Director of the Honors College

West Chester University (WCU) seeks an experienced, collaborative, and dynamic leader to serve as Director of the Honors College. The director will have the opportunity to bring vision and innovation to the college and build upon programming focused on leadership, service, and research beyond the classroom. Reporting directly to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the director will work collaboratively with deans and other constituents across the university to coordinate experiential learning opportunities that provide students with challenges and enrichment in their academic life through national and international study, travel, and service. The director will also implement, evaluate, and refine the Honors College curriculum; develop and regularly evaluate and refine policies and procedures within the college ensuring that they are fair and inclusive; recruit and retain qualified and diverse students and faculty; build and maintain internal and external collaborative relationships with other colleges and departments; manage administrative activities of the college; represent the Honors College at appropriate university, community, and professional events; engage in fundraising and development activities to generate funds for honors programming; and serve as the advisor to the Honors Student Association.

WCU, located just one hour from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City, is home to 14,500+ undergraduate and 2,900+ graduate students studying in their seven academic colleges. Established in 1979, the Honors College was built upon the foundations of academic excellence, campus engagement, and community building. The over 300 students in honors represent a diversity of academic backgrounds spanning 51 distinctive disciplines. Honors replaces general education classes required of all students with an alternative curriculum. Focused in leadership, its nine core courses offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning and prepares students for leadership, service, and research beyond the classroom.

The successful candidate should have a terminal degree in their academic discipline as well as academic expertise that is relevant to course offerings in WCU’s Honors program; exceptional communication skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all constituents; a demonstrated ability to engage and work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and administrators across different disciplines; a demonstrated commitment to ensuring student success and satisfaction; a demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships both internally and externally; a demonstrated commitment to global citizenship, diversity, equity and inclusion; a proven ability to facilitate change and build cooperative networks; demonstrated successful experience in academic administration, including administration with a high-achieving student population; and a demonstrated record of achievement in teaching. The ideal candidate will have a terminal degree in an academic discipline relevant to WCU; experience with an honors program or honors college; and experience in student recruitment and retention.

How to Apply

Greenwood Asher & Associates is assisting West Chester University in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and application materials should be directed to Greenwood Asher & Associates. For a full application package, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of five references. Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until an appointment is made.

Please direct inquiries, nominations, and application materials to:

Julie Holley, Search Manager & Senior Executive Search Consultant
Email: julieholley@greenwoodsearch.com

Kyle Pybus-Jerome, Senior Executive Search Consultant
Email: kylepybusjerome@greenwoodsearch.com

 

Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty and staff advances WCU’s educational mission and strategic plan. West Chester University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.