Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

 

Illinois State University seeks nominations and applications for the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. The University is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to provide innovative and strategic leadership for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives across Illinois State University. As one of its core values, Illinois State strives to create and maintain an atmosphere that nurtures cultural understanding, mutual respect, and social justice.

 

Position Responsibilities

  • Developing the Office of Equity and Inclusion to include planning, leading, and implementing institutional change in collaboration with university and community partners
  • Promoting cultural competence across all constituencies
  • Collaborating with senior leaders to develop systems of accountability for reaching diversity goals and objectives
  • Creating reporting mechanisms to ensure that unit diversity plans and initiatives are aligned with the University’s overarching diversity goals, objectives, and strategies
  • Recommending criteria and/or decisions to guide the University’s allocation of resources and strategic investments in support of institutional and unit diversity plans and initiatives
  • Creating and expanding opportunities to engage marginalized and underserved populations
  • Partnering with various units to develop comprehensive strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse students, faculty, and staff
  • Conducting campus climate studies, demographic studies, and policy analyses
  • Affirming and celebrating the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence
  • Creating and expanding opportunities to encourage dialogue with campus and community stakeholders

 

Required Qualifications

  • Master’s degree in relevant field
  • Demonstrated evidence of successfully leading diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in a higher education context or other large, complex organization
  • Effective written, interpersonal, and collaborative communication skills
  • Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining strategic relationships with diverse groups of stakeholders including but not limited to community leaders, alumni, corporate donors, benefactors, industry, and local, state, regional and national organizations focused on diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence
  • Demonstrated success in identifying and implementing best practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and an excellent command of modern diversity and inclusion standards, concepts, best practices

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Doctoral degree
  • Ten or more years of progressive leadership experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion,
    belonging, and community building in public higher education
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with underrepresented populations, bridge differences through dialogue, and promote cultural competence across all constituencies
  • Strong command of multifaceted aspects relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion on a college or university campus
  • Experience developing, leading, and evaluating comprehensive education or training
    programs, as to support and further develop pre-existing efforts across campus
  • Experience with budget and personnel management, strategic planning, and program
    assessment
  • Demonstrated success in working collaboratively to develop and implement recruitment and
    retention strategies focused on building a diverse workforce
  • Ability to analyze and document institutional progress forthe following programs: Title IX, ADA, and Affirmative Action, in partnership with the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA)
  • Proven analytical skills and ability to provide oversight for assessments related to campus climate, diversity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Demonstrated success in partnering with faculty in curriculum development efforts that advance diversity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice

 

Illinois State University

Illinois State University, founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois. Illinois State is a co-educational, residential university committed to fostering a small-college atmosphere with large-university opportunities and promoting the highest academic standards in teaching, scholarship, and community service. Serving more than 20,000 students, our six colleges offer 174 undergraduate majors, 97 master’s programs, 17 doctoral degrees, and 40 certificate options. We have repeatedly been named a “Great Place to Work” by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

 

Illinois State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our mission.

 

Bloomington-Normal Community:

Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a population of approximately 132,000 and conveniently located approximately two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis. The community is home to GROWMARK, Illinois Farm Bureau, State Farm Insurance International Headquarters, Rivian, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems and educational attainment, parks and recreation, health care, job growth, economic opportunity, and low crime. Please visit the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau website at www.visitbn.org and Bloomington-Normal Advantage as www.bnadvantage.com for more information.

 

Application Process

The Search Committee invites letters of nomination, applications (letter of interest, complete CV, and references) or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting Illinois State University. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that all nominations and applications be submitted prior to August 9, 2023. For more information, please contact Parker Executive Search:

 

Porsha Williams, Vice President
Jacob Anderson, Senior Principal
Jack McGrew, Executive Recruiting Coordinator
Parker Executive Search
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 2875 Atlanta, GA 30328
janderson@parkersearch.com || jmcgrew@parkersearch.com
(678) 775-4564

 

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

 

Compensation is commensurate with experience and in line with senior leadership at Illinois State University.