Associate Vice President For Campus Life And Dean Of Students

Job Description

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Campus Life, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students (AVP/DOS) delivers an exceptional, responsive, and integrated student experience that meets the expectations of highly engaged, intellectually curious students who actively shape their community. The AVP/DOS is a strategic, mission driven, and deeply student-centered leader committed to the work of serving students.

This role provides strategic vision and operational execution for four (4) departments: Student Support Services (SSS), Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS), Student Activities Office (SAO), Student Accessibility Services (SAS), and 25+ employee portfolio, delivering an integrated student experience for Brown's 7,200+ undergraduates and approximately 4,000 graduate and medical students.

Job Qualifications

• Master's degree required; doctorate preferred.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible managerial experience within a higher education setting; significant experience supervising and developing staff, managing resources, and advancing organizational effectiveness is required.
• Direct experience in student affairs is helpful but not required; adjacent or complementary experiences and a willingness to challenge traditional models are preferred.
• Extraordinary commitment to a deeply student-centered leadership approach, with the ability to translate student voice into strategy and action.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, inspire innovation, and move teams beyond established practices.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic mindset paired with a willingness to be hands-on and operational when needed.
• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills, with success navigating complex, matrixed organizations.
• The ability to inspire confidence, build consensus, and lead change.
• Comfort engaging with highly motivated, vocal, and engaged students who expect transparency, responsiveness, and partnership.
• Proven ability to manage through crises with equanimity, discretion, and a sense of responsibility and respect for students, families, and the institution.
• Ability to inspire, develop, and bring staff along through periods of evolution and cultural shift.
• Strong critical thinking skills and the capacity to assess systems and reimagine approaches to better serve students.
• Firm but fair approach to conflict resolution.
• Ability to leverage data and assessment to inform strategic decision-making and measure program effectiveness.
• Experience serving as a trusted thought partner in high-stakes, rapidly evolving situations.