"Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs"

Job Details

Cornell College seeks nominations and applications for the position of provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. This senior leader will guide the academic vision of the college and oversee all academic programs, faculty, and academic administration.

The provost reports directly to the president and serves as a key member of the executive leadership team. In this role, the provost works closely with faculty and staff across campus to support academic excellence and student success.

This is an opportunity to lead a distinctive academic program shaped by Cornell’s One Course At A Time calendar. The next provost will join a collaborative community that values innovation, shared governance, and a strong sense of purpose.

Start Date: January 5, 2026 (preferred) or July 1, 2026 (latest)

About Cornell College

Cornell College is a selective liberal arts institution known for its distinctive One Course At A Time schedule, where students take one class at a time in immersive, focused blocks. This approach is part of our broader Ingenuity curriculum, which helps students connect ideas, solve real-world problems, and gain hands-on experience.

Our students come from across the U.S. and around the world, drawn by the academic intensity, the flexibility of our programs, and the opportunity to compete in NCAA Division III athletics. Cornell is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa—a vibrant small town in the Iowa City–Cedar Rapids corridor, offering both community charm and access to urban resources.

Cornell employees enjoy a fantastic benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, HSA & FSA accounts, a TIAA 403(b) retirement account, and tuition remission and exchange for employees and dependents. The college also offers life insurance, disability insurance, travel insurance, and accident insurance. And, all full-time staff begin with a 4-week vacation accrual along with 14.5 paid holidays per year.

Qualifications

Candidates must hold a terminal degree and demonstrate:

• A distinguished record in teaching and scholarship
• Significant experience in academic administration

We seek a visionary leader who:

• Inspires curricular innovation in collaboration with faculty
• Champions excellence in teaching, research, and creative work
• Understands the evolving mission of residential liberal arts colleges
• Advocates effectively for faculty and academic programs
• Is well-versed in accreditation, assessment, and academic best practices
• Builds strategic partnerships across campus
• Leads with transparency, collegiality, and inclusivity

Application Process

Candidates should submit a letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of five references. The search committee will keep applications and nominations confidential. References will not be contacted without prior approval from the candidate.

Review of applications will begin in late September and will continue until the position is filled.

*Cornell is an AA/EO employer and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Cornell complies with Iowa's Smoke-Free Air Act, utilizes E-Verify, and requires the satisfactory completion of a background check.*

Company

Cornell College is a national liberal arts college committed to excellence in teaching and the creation of a welcoming community in which all individuals are respected and included. Our innovative curriculum includes a focus on the essential abilities of writing, quantitative reasoning, and intercultural literacy as well as experiential learning. The One Course At A Time approach fosters strong student engagement and close faculty-student relationships while allowing faculty freedom to design and carry out their classes, on campus or off.

Founded in 1853, Cornell was the first college west of the Mississippi to graduate both men and women. Academic immersion, real-world experience requirements through Ingenuity in Action, and unparalleled flexibility attract an ambitious student body from around the world. Seventy percent of our students are from outside Iowa, representing nearly 50 states and 26 foreign countries. Students of color comprise one-fourth of the student body.

Cornell’s picturesque hilltop campus is a National Historic District and was the first campus listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places. Mount Vernon is a small, college-centered town in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor, home to nearly half a million people. It has two additional National Historic Districts and a classic Main Street a short walk from campus. Mount Vernon attractions include an array of restaurants; boutique shopping; walking paths; a dedicated sledding hill; and 14 annual festivals and events including Chalk the Walk, Chocolate Stroll, Chili Cookoff, and Magical Night.

Cornell College is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce. In compliance with federal and state laws, Cornell employs and promotes personnel without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national origin, or disability.