Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Executive Summary

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), a nationally recognized Historically Black University and a member of the University of North Carolina System, is seeking an exceptional leader to serve as its next Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. As a senior member of the university's leadership team, this individual will play a central role in advancing WSSU's student-centered mission and will help shape the Division of Student Affairs in alignment with the university's strategic priorities.

The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will work in close collaboration with the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chancellor Bonita J. Brown, guiding student life strategy and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, holistic support services to WSSU's nearly 5,000 students. The role oversees key areas including residential life, student engagement, wellness, counseling, conduct, and career development, all grounded in a commitment to retention, persistence, and graduation.

Applications and nominations are being accepted immediately.

The ideal candidate will possess a terminal degree, significant experience in student affairs administration, and a demonstrated commitment to the success and well-being of students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This role presents a rare opportunity to shape student life at one of the nation's most highly ranked HBCUs-an institution recognized for its transformative impact on social and economic mobility.

The Opportunity

The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs plays a pivotal role in shaping a comprehensive, student-centered campus experience that advances WSSU's motto: Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve. This senior administrator provides leadership and strategic direction for all dimensions of student life and works collaboratively with the Provost and Chancellor to ensure institutional accountability for student success metrics established by the UNC System.

The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will lead a robust division encompassing residential life, health and wellness, student engagement and activities, counseling services, student conduct, multicultural affairs, and career development. This leader will serve as the primary advocate for student needs across the institution and as a key liaison to external constituencies on matters of student affairs.

In support of WSSU's deepening commitment to student success, the university recently launched a new Division of Student Success focused on retention, persistence, and graduation rates. The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will collaborate closely with the inaugural Vice Provost for Student Success to create an integrated, high-impact student experience both inside and outside the classroom.

WSSU is an institution on the rise. Under the leadership of Chancellor Bonita J. Brown, the university celebrated its highest enrollment growth in years-nearly 5,000 students in Fall 2025, a 4.7% increase over the prior year. The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will be instrumental in sustaining and building upon that momentum, creating a vibrant and supportive campus environment where students are empowered to thrive.

Responsibilities and Duties

The responsibilities of this position span a broad portfolio of student-facing functions and administrative oversight. The outcomes of these essential functions contribute to the university's primary areas of emphasis:

• Providing visionary leadership for the Division of Student Affairs, ensuring alignment with WSSU's strategic plan and UNC System expectations
• Overseeing the delivery of student support services including residential life, counseling, health and wellness, student activities and engagement, multicultural affairs, student conduct, and career development
• Serving as a key advocate for student welfare and a principal adviser to the Chancellor and Provost on all matters pertaining to student life
• Collaborating with the Division of Academic Affairs and Division of Student Success to foster a unified, integrated approach to student retention and graduation
• Developing and managing the student affairs budget, ensuring responsible fiscal stewardship and maximizing resources in support of student programs and services
• Promoting a campus culture that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging, consistent with WSSU's identity as an HBCU and its commitment to the whole student
• Building and sustaining partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and community organizations to enrich the student experience
• Establishing a campus-wide culture of accountability for student outcomes, including retention, persistence, and on-time graduation
• Supporting co-curricular programming, student leadership development, and a vibrant student organization ecosystem
• Representing the university in national and regional student affairs professional associations and conferences
• Overseeing assessment and continuous improvement of student affairs programs and services
• Ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, UNC System, and institutional policies governing student affairs

Qualifications & Requirements

• An earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, or a closely related field
• A minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs, including significant administrative experience at the dean of students, associate vice president, or equivalent level
• Demonstrated commitment to HBCU mission, culture, and the holistic development of students from historically underrepresented communities
• Proven record of success in enhancing student retention, campus engagement, and graduation rates
• Experience managing multiple functional areas within a student affairs division, including residential life, wellness, student conduct, and co-curricular programming
• Knowledge of and experience with relevant accreditation processes, regulatory compliance, and UNC System policies preferred
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with academic affairs and other institutional divisions in support of student success
• Strong experience with budget development and fiscal management
• Exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to engage diverse constituencies including students, faculty, staff, families, and board members
• A demonstrated commitment to data-informed decision-making and ongoing program assessment
• Capacity to manage multiple priorities simultaneously with attention to detail, deadlines, and institutional relationships

Student Affairs Portfolio

The Division of Student Affairs at Winston-Salem State University encompasses a comprehensive range of programs and services designed to support the academic success, personal growth, and holistic development of every Ram. The Associate Provost and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs provides executive oversight of the following functional areas:

• Residential Life and Housing - On-campus residential communities that serve as hubs of student engagement, leadership development, and academic support
• Student Health and Wellness - Including the A.H. Ray Wellness Center, which holds national accreditation from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
• Counseling Services - Confidential mental health support, crisis intervention, and prevention programming for the campus community
• Student Activities and Engagement - Co-curricular programming, campus events, student government, and the university's more than 100 student organizations including Greek-letter organizations, honor societies, and the Red Sea of Sound
• Multicultural Affairs - Programs and initiatives that affirm WSSU's HBCU identity, celebrate cultural heritage, and foster belonging for all students
• Student Conduct - Administration of WSSU's community standards, including adjudication of conduct matters in a fair, restorative, and educational framework
• Career Development - Comprehensive career readiness services, employer partnerships, internship and experiential learning coordination, and post-graduation placement support
• New Student Orientation and Transition Programs - Programming that ensures a successful transition for incoming students and builds early connection to the Ramily

The Division of Student Affairs collaborates closely with the newly established Division of Student Success, led by the inaugural Vice Provost for Student Success, to create seamless support systems for WSSU's students from enrollment through graduation.