Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The University of Wyoming invites applications/nominations for the position of Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As it looks towards the future, UW seeks to advance its competitive position by graduating students prepared to be successful leaders in a global and diverse world. UW is committed to fostering a strong campus culture rooted in inclusive excellence that welcomes and supports students, staff, and faculty of all backgrounds.

Reporting directly to the President of the University, the VP for DEI will be provided the staff and budgetary resources necessary to lead UW’s many inclusive excellence initiatives. Working with fellow Vice Presidents as a part of the President’s executive council, the VP for DEI will oversee and lead UW’s ongoing efforts to develop inclusion as one of the four pillars supporting and sustaining the university into the future.

For this position, UW seeks a person with superb interpersonal skills and robust leadership capabilities who is able to work well with and advocate for a range of constituents both inside and outside of the university community to further UW’s commitment to inclusive excellence. This role holds a unique place in the state of Wyoming with the potential to engage various partners across the state to lead broad and meaningful outreach efforts to further diversity, equity, and inclusion for communities throughout Wyoming. Accordingly, UW seeks candidates with substantial experience working with diverse communities of all types, and who have demonstrated success leading initiatives to foster and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels of an institution and with a variety of constituents and communities.

Like all executive administrative positions at UW, the VP of DEI position is at-will. To the extent the successful candidate is qualified such that a tenured faculty position within one of UW’s existing programs is a possibility, we are open to a dual appointment as both a VP and a faculty member.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will:

  • Provide leadership and vision for developing inclusive excellence at UW. Early efforts include working with fellow VPs to further coordinate cohesion across divisions, increase opportunities for joint initiatives, and refine communication between departments to reduce overlap in programming and streamline outreach efforts.
  • Serve as an overarching resource and coordinator for DEI initiatives in all areas of campus, partner with General Council in policy review as needed to ensure UW is current on DEI best practice and local/state/federal requirements, and serve as a lead voice in representing UW in DEI-related services, meetings, partnerships, and programs in the community and throughout the state.
  • Support the work of UW to develop faculty, staff and student opportunities to enhance diversity in curricular and co-curricular activities across the university.
  • Provide leadership and foster collaboration related to diverse populations across the state of Wyoming.
  • Provide leadership in assessment of the UW’s status in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and develop policy and practices to improve the same when needed.
  • Support and chair the UW Diversity Council, and work collaboratively with Council members to develop and implement UW’s DEI initiatives.
  • Report on the UW’s progress in achieving the goals/objectives of its Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • Provide consultation to campus constituencies in evaluating, designing and implementing institutional policies and practices to ensure inclusive excellence centered on diversity, equity and respect for all students, faculty, and staff in all institutional settings, and with respect to employment and workplace practices.
  • Collaborate with partners in Academic Affairs to support curricular efforts aimed at developing more inclusive curricular design and pedagogy.
  • Work to grow our inclusion for all underrepresented groups
  • Work to secure grant opportunities and external funding to support inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives.
  • Help develop and support UW’s efforts to recruit and retain diverse students, staff, and faculty.
  • Collaborate with student affairs to improve success rates for underserved students.
  • Develop, support, and cultivate a shared responsibility for DEI initiatives with university partners to offer training and educational strategies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • In collaboration with the University’s Human Resources Department and the Equal Opportunity Report and Response unit, analyze and document institutional progress for the following programs:  Title IX, ADA, and Affirmative Action.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree required.
  • Doctorate preferred.
  • Substantial experience working with inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives in higher education or comparable organization.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The University is seeking outstanding candidates who also possess:

  • Extensive knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion, issues and related laws, regulations, policies, and trends in higher education.
  • Experience leading collaborative institutional projects and programs.
  • Experience developing, leading, and evaluating comprehensive education or training programs, as to support and further develop pre-existing efforts across campus.
  • Successful grant writing experience and/or experience with successful fundraising.
  • Effective written, interpersonal, and collaborative communication skills.
  • Motivation, professionalism, and integrity to advance the University’s diversity initiatives.
  • Experience with budget and personnel management, strategic planning, and program assessment.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, full resume, and contact information of at least five references), or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University; contact information is below. Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred that all nominations and applications be submitted to the search firm by August 1, 2022.

 

Porsha Williams, Vice President
Erin Raines, Senior Principal
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 770-804-1996 ext. 117
pwilliams@parkersearch.com || eraines@parkersearch.com

Like all executive administrative positions at UW, the VP of DEI position is at-will.

The University of Wyoming is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  We invite and encourage diverse applicants to consider our employment opportunities.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law and University policy. To review the EEO is the Law Poster and its Supplement, please see The Diversity & Fairness page.

We conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment.  Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of the background check.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and selection process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

 

 

WELCOME TO LARAMIE

Founded in 1886, UW is the only public university in Wyoming, providing baccalaureate, graduate, and professional education, research, and outreach. It enrolls approximately 12000 undergraduate and graduate students, employs over 2,800 benefitted faculty and staff members, and has an annual operating budget of $523 million. In the fall of 2015, [KC1] Wyoming’s ethnic/racial diversity is 15.9% and UW’s student diversity is 11.6% (undergraduate is 13%, graduate is 6.8% and new freshmen is 16.4%) with another 6.4% international students.

UW combines major-university benefits and small-school advantages, offering 200 programs of study, an outstanding faculty, and world-class research and teaching facilities, all set against the backdrop of Wyoming’s beautiful landscapes. The main campus is in Laramie, a community of approximately 31,000 sandwiched between the Medicine Bow and Laramie mountain ranges two hours north of Denver.

The University’s policy has been, and will continue to be, one of nondiscrimination, offering equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without regard to such matters as race, sex, gender, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, political belief, or other status protected by state and federal statutes or University Regulations. Veterans and candidates with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The University of Wyoming is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history, national sex offender search, employment and motor vehicle history. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of the background check.

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie[KC2]  in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. Wyoming is investing in its university, helping to make it a leader in academics, research and outreach.

The university has state-of-the-art facilities in many areas and is a cultural center for the state. Located on a high plain between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountain ranges, Laramie has more than 300 days of sunshine a year and is near year-round outdoor activities that include skiing, hiking, camping, bicycling, fishing and climbing. Its revitalized downtown offers a range of unique independent businesses and a farmer’s market in the warmer months.

The community provides the advantages of a major university and a distinctive identity as an important city in a frontier state.  Laramie is near many of Colorado's major cities and university communities (Fort Collins: 1 hour; Boulder: 1.5 hours; Denver: 2 hours; Colorado Springs; 4 hours).