the status quo in service to the educational mission and priorities of the institution. 

An earned doctorate or terminal degree and strong record of academic teaching, research and scholarship suitable for an appointment as a tenured full professor at Western are required. Other requirements are outlined in the profile.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. For fullest consideration, applicants should submit a CV and letter of interest addressing the themes in the profile to WittKieffer by February 28. Western also requires a diversity statement: Western's strategic plan places Access, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ADEI) as a core value and a core goal of the institution. Please address what the role the provost has in advancing ADEI. In addition, please share an example of how your work has advanced ADEI at a previous institution or workplace.

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

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:
Charlene L. Aguilar, Ed. M. and Sandra Chu at
WWUProvost-EVP@wittkieffer.com

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs.