"Vice President for Academic Affairs"

Walsh University (www.walsh.edu), a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and sciences university, invites applications for the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).  The Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) leads the university in academic innovation, student success, and faculty achievement. Through creative collaboration and a commitment to excellence, the VPAA advances high-impact educational practices, strengthens student learning outcomes, and fosters a thriving scholarly community grounded in faith and service. For more information, please visit Careers at Walsh.

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) serves as the Chief Academic Officer and a strategic partner in shaping the future of Walsh University. This dynamic leader provides vision and direction for all curricular and co-curricular academic programs, ensuring that every dimension of academic life reflects the University’s Catholic mission, identity, and intellectual tradition.

As a key member of the President’s Cabinet, the VPAA works closely with the Chief Financial Officer and other senior leaders to implement strategies that ensure both academic distinction and long-term fiscal sustainability. The Vice President partners with the President and the Board of Directors on faculty appointment, tenure, and promotion decisions, as well as program review and institutional effectiveness.

Representing Walsh University with integrity and aspiration, the VPAA acts as the academic voice of the institution to external partners, professional associations, and the broader higher education community—especially in the President’s absence. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape academic excellence, sustain mission-based leadership, and position Walsh University as a model of transformative Catholic education.

The ideal candidate will have:

• An earned doctorate in an academic discipline represented at Walsh University.
• Extensive experience in progressively responsible roles in higher education.
• Proven success in creating and implementing budgets that maximize impact through prudent resource management.
• An understanding and support of the Mission, Vision and Code of Ethical Conduct of Walsh University, as a Catholic higher education university as expressed in Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and possess the following:
  • A professional demeanor and ability to interact with charity towards students, staff and faculty. Positive attitude a must.
  • A commitment to the Catholic intellectual tradition, Catholic social teaching, and the spirit of servant-leadership exemplified by the founders of Walsh, the Brothers of Christian Instruction.
  • An understanding of the opportunities and challenges of private, faith-based higher education in the twenty-first century.
• A desire to promote access to education for traditional undergraduates, graduate students, and adult learners through different modes of delivery, including traditional, hybrid and online education.
• An ability to work collaboratively with other members of the Cabinet, administration and through a shared governance process to effect positive change for the University.

Walsh University, located in North Canton, Ohio and founded by the Brothers of Christian Instruction, is dedicated to educating its students to become leaders in service to others through a values-based education with an international perspective in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Walsh University believes in the desirability of a small university that promotes academic excellence, a diverse community, and close student-teacher interactions. The University provides its students a higher education that fosters critical thinking, effective communication, spiritual growth, and personal, professional, and cultural development.

Walsh University encourages individuals to act in accordance with reason guided by the example and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Walsh University is being assisted by Hyatt – Fennell, Executive Search. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should be submitted via email to Walsh@hyatt-fennell.com. Applications include a letter of interest, a current résumé/cv, and contact information for five professional references, submitted in separate documents. The position will remain open until filled. All applications and nominations will be considered highly confidential.

Walsh University is committed to principles of equal opportunity and is an equal opportunity employer.