President
Heritage University
Toppenish, WA - United States
We are thrilled to partner with Heritage University in search of a dynamic, visionary, and collaborative leader for the role of President.
Heritage University is a private, non-profit institution located in the heart of the Yakima Valley in Washington State on the ancestral lands of the Yakama Nation. It has three learning locations: a 48-acre main campus in Toppenish, a satellite location in the Tri-Cities that allows for four years of undergraduate study, and an instructional site at Columbia Basin College where transfer students may complete the last two years of study.
There are 930 students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs (all of whom are non-residential students), and the University offers 36 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Since its founding in 1982, the University has awarded more than 15,000 degrees (associates through master’s) and certificates.
The rural University, located in the middle of hop fields, serves a population traditionally left out of higher education—individuals from marginalized communities, low-income, and first-generation students (85%). The current student body is 72% female, one-third of whom have small children for whom the campus’s Early Learning Center offers pre-school care. The University prides itself on its multicultural education that celebrates the rich and varied cultures of its student body and the communities it serves. Heritage is Washington State’s only university to be designated both a Hispanic Serving and a Native American Non-Tribal Serving Institution. The University is proud of its collaborative and long-standing relationship with the Yakama Nation and the privilege of its location on the Yakama Reservation.
The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and reports to the Board of Directors through the Chair. The Board and the University seek a new President to build on the University’s legacy and prepare it for an unstoppable future in the rapidly changing higher education landscape.
Following the successful tenure of the University’s third President, Andrew Sund, Ph.D., the next President of Heritage University will lead a university that has a clear mission. Heritage University seeks a President who embodies its mission and values, demonstrating dynamic leadership, financial expertise, and exceptional team- building skills to advance the institution’s goals. The President will work closely with the Board of Directors to develop strategic plans and ensure the University remains true to its mission, continually improving instruction and student services that promote engagement, retention, and graduation. The role requires a leader who can inspire trust, make difficult decisions, and guide Heritage University toward a future of continued excellence and innovation.
The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to make effective decisions within complex organizational environments and to drive success through fundraising and strategic resource allocation. A steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice is essential. An advanced degree, preferably a doctorate or terminal degree, is required, along with at least ten years of progressive leadership experience in higher education with demonstrable results.
WittKieffer is assisting Heritage University in this search. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile linked at the bottom of this page. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by January 6, 2025.
The target salary range for this position is $250,000-$350,000.