Director, Experiential Learning

The University of Virginia (UVA), one of the nation’s most iconic public institutions, invites nominations and applications for the inaugural Director of Experiential Learning in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (A&S).

A&S is UVA’s largest and most academically diverse school, educating 75% of undergraduates and conferring upwards of 2,500 degrees each year. With more than 50 undergraduate degrees and 29 graduate programs, 850 faculty, and a $500M annual budget, A&S is central to the University’s mission to educate future leaders and advance knowledge through research, innovation, and collaboration.

The College is investing in a bold initiative to ensure that career exploration and experiential learning are central components of undergraduate students’ journeys. The inaugural Director of Experiential Learning will serve as a key architect and thought partner in shaping how experiential learning is defined, delivered, and scaled across A&S’s expansive academic programs.

This newly created role follows the recent appointment of the College’s inaugural Executive Director of Career Design and Discovery, Julia Lapan, to whom the Director of Experiential Learning will report. Together, this office and its leadership will be a critical catalyst for integrating career exploration and experiential learning with academic advising, career preparation, and alumni engagement.

In this role, the Director will advance high-impact learning opportunities that integrate academic study with hands-on, real-world experiences, preparing students for meaningful careers, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. The Director will also play a central role in building a cohesive, faculty-engaged ecosystem that connects academic programs with experiential opportunities, including undergraduate research, faculty-led initiatives, global learning, and other high-impact practices.

This role requires a collaborative leader who can work effectively with faculty, academic departments, students, central university partners, alumni, and external organizations to expand, coordinate, and assess experiential learning opportunities that align with the College’s academic mission. The ideal candidate will be a skilled relationship builder with an entrepreneurial mindset and understanding of both academic and corporate environments. They will bring comfort with ambiguity, a willingness to build strategy while executing in real time, and the ability to operate as both a strategic thinker and hands-on doer.

Initial screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The University of Virginia will be assisted by Meghan Ashbrock and Ellen Brown Landers of Heidrick & Struggles, Inc.

Nominations and applications should be directed to: UVAExperientialLearning@heidrick.com