Vice Provost for University Life

Vice Provost for University Life

The University of Pennsylvania seeks an innovative, inclusive, collaborative, and entrepreneurial leader for the role of Vice Provost for University Life. The Vice Provost plays a critical and highly visible role in leading and supporting the University-wide student experience at Penn.

Reporting directly to the Provost, the next Vice Provost for University Life will lead the Division of University Life, working collaboratively with undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty across Penn’s 12 schools and a wide range of interdisciplinary centers and institutes. The Vice Provost leads the student life portfolio at Penn, which includes academic, career and personal support; community clubs and organizations; cultural resource centers; and administrative services. The Vice Provost will lead all campus initiatives related to student life in a manner that is inclusive, innovative, strategic, data-informed, and maximizes the value of available technologies, while maintaining the responsiveness and individualized approach to students that Penn has always exemplified.

With the arrival of newly appointed President Liz Magill, a legal scholar and transformative leader, this is an exciting time to join the University of Pennsylvania. This position presents a unique opportunity to shape the lives of exceptionally talented students who are deeply committed to the Penn ethos of making a meaningful difference in the wider world. The University’s longstanding emphasis on student life, combined with lessons learned from the pandemic, offer new opportunities for the Vice Provost to think creatively and flexibly about how to continue to advance the student experience at Penn. 

The Vice Provost for University Life oversees a budget of $45 million and a staff of 135 full-time employees across 16 departments. This nationally honored division provides services, support, and leadership development opportunities to support a diverse community of over 28,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Penn students benefit enormously from the University's rich global diversity and renowned interdisciplinary educational opportunities. University Life plays an integral role in students' lives, integrating student supports and co-curricular experiences in civic engagement, peer education, career planning, mentoring, and cultural programming.

The next Vice Provost will ensure that the Division continues to be a national and campus model for proactive, inclusive, student-centered practices that promote and support student success, fulfillment, personal growth, and well-being. They will work closely with the Provost and senior leadership to re-envision the Division’s work across the University, how it serves students with excellence, and how its culture and approach support the University. The VP will lead the development of programs and approaches that meet the needs of Penn’s evolving student demographics, with a particular focus on supporting inclusion and belonging for Penn’s diverse student body.

The ideal candidate will have a deep passion for student life and the holistic student experience; deep experience serving the unique needs of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from wide-ranging backgrounds; a history of strong and measurable progress advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in a campus environment; and a track record of welcoming collaboration with a range of partners and constituencies across a large, complex, and decentralized campus to advance the overall student experience. The successful candidate will be a team builder and inspiring leader with comprehensive expertise in national best practices around important student issues and an evidence-driven approach to leading change.

For the complete position profile, please visit:

https://diversifiedsearchgroup.com/search/upenn-vice-provost-for-university-life/

For best consideration, please send all nominations and applications by October 20, 2022 to:

Ruth Shoemaker Wood, Ph.D., Managing Director

Fiona Jaramillo, Ed.D., Senior Associate

Storbeck Search

PennUniversityLife@storbecksearch.com

Penn is committed to ensuring that its academic, social, recreational programs and services as well as opportunities for admission and employment are available on an equitable and nondiscriminatory basis without regard to an individual's legally protected class status. Penn also has written affirmative action programs to address any underrepresentation of women, minorities, people with disabilities, and qualified covered veterans. The Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, in collaboration with the Division of Human Resources and the Office of the Provost, oversees the implementation and administration of the University's equal opportunity, affirmative action, and nondiscrimination policies and programs. The University recognizes the right of members of the community to raise questions and pursue complaints of discrimination and adheres to a strict policy that prohibits retaliation for doing so. Questions, complaints of alleged discrimination, or concerns regarding these policies or their implementation may be directed to the Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs, Franklin Building, Suite 421, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205, (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 746-7088 (Fax).