Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Dean of the College

Full-Time, 12-month, Exempt, Administrative Staff Appointment

Reporting to the dean of the college and serving as a member of the dean of the college leadership team, the dean of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is a strategic partner within the Dean of the College Division and works closely with the Office of the Provost and the Dean of Faculty and Human Resources. The dean collaborates with the Provost’s team to develop strategies and policies that integrate the curricular and co-curricular dimensions of our educational mission, with particular focus on implementing initiatives and programs that foster the academic success of Colby's increasingly diverse student body. The dean also collaborates with the Office of Human Resources to develop policies and processes to recruit, train, and support a dedicated and increasingly diverse staff. The dean will be a present, accessible, and visionary leader, capable of forging new collaborations across the College.

As a key thought partner with the dean of the College and dean of students, the dean will contribute to setting the overall vision of the division and to achieving our goal of integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of student life. The dean will work with divisional leaders both to create a student experience that is characterized by belonging, engagement, and mutual respect and to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the division. This includes chairing committees and working teams, conducting assessments and climate surveys, and developing division-wide initiatives. The dean will articulate and execute a vision for engaging students and families and serve as a key player in coordinating our efforts to cultivate a sense of belonging throughout the College's residential experience. The dean will also play a key role in efforts to improve retention and graduation rates for all students.

The dean will oversee the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and manage a high functioning team who enhances the College's fundamental mission of achieving academic excellence through cultivating an inclusive and equitable campus community. This staff oversees several high-profile programs, including International Student Programs, First Generation and Low-Income Student Programs, Sexual Violence Prevention and Peer Education, Title IX Confidential Advocacy, Restorative Practice, and Bias Prevention and Response.

The dean will also partner with other stakeholders across the campus, including faculty members and academic departments, the chief human resources officer, the dean of religious and spiritual life, the associate director for talent development in the Office of Human Resources, the Faculty Committee on DEI and the Athletics DEI Committee to coordinate the development and implementation of educational programs and trainings around intercultural competencies. Working with these campus partners, the dean will collaborate on the College’s work to assess and redesign policies and reform practices designed to ensure a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming community. In addition, the dean will collaborate with the associate provost for and dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the associate provost for teaching and learning, to ensure that faculty are well-prepared to teach, advise, mentor, and support a diverse and talented student body in inclusive and equitable ways. The dean will immediately begin working with the associate provost and dean of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the Office of Human Resources DEI partner to develop a strategic plan for DEI across the College.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Work closely with the associate provost and campus leaders to develop and execute comprehensive strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with DEI principles

• Collaborate with College partners to ensure that policies and programming are aligned with the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Provide guidance and coordination for institutional assessment initiatives (including campus climate studies), utilize metrics/scorecards for evaluating goals and tracking progress, and lead the development of annual reports to the community

• Partner with the associate provost to promote, assist, and uphold diversity and inclusion initiatives led by faculty members, faculty committees, and academic departments; work with faculty members navigating challenging interactions with colleagues and students or with campus policies and processes

• Lead a high functioning team of professional staff, setting the departments’ strategic vision, developing, and executing annual priorities, and providing guidance and supervision to ensure the goal of inclusive excellence for the student experience

• Manage a budget that oversees a broad range of diversity and inclusion programs and activities, including relevant student organizations

• Manage budget responsibly, including fiscal planning, analysis of expenditures, and reporting

• Promote academic and career success through departmental partnerships, mentoring, and programming

• Monitor and increase retention and degree completion for students • Build relationships and encourage engagement of faculty, staff, students, and alumni to participate in diversity and inclusion initiatives

• Develop partnerships and opportunities with faculty and staff members that advance the intersection of academic and co-curricular work

• Serve as an advisor to current students and student groups

• Develop partnerships and opportunities with the Office of Advancement to build relationships with a broad base of alumni and families?

• Perform additional duties as assigned in a fast-paced division that sometimes dictates a change in duties, responsibilities, and/or activities. (We should use our standard language here)

Qualifications

• Master's degree required, PhD or other terminal degree preferred or a combination of experience and education

• Proven expertise and at least five years of experience developing and achieving DEI strategic goals in a higher education institution or related organization across multiple functional areas

• Demonstrated strategic vision and insight, along with the ability to conceptualize organizational issues and develop strategic plans at all levels

• Proven openness to exploring different ideas, creating inclusive solutions, and engaging colleagues across organizational lines

• Ability to lead and manage major institutional change initiatives

• Experience with and commitment to working with individuals of diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, religious backgrounds and people of various gender identities or sexual orientations

• Demonstrated ability to understand and respond to the culture of a liberal arts college campus

• Transparent disposition and habit of collaboration; strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy; superb listening and influencing skills; flexibility and an ability to embrace ambiguity

• Ability to cultivate and sustain trust and credibility with colleagues • Energetic leadership with high ethical standards and a commitment to excellence, honesty, and integrity

• Success engaging a wide range of stakeholders (e.g., students, faculty, colleagues, parents, community residents, alumni, etc.) with a high degree of diplomacy to create impact

• Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing faculty and/or staff • Demonstrated ability to effect change, empower people, influence others, and successfully manage challenge and conflict

• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to manage multiple tasks • A self-starter who performs well deadlines in a fast-paced environment and works effectively in a team environment

• Ability to assess the needs of students, faculty, and staff and offer appropriate guidance • Experience working in an academic setting and an understanding of the role of academic and student affairs on a residential college campus are considered as assets • Well-developed, insightful understanding of diversity issues in a complex organizational setting

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Duties require that the employee interact with students, parents, faculty, staff, and outside constituencies.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

General office and campus environment. Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Walking, standing, bending, twisting, and occasional lifting required. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. Position requires scheduling flexibility, with periodic evening and weekend hours.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Successful and satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check). All students, faculty, and staff who are present on campus must be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, unless granted an exemption or accommodation by the College.

TO APPLY:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the "Apply" button on the Colby College website. Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and the contact information of three professional references. Materials should be addressed to:

Dean of Inclusion and Community– Search Committee

Office of Human Resources

Colby College

5500 Mayflower Hill

Waterville, ME 04901-8855