RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT VICE PROVOST FOR INCLUSION AND COMMUNITY AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, COMMUNITY, AND LEADERSHIP
Reporting to the associate vice provost for inclusion, community, and integrative learning, the assistant vice provost for inclusion and community and executive director of equity, community, and leadership oversees the centers for equity, community, and leadership (CECL) whose mission is to “empower students to be bold collaborators and innovative leaders preparing them to navigate a complex world with the most vulnerable in mind.” The assistant vice provost provides visionary and strategic leadership, advocacy, support, direction, and long-range plans for the centers as a vital part of the student affairs organization. CECL consists of the Asian American Activities Center, Black Community Services Center, El Centro Chicano y Latino, First Generation and/or Low-Income Student Success Center, Markaz Resource Center, Native American Cultural Center, Queer Student Resources, and Women’s Community Center.
This is a pivotal role that collaborates with campus leaders, cross-functional areas, and schools across the university to implement CECL’s vision and strategy. The position will supervise approximately 25 staff employees, including eight direct reports, and manage a $5.8 million budget.
Specific duties and responsibilities as outlined in the university job description include:
- Support efforts of managers, develop those in leadership positions and in the leadership pipeline, make hiring and compensation decisions, provide coaching and mentoring, manage performance, determine staffing needs, and develop and ensure succession planning within the area of responsibility
- Lead the centers in creating a collective vision
- Provide direction and/or support of programs (i.e., changemakers series and LEAD—leading through education, activism, and diversity)
- Serve as a liaison between the centers and various constituents, as it relates to campus-wide initiatives and concerns related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)
- Advocate for institutional equity as it relates to the programs, resources, and requests related to the centers and offices within the portfolio
- Evaluate current programs, partnerships, and ensure proper stewardship of university partners’ financial contributions
- Develop annual budget requests and work closely with the inclusion, community, and integrative learning (ICIL) director of finance and business operations in monitoring the budget of each center and office
- Represent CECL to the development office and advocate for center endowments and other major gifts
- Identify, clarify, and resolve complex, highly visible issues with university-wide scope and strategic impact and substantial significance which may span multiple areas, using advanced technical and professional knowledge requiring broad discretion and judgment and in-depth knowledge of university policies, governance, and priorities
- Act as liaison to upper-level management with individual students and student groups
- Serve as an experienced thought partner on DEIB issues and initiatives
- Provide counsel and collaborate with senior leadership, in long-range planning and policy development for CECL
- Work with other areas in student affairs and university partners to create consistent policies, systems, and messaging for various issues
- Work independently to make decisions regarding projects, programs, and initiatives, with limited or no review by senior management; commit university resources with limited or no review by senior officers
- Support the centers, student organizations, and campus partners in programs that are in line with our most important work
- Participate in setting the direction of CECL’s internal administrative policy development for programs and administrative operations; negotiate and influence on matters of university-wide impact
- Lead the development of program assessments to evaluate impact of CECL’s work
- Serve as senior advisor to the associate vice president on programmatic and policy development; recommend new internal policies, guidelines, and procedures
- Manage, interpret, implement, and ensure compliance with legal, financial, university, academic, and administrative policies and external regulations within CECL
- Direct complex, high-visibility process redesign and innovation projects, champion major initiatives, and develop and drive implementation of project initiatives
- Lead, identify, and develop priorities for CECL student services initiatives and outreach programs in consultation with the directors
- Represent department programs and initiatives at senior-level meetings, conferences, strategic committees, and task forces, and to both internal and external constituents
- Partner with key individuals from across the university to develop and support new and ongoing business and technology initiatives
QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Stanford is seeking an energetic and collaborative administrator who is passionate about advancing equity, deepening intellectual engagement, and cultivating student well-being. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree and ten years of relevant experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. An advanced degree and experience in a higher education setting are strongly preferred.
The ideal candidate will be a visionary and transformative thought leader, strategist, and community builder who has strong leadership and management skills and a track record of successfully advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), community and cultural centers, and centers, offices, and services that support students. This person will be adept at leading a team of professionals, fostering dialogue with different groups across and beyond the campus, building coalitions and consensus, and achieving results through influence. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of the dynamics of difference, privilege, and power, and possess the energy, enthusiasm, drive, emotional intelligence, and gravitas necessary to lead change and achieve ambitious goals in a highly complex and decentralized environment.
While no single candidate will have all the desired qualifications, the successful candidate will bring many of the following experiences, skills, and attributes:
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge of critical issues in higher education as it relates to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, community and cultural centers, and the centers, offices, and services that support students directly
- Proven strategic leadership and change-management skills, expertise in assessment and evidence-based decision-making, and ability to anticipate and address challenges proactively
- Demonstrated experience and ability with leading a large and diverse professional staff team, including hiring, supervision, and professional development
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively; ability to establish credibility and effective working relationships across organization
- Advanced written and oral communication skills to clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and all levels of management
- Ability to develop strong, positive, and productive relationships with student leaders who are deeply engaged in activism and social justice change efforts designed to enhance and improve the campus climate for diversity and inclusion
- Strong analytical skills to review and analyze complex financial information; demonstrated experience with complex budgeting and financial management
- Ability to critically analyze requests for engagement on DEIB initiatives and articulate responses based on organizational priority and capacity
- Understanding of underlying technological needs and requirements and user knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and new technologies
- A well-developed sense of political acumen and ability to strongly advocate for equity and inclusion at all levels of the institution
HISTORY OF THE POSITION
Jan Barker Alexander served the Stanford community for more than 27 years and retired from her position as assistant vice provost for inclusion and community, and executive director of the centers for equity, community, and leadership in the fall of 2022. A visionary leader, she left an enduring legacy of community building at Stanford; she created programs that serve as a national model for intellectual engagement, cultural awareness, leadership development, and social justice. She helped shape the Black Community Services Center and Ujamaa House; and made key contributions to the inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in a learning environment (IDEAL) initiative, development and fundraising, and Black alumni networks. Barker Alexander moved back to her home state of Louisiana where she serves as executive associate vice president for diversity and inclusion at her alma mater, Louisiana State University.
Following Barker Alexander’s retirement, Dr. Faith Kazmi was named interim assistant vice provost for inclusion and community and executive director for the CECL. With over 20 years of higher education experience, Kazmi has spent the majority of her career at the Stanford Women’s Community Center, where she continues in her role as associate dean and director.
Stanford has retained Spelman Johnson to assist with the search. The successful candidate will be expected to take office in the summer of 2023, or as negotiated with the associate vice provost for inclusion, community, and integrative learning.
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE ROLE
- The assistant vice provost will promote a collective vision for eight centers that are part of a tapestry that speaks into the conscience of the institution. The assistant vice provost will recognize the centers’ rich and varied legacies and their all-important work, which has been, and continues to be, integral to the advancement of equity at Stanford, the deepening of intellectual engagement, and the cultivation of well-being for Stanford students.
- The assistant vice provost will recognize that collaboration and partnership are integral to the centers’ collective work. The assistant vice provost will advance the centers’ mission by modeling and advancing engagement with colleagues, departments, and divisions to ensure that Stanford creates an environment where students can thrive.
- The assistant vice provost will have the opportunity to lead a team of talented and dedicated professionals who work with synergy and shared purpose, readily collaborating a demonstrated commitment to students and their well-being. The assistant vice provost will need to earn the trust of center leaders through authentic relationship building, enhancing professional development opportunities, and fostering a culture of mutual respect, honest information sharing, solicitation of others’ input, and fair and consistent accountability methods. There is genuine excitement that, with a new assistant vice provost coming on board, the team will be able to preserve and strengthen its culture of creativity, innovation, and progressive thinking.
- The assistant vice provost must be able to successfully balance the administrative demands of a leadership position within an institution that also expects that the assistant vice provost will be a highly visible and accessible advocate for the centers and the students they serve.
- The assistant vice provost must be respectful of the accomplishments of their predecessor while simultaneously shaping the future of the centers by implementing innovative strategies, programs, and services. These efforts will be both challenging and rewarding.
- The associate vice provost must work effectively with the center directors to assess and analyze program and service outcomes and determine priorities for change that will enhance the quality of services, optimize available resources, and strengthen the sense of shared vision, purpose, and colleagueship.
- The assistant vice provost will be expected to serve as senior advisor to the associate vice president on programmatic and policy development.
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
Soon after joining the Stanford community, the assistant vice provost will work directly with Associate Vice Provost Samuel Santos Jr. to identify specific quantitative and qualitative measures of success, along with associated timetables.
In the short term, the assistant vice provost’s success will be measured by the degree to which they learn and are able to navigate the culture and complexities of Stanford, build relationships with reporting staff and stakeholders across student affairs and the university, and earn the trust and respect of students, faculty, staff, and senior leaders. In the longer term, the assistant vice provost’s success will be measured by the achievement of long-term organizational goals and strategic plans of the unit, as well as making recommendations for changes in policies and practices that advance equity at Stanford, deepen intellectual engagement, and cultivate student well-being.
OVERVIEW OF THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Leadership
Susie Brubaker-Cole, Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Dr. Susie Brubaker-Cole became Stanford University’s vice provost for student affairs on October 1, 2017. As vice provost, she oversees a student affairs division that manages the residential life and many student experiences that take place outside the classroom. Division units include the university registrar, the dean of students, student health services, residential education, career education, the graduate life office, and numerous student service and student cultural, diversity, and community centers. Brubaker-Cole is also a member of the university cabinet.
Prior to becoming Stanford’s vice provost, Brubaker-Cole led Oregon State University’s (OSU) student affairs division for three years, an office similar in scope to that at Stanford. She previously served six years as OSU’s associate provost for academic success and engagement. As associate provost, she worked in close partnership with the division of student affairs, academic units, and the faculty senate to guide the vision, development, and implementation of university-wide student success and engagement initiatives.
From 1999 to 2008, she served as Stanford’s associate vice provost for undergraduate education, leading academic advising, undergraduate research, honors programs, academically themed living-learning programs, and graduate fellowships and scholarships advising. She also was a live-in Stanford resident fellow within student affairs, directing residential programming and student staff development for a frosh and sophomore residence.
Brubaker-Cole holds a master’s degree and doctorate in French literature from Yale University, with a focus on 19th- and 20th-century literature and Francophone literature of sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French and comparative history of ideas as a transfer student at the University of Washington.
Samuel Santos Jr., Associate Vice Provost for Inclusion, Community, and Integrative Learning
Samuel Santos Jr., joined Stanford in 2022 as the associate vice provost of inclusion, community, and integrative learning within the division of student affairs.
In this role, Santos leads the division’s efforts to center diversity, equity, and inclusion in programs supporting students’ sense of community and belonging. Organizations reporting through him include the centers for equity, community, and leadership (the seven community centers), the office of first generation/low-income programs, the office for military-affiliated communities, the office of student engagement, fraternity and sorority life, Stanford Career Education, and the office for inclusion, belonging, and intergroup communication.
Santos joined Stanford with nearly two decades of experience in the student affairs field. His most recent role previous to Stanford was as assistant vice chancellor for student engagement at the University of California (UC), Berkeley. Additionally, he has served as assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students at the University of Houston, Downtown; and interim vice chancellor for student development, associate vice chancellor of student success and equity, and dean of student affairs and wellness at City College San Francisco. He began his career at an identity-based cultural center—the LGBT Center at UC San Diego—and then as the director of the resource center for sexual and gender diversity at UC Santa Barbara.
Santos is pursuing a doctorate of education at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education, Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) program. He holds a master’s degree in education, multicultural and community-based counseling, from San Diego State University, and a bachelor’s degree in Mexican American Studies, literary and cultural studies track, from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership
The Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership is a student affairs unit comprised of the eight community and cultural centers on campus.
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California is a dynamic global city nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. The city is named after a majestic 1,000 year old coastal redwood tree along San Francisquito Creek, where early Spanish explorers once camped and has grown alongside Stanford University for more than 125 years. Home to various tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Facebook, it has long been known as the epicenter for cutting-edge technology and innovative thinking. This exciting mix of tradition and innovation makes Palo Alto an extraordinary destination for visitors.
Residents enjoy warm weather year round, excellent public schools, a thriving nightlife scene, plus vast amounts of green space perfect for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. There is no shortage of culture with world class museums and galleries showcasing some of the area’s most celebrated artworks. With its abundant resources and booming economy, Palo Alto truly offers something for everyone.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY: AN OVERVIEW
Located between San Francisco and San Jose in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, Stanford University is one of the world’s leading teaching and research universities. Since its opening in 1891, Stanford has been dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and preparing students for leadership in a complex world.
Stanford University today comprises seven schools and 18 interdisciplinary institutes with more than 17,000 students, 2,300 faculty, and 2,500 postdoctoral scholars. Stanford is an international institution, enrolling students from all 50 U.S. states and 120 other countries. It is also an athletics powerhouse, with 900 current student-athletes and a history of 131 NCAA team championships and 25 consecutive Learfield Directors’ Cups, awarded to the top intercollegiate athletics program in the nation.
For additional information on the history of the university, visit: https://www.stanford.edu/about/history/
Leadership
Marc Tessier-Lavigne, President
In 2016, Dr. Tessier-Lavigne became Stanford University’s 11th president. He also maintains research activities as head of laboratory and Bing Presidential Professor in the department of biology.
Tessier-Lavigne received undergraduate degrees from McGill University and from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and a PhD from University College London (UCL). After postdoctoral work at UCL and at Columbia University, he established his laboratory at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was named an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He later moved to Stanford, where he was the Susan B. Ford Professor in the school of humanities and sciences, and then to Genentech Inc., where he served as chief scientific officer and executive vice president of research, as well as running his laboratory. He joined The Rockefeller University in 2011 as president and Carson Family Professor, and as head of the laboratory of brain development and repair.
Persis S. Drell, Provost
Dr. Persis S. Drell became provost on February 1, 2017. Soon after, she and President Marc Tessier-Lavigne launched a long-range planning process to develop a path for Stanford’s future. Unveiled in May 2018, the new vision includes initiatives to support the campus community and to advance teaching and research over the next decade and beyond. The initiatives were developed from the thousands of ideas submitted by the campus community, followed by months of discussion and synthesis.
In her role as provost, Drell has focused on a range of key campus issues, including advancing diversity and inclusion; promoting the open exchange of diverse ideas; enhancing support for student communities; expanding support for efforts to eliminate sexual assault and sexual harassment; and providing new avenues for communication between university leadership and the campus community.
The provost is responsible for academic and budget administration of the university, overseeing the deans of each of Stanford’s seven schools and senior administrators in research, student affairs, budget, undergraduate education, graduate education, and other areas.
Academic Schools
Stanford is unique among its peer institutions in having seven schools co-located on one contiguous campus, and all of them possess exceptional breadth and depth of excellence. This naturally facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration.
Graduate School of Business – Stanford Graduate School of Business is developing the next generation of principled global leaders, delivering rigorous management education combined with personal development to change lives, change organizations, and change the world.
Graduate School of Education – Stanford Graduate School of Education is a world leader in cross-disciplinary inquiries to shape educational practices, their conceptual underpinnings, and the professions that serve the education enterprise.
School of Engineering – Stanford Engineering has been at the forefront of innovation for nearly a century, creating pivotal technologies that have transformed the worlds of information technology, communications, medicine, energy, business and beyond.
School of Humanities and Sciences – Awarding 75 percent of undergraduate degrees and nearly 40 percent of doctorates, the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences provides the core of a Stanford education and is the university’s largest school.
School of Law – Stanford Law School combines classic and innovative education, cutting-edge resources and an intimate scholarly community which makes it the ideal environment for exploring and mastering the law.
School of Medicine – Stanford School of Medicine encourages intellectual diversity in students interested in developing a scholarly, investigative approach to problems in medicine and science and using discoveries to transform patient care.
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability – Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability fosters a deep understanding of Earth, climate, and society to generate solutions at a global scale.
Mission, Values, and Strategic Plan
Stanford has always been a wellspring of new ideas and innovative solutions, where curious people come to make a difference. But the scale and urgency of challenges facing the university today require that Stanford amplify what has made it successful in the past and define new ways of making a difference. The university is expanding avenues of discovery across all fields while creating new pathways for applying knowledge where it is needed in the world. At the same time, Stanford is ensuring that new ideas are grounded in ethics and solutions benefit from diverse perspectives.
Stanford’s vision guides its approach to research, education, and impact and includes new initiatives that accelerate the creation and application of knowledge, anchor research and education in ethics and civic responsibility, and promote access and inclusion across all university activities. And it recognizes the need to forge deeper partnerships throughout the Stanford community and in the world to move ideas into action.
Stanford IDEAL: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in a Learning Environment
Advancing the university’s commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion is a key component of Stanford’s long-range vision. The Presidential Initiative IDEAL – Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in a Learning Environment – is working across the entire campus community, focusing on the areas of recruitment, research, education, and engagement.
The goals of IDEAL are to ensure that:
- Diversity of thought, experience, and approach is represented in all sectors of Stanford’s education and research enterprise.
- All members of the campus community feel they belong and are supported regardless of their background, identity, or affiliations.
- All members of the campus community have broad access to the opportunities and benefits of Stanford.
https://facts.stanford.edu/academics/freshmen-class-profile/
SALARY AND BENEFITS OVERVIEW
The expected pay range for this position is $171,000 to $200,000 per annum. Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.
Stanford University offers a wide range of health and life benefits to help meet the needs of employees and their families. For more information on the benefits offered at Stanford University, see here.
Stanford University has retained Spelman Johnson, a leading national executive search firm, to assist with this search. This is a hybrid position requiring at least three days of onsite work per week and more as needed to meet student and departmental needs.
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled; complete applications received by April 21, 2023, will be assured full consideration. To apply for this position, please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and a cover letter that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in this position specification.
Confidential inquiries and nominations may be emailed to Jim Norfleet at jmn@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.
Stanford University requires all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 unless granted a medical or religious accommodation.
Visit the Stanford University website at www.stanford.edu.
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, Stanford University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and 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, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.