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Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

University Librarian

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Responsibilities of the Position

Reporting to the senior vice president for student affairs, the associate vice president and dean of students (AVPDS) at Iowa State University (Iowa State) provides leadership within the division of student affairs in advancing the mission and goals of the division, coordinating efforts within the units and with other university operations through development of strong communication and working relationships, contributing to executive decision making, and implementing strategic plans. The AVPDS is responsible for supporting student-centered learning through personal, community, and academic development programs.

This position will create opportunities for students to be academically successful and challenge students to be independent, responsible learners; provide leadership for student-life functions that promote civility and belonging; implement programs and services that empower students as leaders; and foster a sense of belonging for every student at Iowa State. 

The AVPDS is responsible for an overall budget of over $8 million and provides leadership for 71 professional staff, 5 merit staff, 32 graduate students, and 242 student employees.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Division of Student Affairs Leadership

• Serves on the student affairs senior leadership team and the student affairs cabinet, as one of the top-level advisers to the senior vice president for student affairs (SVPSA), and as a key leader for the division.
• Promotes collaboration among division offices to improve efficiency and deliver better programming and outreach.
• Represents, as needed, the SVPSA on formal and/or ad hoc internal and external committees addressing a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, student conduct, student safety, Title IX, academic and student success planning, fiscal management, and capital planning.
• Assists with public relations and fundraising activities. Interacts with donors on behalf of SVPSA, attends events, and solicits donations or support as appropriate.
• Serves as division leader for student life matters. Researches, develops, recommends, administers, and evaluates policies, procedures, and data support systems for effectiveness and compliance with federal and state regulations. Works closely to ensure that division departments are involved in and aware of opportunities to promote and enhance student engagement and student development.
• Contributes to the work of institutional boards and committees by supporting the development and interpretation of university policies and procedures.
• Assists with faculty, student, and staff relations by resolving requests or problems referred to the division of student affairs related to the areas that report to the AVPDS.

Dean of Students Department Leadership

• Oversees strategic planning and long-range goals to ensure alignment with the Board of Regents, university, and division of student affairs strategic plans. Develops and evaluates institutional policies on student life issues and needs.
• Leads units within the AVPDS portfolio that represent the university in resolving conflicts and seeks solutions to problems encountered by students in their activities and organizations. Provides leadership and oversees:
  • unit programs and services which advocate and facilitate for students who have grievances with the university;
  • functions of the department that serve as the point of contact for students on sexual misconduct issues;
  • university responses to student discipline issues;
  • emergency dean processes and student assistance services during times of student crisis involving death or injury;
  • department marketing and communications efforts, including social media;
  • department assessment efforts.
• Serves as a mediator for interpersonal and group conflicts involving students and other members of the university community and the surrounding Ames community. Works with campus units to support threat assessment efforts, such as the student assistance follow-up and evaluation team (SAFET) and the faculty and staff safety team (FASST), and serves as a lead member of the university’s critical incident readiness team (CIRT) and the sexual misconduct leadership committee.
• Administers, interprets, and evaluates all aspects of the student conduct regulations and sexual misconduct policy.

Administration & Operation

• Provides leadership on finance and human resources policies and procedures for the departments and programs reporting to the AVPDS, including developing budget scenarios and creating systems for effective implementation and monitoring.
• Assumes accountability for the administrative leadership and management of the departments this position oversees, including the stewardship of people, finances, and other resources. Holds other leaders/directors accountable for high performance and the maintenance of a highly-engaged culture by articulating expectations, monitoring performance, and providing consistent feedback across departments and areas for which staff are responsible.
• Identifies and implements methods to increase revenues and reduce costs.

Collaboration, Partnership & Committees

• Using partnerships with campus colleagues, the AVPDS creates a culture of collaboration to ensure academic success and achievement for every student, including, but not limited to, matters related to student life issues, student-athlete support, and the administration of institutional policies governing the conduct of student organizations and activities.
• Creates and champions initiatives that foster respectful communication, learning, and a spirit of cooperation
• Interacts frequently with other university leadership, including the provost, senior vice president for operations and finance, senior vice president for university services, chief of Iowa State police, university legal counsel, athletics director and the athletics staff, city of Ames chief of police, academic deans, and other faculty and staff across campus.
• Solicits and analyzes input from multiple parties to enable the development and implementation of effective action plans based on division needs and priorities.
• Leads and/or represents the student affairs division on committees.
• Advises Iowa State’s student government.
• Collaborates and coordinates with the school of education to develop strategies to enhance the experience of graduate assistants; works on student development strategies; and may teach courses by invitation from the school of education.
• Coordinates with the director of assessment and research and the student affairs assessment and research committees on program reviews for areas reporting to AVPDS.
• Works with the associate vice president for enrollment management and the associate provost for academic programs in ensuring the delivery of strong, effective academic support services. Collaborates with academic affairs on programs provided by the academic success center, Hixson Opportunity Awards, and student accessibility services.
• Collaborates with the student affairs development officer and Iowa State University Foundation staff on fundraising for scholarships and student success initiatives.

Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate

An earned master’s degree or equivalent professional degree in higher education or a closely related field, and ten years of related progressive experience in higher education with leadership responsibilities in student programs, are required.  The ideal candidate will possess experience collaborating with faculty and staff to provide educational programs and services that improve student success and retention; experience leading teams, operating in cross-functional settings, and managing crises; experience which demonstrates a strong background in the research and assessment necessary to supervise research on student needs and issues; and experience which demonstrates knowledge of current trends in higher education. In addition, candidates must possess the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and coordinate complex administrative operations effectively; strong writing skills for preparing and interpreting policy statements; a demonstrated commitment to the ideals and principles of student engagement and belonging; demonstrated human relations skills; and effective management, motivation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• A passion for working with and advocating for students while developing a broad understanding of the total student experience at Iowa State.
• A demonstrated record of leadership in managing crises and student issues with the ability to remain calm, constructive, and sensitive to multiple constituents experiencing extreme stress or duress while also guiding other staff and campus partners during these critical times.
• A track record of innovative administration and management—someone who can assess processes and services while developing creative solutions within a complex organizational framework.
• An exemplary history of leadership in student affairs in which responsibility for student development, the creation of a positive learning environment, and the engagement of students in the life of the campus community are central.
• A collegial, inclusive, and approachable style that invites collaboration, transparency, and mutual support.
• A consummate team player and collaborator, able to build strong working partnerships across the university and with external constituencies.
• An approach to leadership that upholds a culture of support for staff through deliberate coaching and professional development opportunities.
• Experience with a broad range of student enrollments and an appreciation for the distinctive nature of a public land-grant university.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and, along with other key stakeholders, shape the strength and character of the dean of students’ office.
• Possess the skillset needed to sustain a highly engaged, trustworthy, accessible relationship with students and a visible profile throughout the campus community.
• Have the diplomacy, high-level tact, and persuasive ability that are required when discussing key issues that have a substantial impact on the university.
• Possess strong human relations skills and the ability to make decisions that incorporate input from various perspectives in the midst of complex situations.
• A record of demonstrated collaboration with faculty in improving educational programs and services that enhance student success.
• Projects well-developed public relations skills and the ability to communicate effectively with students and family members in crisis and under duress.
• An understanding of, and ability to articulate, the role that student conduct plays within the mission of the institution.
• Possess familiarity with classroom teaching and academic policies needed to liaise with academic officials and departments.
• Demonstrate the capacity to build external relationships and work with the local community.
• Have a portfolio of experience that includes managing large, complex budgets and incorporates successful technological innovation.

Application

The review of applications will begin on March 13, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please click Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students - Spelman Johnson complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

Required: 

• An earned master’s degree or equivalent professional degree, and ten years of related experience 

Preferred: 

• An MLS or graduate degree in library or information science from an American Library Association-accredited institution. 

• Ph.D. in an academic discipline. 

• Significant leadership experience in academic libraries, with a demonstrated understanding of challenges and opportunities facing academic libraries and higher education. 

• Strong budgeting expertise and financial acumen, with the ability to translate resources into financial strategy and organizational impact. 

• A record of data-driven, evidence-based decision-making in a transparent and collaborative environment. 

• Excellent communication skills (written, spoken, interpersonal). 

• Experience in personnel management with evidence mentoring and development in support of a high-functioning team. 

• Exposure to fundraising and creating engaging opportunities for increased visibility.   

Deadline for best consideration:

While the search remains open until closed, the deadline for best consideration is April 3, 2026.   All inquiries, nominations, and applications will be held in strict confidence. To learn more about this opportunity and discuss your qualifications and interest, potential applicants are encouraged to schedule a confidential conversation with our Senior Consultant, Stacey Morgan Foster, JD Stacey.foster@academicsearch.org.  Applicants should send three separate documents (each in PDF format) to Academic Search at IowaStateUL@academicsearch.org: Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should reach out to Stacey.foster@academicsearch.org.