Vice President, Student Affairs

Boston College • Newton, MA

4d

About The Position

Boston College seeks nominations and expressions of interest for the position of Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA). Reporting to the Executive Vice President (EVP) and serving as a key member of the University’s senior leadership team, the VPSA will lead a division of dedicated professionals committed to the holistic formation of students in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The ideal candidate will be a proven leader who possesses a deep resonance with Boston College’s mission, culture, and heritage as a Jesuit, Catholic university, and a track record of administrative excellence.

About the Division of Student Affairs at Boston College:
The mission of the Boston College Division of Student Affairs is to help students grow as caring, engaged, mature human beings influenced by the social, intellectual, and religious heritage that has long shaped Boston College as a Jesuit, Catholic institution of higher education.
The next VPSA will have an opportunity to shape the work of the student affairs division at a moment of sustained institutional momentum. Student Affairs is home to 15 affiliated departments that provide a rich array of co-curricular programs and services that promote student learning, health and wellness, leadership development, and community engagement. The division's 180–member staff works with faculty, administrators, and alumni to support the personal, professional, social, and spiritual growth of the University's undergraduate and graduate students. The total combined annual budget (including allocations) for the Division of Student Affairs is approximately $115 million. Key departments under the VPSA’s purview include:

Dean of Students
Residential Life
Murray Center for Student Wellness
Career Center
Bowman Intercultural Center
Student Involvement
Graduate Student Life
Robsham Theater
BC Bands
Women’s Center
Business Service Center

The VPSA works closely with the leaders of the other divisions and departments under the EVP umbrella including: Facilities Management; Finance, Treasury, and Operations; Human Resources; Information Technology Services; Institutional Research & Planning; the Office of Military & Veteran Support; and staff in the Office of the Executive Vice President.

About the University:
Since its founding in 1863, Boston College has changed dramatically in location, size, academic reputation, financial resources, and complexity. From its early years as a small, commuter, liberal arts college for men in the South End of Boston, it now is a coeducational, national, and increasingly international university enrolling approximately 14,000 students on a main campus of 240 acres. While remaining focused on undergraduates, the liberal arts and sciences, and student formation, Boston College also offers selected graduate and professional programs, and has more than 900 faculty engaged not only in teaching but also in research and scholarship.

Boston College is committed to being:
A preeminent university, dedicated to serious intellectual inquiry and the pursuit of truth, the discovery and transmission of knowledge in ways appropriate to its mission and resources, and quality teaching, learning, and service;
A Catholic university called in a particular way to be a meeting place between faith and culture, especially between Catholicism and contemporary society; and
A Jesuit university, heir to a spirituality based on the religious experiences of St. Ignatius Loyola that continues to influence Jesuit schools and Catholicism, and the 470-year educational tradition of the Society of Jesus, which stresses the liberal arts, character formation, a rigorous approach to learning, and striving for the greater glory of God.

These commitments reflect the University’s distinctive heritage and will continue to shape its mission and ethos in the future. Boston College is an institution and community that welcomes and respects all; that prizes dialogue, exploration, faith, and religious practice; that appreciates the need to care for God’s creation through teaching, scholarship, and sustainable practices; that affirms the value of intercollegiate athletics to its campus community, alumni, and national reputation; and that intends to remain true to its Jesuit, Catholic educational and religious heritage.

Requirements

• Executive Leadership: Significant experience leading large, complex student affairs organizations within a comprehensive or R1 research environment.
• Operational Acumen: Proven success in managing multi-million-dollar budgets, large-scale residential operations, and a diverse professional staff.
• Crisis Management: Ability to lead with composure and clarity during complex student-related or campus-wide crises.
• Mission-Driven: A genuine appreciation for how Jesuit values—such as discernment, service, and reflection—inform and shape student development and formation.
• Relationship Builder: An approachable leader who can engage authentically with students and parents while also building strong relationships with colleagues and members of the Board of Trustees.
• Strategic Thinker: The ability to look past day-to-day operations to anticipate student needs and appropriately adapt the Student Affairs organization to national trends effecting higher education, in particular Catholic higher education.
• Education: A graduate degree is required; an earned doctorate in Higher Education Administration, Student Development, or a related field is strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Tuition remission for Employees
• Tuition remission for Spouses and Children who meet eligibility requirements
• Generous Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Low-Cost Life Insurance
• Eligibility for both University-Funded 401k and Employer-Sponsored 403b Retirement Plans
• Paid Holidays Annually
• Generous Sick and Vacation Pay

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree