Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

Utah State University•Logan, UT

About The Position

The Associate Vice President for Engagement & Well-Being & Dean of Students (AVPEW) serves as a senior campus leader providing strategic vision, direction, and oversight for university-wide initiatives that promote student engagement, holistic well-being, and retention. The AVPEW advances a comprehensive framework that integrates involvement, belonging, mental health, physical wellness, community standards, and supportive interventions to ensure students thrive academically and personally. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Success, the AVPEW provides leadership, supervision, and budget oversight for wellness-focused departments—including Campus Recreation, Counseling and Prevention Services, the Wellness Center, CARE, and Student Conduct & Community Standards—as well as engagement-centered units such as the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, Residence Life, and the Veterans Resource Center. The AVPEW ensures that these areas operate collaboratively within a cohesive strategy designed to remove barriers to student persistence and success. The AVP will join the Division of Student Success during an exciting time as the division is reimagining student retention efforts to best serve students and align with a new USU strategic plan. As a member of the Vice President’s leadership team, the AVP will have division-level responsibilities to advance divisional initiatives, promote student well-being and engagement campus wide, and maintain focus on student-centered services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with eleven years of experience in higher education, including seven years of leadership experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Progressive leadership experience in student affairs, wellness services, engagement programming, or related areas.
Demonstrated success supervising multiple functional units and managing complex budgets.
Experience using assessment and data-informed strategies to support student retention and success.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.
Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and leading successful initiatives in student well-being and/or engagement.
Advanced knowledge of budget/fiscal planning.
Strong understanding of student development theories, student populations, and best practices in higher education.
Collaborative and transparent leadership.
Excellent leadership, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to make data-driven decisions to maintain a nimble environment.
Crisis response and decision-making skills.
Budget management experience.
Commitment to holistic, student-centered services.
Ability to think strategically and see the big picture of this role in the broader landscape of student retention.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading campus-wide retention and/or well-being initiatives.
Experience in supervising director-level professionals.
Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive engagement and well-being strategy aligned with the university’s strategic plan and student retention goals.
Champion a campus-wide culture of belonging, wellness, and meaningful involvement.
Serve as a senior advisor to the Vice President on matters related to student engagement, behavioral health trends, campus climate, and retention risk factors.
Provide direct supervision, leadership development, and performance management for directors of assigned departments.
Oversee divisional budgets, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning for engagement and wellness units.
Ensure policies, practices, and services are student-centered, equitable, and aligned with regulatory and compliance standards.
Collaborate with academic affairs, enrollment management, and data analytics to identify barriers to student persistence and implement targeted interventions.
Lead assessment efforts to measure program effectiveness, student engagement trends, and well-being outcomes.
Utilize data analytics to inform strategic decisions and continuously improve services in response to evolving student needs.
Support faculty and staff in understanding their role in promoting student belonging, resilience, and community standards.
Engage external partners and community organizations to expand resources and referral networks that support student health and engagement.
Serve as a member of the divisional leadership team, as well as represent the division on various committees, work group and task forces related to student success.
Ensure compliance with federal, state and university laws and policies.
Reports to the Vice President for Student Success and supervises both exempt and non-exempt positions.