Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

Framingham State University•Framingham, MA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

Framingham State University (FSU) is seeking a Vice President for Equity and Inclusion. This is a strategic leadership role focused on advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging across the university. The Vice President will develop and implement institutional strategies, build capacity within the community, and engage directly with students, faculty, and staff. The role requires a leader who can articulate a compelling vision, foster collaborative relationships, and facilitate difficult conversations. The successful candidate will understand the importance of shared responsibility in creating an equitable and inclusive community and will work to build the structures and relationships necessary to achieve this. FSU is a public institution committed to accessible and affordable education, with a diverse student body that includes a significant percentage of students of color and first-generation students. The university is dedicated to inclusive excellence, equity, and antiracism, as evidenced by its numerous awards and recognitions. Located between Boston and Worcester, FSU offers a rich history and access to diverse cultural and natural amenities. The university's motto, "LIVE TO THE TRUTH," guides its commitment to sincerity, effort, achievement, and the pursuit of truth in all its forms.

Requirements

Substantial experience working in higher education, with a sophisticated understanding and application of the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in education.
Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to equity, inclusion, organizational leadership, education, public administration, or another field that provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of the position.
Demonstrable scholarship and/or thought leadership in areas relevant to the position.
Demonstrable strategic, collaborative, and relational leadership experience.
Demonstrable strong and effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively across backgrounds, across all levels of administration, staff, faculty, and students, and with the community beyond the university.
Demonstrable knowledge of the principles, practices, and culture of public higher education.
Substantial experience working with university personnel, policies, and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Candidates who bring related experience and are excited about the opportunity are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Advances a clear, actionable vision for equity, inclusion, and belonging grounded in evidence-based practices, relevant scholarship, existing institutional frameworks, and the needs and experiences of the university community.
Translates institutional commitments into sustainable structures, priorities, policies, practices, partnerships, and accountability mechanisms.
Provides leadership for integrating equity, inclusion, and belonging into the University's strategic planning process, including the development, implementation, assessment, and ongoing refinement of strategic priorities and initiatives.
Influences organizational change, builds consensus, and advances complex institutional priorities across organizational boundaries.
Provides strategic leadership for the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE), communicating its identity, purpose, priorities, service model, organizational structure, and approach to resource allocation, including identifying and developing appropriate partnerships across university departments to ensure the division has access to the resources, expertise, and institutional support needed to effectively carry out its work.
Maintains a visible and active presence throughout the university community and regularly engages directly with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners.
Builds trusting, collaborative, and productive relationships with faculty and academic leaders and partners to strengthen inclusive teaching, learning, scholarship, departmental culture, faculty development, and faculty engagement.
Collaborates with university offices and divisions in identifying and leveraging internal expertise, conducting needs assessments, and designing professional development opportunities.
Personally facilitates complex conversations and provides consultation, mediation, and problem-solving support when conflicts or concerns arise related to equity, identity, inclusion, belonging, and organizational culture.
Brings demonstrated skill in listening, facilitating dialogue, negotiating across differing perspectives, and helping individuals and groups move toward constructive resolution.
Provides informed, timely, collaborative, and thoughtful leadership in response to emerging campus concerns and incidents affecting members of the university community.
Exercises sound judgment in determining when issues require immediate intervention, consultation, communication, mediation, referral, or longer-term institutional action.
Builds the capacity of faculty, staff, students, and university leaders to recognize and address equity-related challenges, access relevant expertise and information, and take responsibility for advancing inclusion within their respective areas.
Provides and facilitates educational opportunities, workshops, and training for faculty, staff, students, and University leaders to strengthen knowledge, skills, and institutional capacity related to equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Exercises sound judgment regarding the appropriate role of the division and CIE, balancing direct intervention with consultation, collaboration, referral, empowerment, and capacity building to ensure that responsibility for institutional equity is broadly shared.
Serves as a trusted institutional resource and connector, bringing substantial knowledge of equity-related issues while demonstrating intellectual curiosity, humility, and the ability to identify, engage, support, and mobilize additional expertise when needed.
Advances an expansive and intersectional understanding of equity that recognizes the diverse experiences and barriers affecting members of the university community, including socioeconomic background, first-generation status, disability, geographic and educational access, identity, and other factors that influence opportunity and belonging.
Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify and address disparities in student access, experience, persistence, retention, completion, and belonging.
Develops and supports targeted, evidence-informed interventions for populations experiencing disproportionate barriers or lower rates of retention and success.
Assesses and ensures that the University's equity and inclusion efforts meaningfully address the experiences and needs of students, faculty, and staff, recognizing that sustainable institutional change requires attention to learning, workplace culture, organizational practices, and community belonging.
Supports the development, revitalization, and sustainability of student and employee affinity groups and other community-building networks.
Works with participants to clarify purpose, establish sustainable structures, connect groups to institutional resources, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement and collective action.
Partners with University Advancement, Alumni Relations, and external community stakeholders to strengthen relationships, elevate diverse voices and experiences, and create opportunities for alumni and community members to contribute to the University's equity and inclusion efforts.
Monitors National and Commonwealth higher education and DEI trends and developments for potential impact on the University.
In collaboration with the President and executive staff members, identifies, creates, and executes the development of strategy and tactics to enhance public (municipal, state, and federal) support for the institution.
Serves on and/or leads various committees or teams, as assigned.
Engage regularly in professional development to support continuous individual growth and remain current on emerging research, best practices, and developments relevant.
Responsible for reporting to the Equal Opportunity Officer or Title IX Coordinator knowledge or receipt of reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation from students or other members of the university community.
Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity, inclusion, and equity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility.
Perform other duties as assigned or otherwise consistent with the purview of the position.