Vice President for Student Affairs
San José State University
San Jose, CA - United States
San José State University (SJSU) invites inquiries, nominations and applications for a strategic and action-oriented leader to serve as its next Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA).
Founded in 1857, San José State University (SJSU) is the oldest public institution of higher education on the West Coast. Located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, San José State is the fifth largest of the 23 campuses of the California State University (CSU) system and the largest four-year university system in the United States. It is one of the most diverse universities in the U.S., with over 85% of its population self-reporting as students of color and 42% identifying as first-generation college students. It is also a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). As one of the 200 top research universities in the nation, San José State has robust NSF and NIH-funded research programs and one of the highest levels of research funding in the CSU system. San José State also offers rigorous coursework to more than 36,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nine colleges.
San José State is well positioned to become a pre-eminent urban public university, welcoming its 31st president and internationally recognized Latina leader and scholar, Cynthia Teniente-Matson, to campus in January 2023. With strong enrollments and a renewed commitment to excellence in teaching and research, the campus is poised to grow and innovate, strengthening its connection to the surrounding San José and Silicon Valley community and further fulfilling its social justice mission of access and equity. The campus strategic plan—Transformation 2030—released in spring 2019 and updated under the leadership of President Teniente-Matson, provides the framework for unparalleled growth that reflects our campus mission, values, and priorities.
The next vice president for student affairs will support the university’s commitment to student engagement and success by actively developing, implementing, and maintaining a multifaceted approach to student learning, health & wellness, inclusive excellence, and student success. Working collaboratively and transparently with students, administration, faculty, and staff, the VPSA will serve as an advocate for the holistic development and growth of a dynamic student population that represents a myriad of backgrounds and life experiences.
The incoming VPSA will be an energetic professional with the emotional intelligence, cultural competence, skills, experience, and knowledge required to lead SJSU’s Division of Student Affairs. The VPSA will demonstrate a deep and authentic commitment to students and their academic success, and partner closely with faculty, academic and enrollment management administrators to support these efforts. The next VPSA will also have large-scale fiscal-management experience; a record of effectively managing and supporting teams; deep knowledge about research-based best practices in student affairs combined with creative thinking and a record of innovation; and the ability to leverage data and assessment practices in decision-making to ensure that activities within the division are advancing the university’s strategic goals. A minimum of eight years of relevant, successful, and progressive experience in an institution of higher education is required. A master’s degree or equivalent is required; a doctoral degree is preferred. Experience in a collective bargaining environment is a plus.
Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile. WittKieffer is assisting San José State in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by Monday, April 1, 2024.
Nominations, inquiries, and application materials can be directed to: Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., Darrien Davenport, Ed.D., and Corin Edwards at SJSU-VPSA@wittkieffer.com.
The salary for the role is anticipated to be between $23,000/month-$24,000/month. The final hiring salary is commensurate with experience.
San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).