Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

Job Details

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS This leadership profile is intended to provide information and assist qualified individuals in assessing their interest in Chapman University and the position of Senior Vice President for Student Affairs.

The Search

Chapman University, a mid-sized, student-centered private research university with campuses in Orange and Irvine, California, seeks an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking strategic leader to serve as its next Senior Vice President for Student Affairs (SVPSA).

The SVPSA will guide an accomplished and talented student affairs division during a period of exciting institutional momentum and evolution. This role provides strategic leadership and vision with a focus on deepening Chapman’s welcoming campus culture and its approach to personalized education that provides robust academic and co-curricular offerings. With a steadfast commitment to supporting students’ learning, development, and well-being, this leader will cultivate strong partnerships across the university and within Student Affairs, enhance the student experience, and foster a culture in the Student Affairs organization grounded in trust, empathy, innovation, holistic support, and operational excellence. A member of Chapman’s Senior Staff (President’s cabinet), the SVPSA will be a visible leader on highly engaged campuses focused on providing a transformational experience to students and the student affairs perspective and context to senior leadership to inform sound decision-making.

About Chapman

Founded in 1861, Chapman combines the resources of a research institution with the scale of a mid-sized, student-centered university. Chapman University enrolls approximately 9,700 students, including about 7,700 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate students. The university’s picturesque Orange campus is located steps from restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques; just 15 miles from the beach; and 30 miles from Los Angeles’ business and cultural hubs. The Rinker Health Science campus in nearby Irvine is home to the university’s health science graduate programs and is strategically located in a hub of pharmaceutical and medical device industry.

Supported by an endowment that just exceeded $1 billion – one of the fastest-growing in the country and two-thirds of which supports student scholarships – Chapman continues to fulfill its mission of providing personalized education of distinction that prepares students for inquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens.

The university offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and more. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution. With a focus on experiential learning, Chapman prioritizes hands-on experience for students, who learn directly from distinguished, world-renowned faculty, including recipients of the Nobel Prize, National Medal of Science, and Academy Awards. The university has produced a Rhodes Scholar and been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars. It hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The university also has the support of its global alumni network of nearly 60,000. The university’s momentum is reflected in its rise in the national rankings, recently achieving its best-ever ranking in U.S. News & World Report, rising nearly 10% year over year.

Role of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs

The SVPSA provides strategic and operational leadership, policy development, and administrative oversight for Student Affairs, ensuring internal and external efficiency and collaboration, so that the division’s work advances students’ needs, well-being, success, and sense of community.

The SVPSA reports to the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff and works closely with the entire leadership team at Chapman. The SVPSA also serves as a trusted thought partner on matters affecting institutional reputation, risk, legal considerations, and public affairs.

Qualifications & Characteristics

Chapman University seeks an experienced and collaborative strategic leader with a strong record of progressive administrative and leadership experience in student affairs.

Location & Compensation

Located in Orange in the heart of Southern California’s Orange County, Chapman University benefits from a location that combines a distinctive small-town setting with access to one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan regions. The anticipated salary range for this position is $300,000-$325,000, with housing available.

Applications, Inquiries, & Nominations

Chapman University has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this recruitment.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and resumes/CVs with cover letters should be sent via the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/chapman-university/senior-vice-president-student-affairs.