PROVOST

Seattle Pacific University

Provost

Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University (SPU), a private Christian university, seeks a creative, community-minded, and inspirational leader to serve as its next provost and lead the University with humility, empathy, and courage. Reporting to the president and working in collaboration with the deans and members of the Senior Leadership Team, the provost will shepherd the University to thrive as a leading institution of Christian higher education. The provost will boldly lead the University to strengthen its identity as a nationally recognized comprehensive liberal arts-focused university with premier professional and graduate programs.

Founded in 1891 by the Free Methodist Church of North America, SPU is fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community. Today, the campus community includes nearly 3,700 undergraduate and graduate students and 352 faculty, and 451 staff. SPU’s promise of value and difference lies in its commitment to its students, who learn to anticipate and shape the future; see the world with compassion; experience academic rigor; explore — or grow deeper in — Christian faith; and study in the heart of a global community.

SPU is ranked a Best National University by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting the University’s emphasis on undergraduate teaching and research wherein students work alongside faculty, as well as its growing graduate programs in business, education, fine arts, psychology, nursing, and theology. SPU faculty and staff members provide students with a holistic, diverse, and multidisciplinary learning environment, fostering critical inquiry and preparing students to be lifelong learners, stronger in their intellect and in their relationship with Christ.

Working with a dedicated and engaged faculty, the new provost for Seattle Pacific will advance the University’s reputation for and delivery of academic excellence, articulating the vision for SPU’s future and executing an action plan to achieve the University’s goals. To help further SPU’s mission and realize its aspirations, the provost will address the following key opportunities and challenges:

  • Together with the president, establish and champion a shared academic and faith-based vision for the University.
  • Provide academic leadership to ensure faculty and staff success and optimize the student experience.
  • Serve as an ambassador to message broadly the value of Christian higher education.
  • Articulate the value of a liberal arts education while responding with agility to the challenges facing traditional liberal arts education.
  • Enhance the University’s commitment to better integrating diversity principles into the fabric of the institution.
  • Strengthen connections between SPU and its environs to capitalize on the Seattle advantage.

Seattle Pacific University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: www.imsearch.com/7044. Electronic submission of materials is required.

Julie Filizetti and Ludi Chow

Isaacson, Miller

1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, CA  94111

Phone: 415.655.4900

Fax: 415.655.4905

It is the policy of Seattle Pacific University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs or activities, as required by applicable laws and regulations. As a religious educational institution affiliated with the Free Methodist Church of North America, Seattle Pacific University is permitted and reserves the right to prefer employees or prospective employees on the basis of religion.