"Vice President of Student Affairs"

Job Details

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) serves as the senior student affairs officer and is responsible for leading the Division of Student Affairs (DSA). The VPSA is responsible for planning, leading, and collaboratively implementing strategies for student experiences, services, and support for all Fort Lewis College (FLC) students. They serve as an advocate for students, share key information with campus related to student support, and are a central collaborator between the Office of the President, Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Diversity Affairs to promote student success, well-being, and engagement. The VPSA reports directly to the President and serves as a member of the President’s Executive Team and the President’s Cabinet, serving as a trusted advisor and highly visible representative with responsibility for direct involvement with students and engagement in their campus experiences.

You’ll thrive in this role if you love being at the heart of student life and believe that what happens outside the classroom is just as transformative as what happens inside it. You stay current on national and regional trends shaping student well-being and engagement — and you’re not afraid to dig into data, dashboards, or a good student survey to inform your next move. You appreciate systems that work, but you know real impact comes from empowering your team and listening deeply to students. You’ll bring creativity, care, and a sense of humor to the fast-paced and ever-changing world of student affairs, where no two days are alike and “other duties as assigned” usually means something memorable. You understand that culture is everything — and that a campus grounded in empathy, inclusion, and joy can move mountains. Speaking of mountains, you’ll enjoy life in our stunning small town surrounded by the San Juans, taking pride in serving at one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the country for diversity, access, and student success.

For more information regarding this important search, please see: www.fortlewis.edu/vp-student-affairs

Job Description:

The Vice President leads the DSA and assists in the execution of the College’s strategic plan, promoting student success, engagement, and ensuring students’ basic needs are met. The VPSA serves as a collaborative, transparent, inspirational, community builder, and student-centered leader. This leader provides a strong vision to further a culture of learning, engagement, and wellness that actively promotes the academic success and personal development of FLC students.

The Vice President provides leadership, oversight, and general management of all units in the division, including:

• Student Well-Being and Basic Needs
• Housing
• Student Conduct
• Recreation Services
• Health Center
• Counseling Center
• Campus Dining
• Student Union (Bookstore, Post Office, and Event Services)
• KDUR Radio Station

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of five years of higher education experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Experience supervising professional staff, including but not limited to performance evaluation, professional development, setting individual goals, and assessment of performance effectiveness.
• An ability to lead campus-wide initiatives and reimagine existing processes that promote student engagement
• Demonstrated previous work accomplishments that positively shape student well-being, engagement, and outcomes.
• A high level of leadership in working with the campus constituencies along with the ability to build collaborative relationships characterized by mutual respect, trust, and commitment to shared goals. Integrity, creativity, energy, and decisiveness, along with the capacity to engage and inspire others.
• Experience in providing response and assistance to students in crisis situations and proven ability to create a climate responsive to student concerns.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor program and project budgets, as well as monthly and year-end projections.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and experience interacting with and supporting the needs of a diverse student population.
• Highly effective in all aspects of leadership management, including the ability to work collaboratively with others.

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• PhD in higher education, education leadership, or relevant area.
• Ten or more years of higher education experience in a leadership role and/or previous experience as a senior student affairs officer.
• A strong record of success in identifying and securing alternative funding through grants and other revenue sources.
• Effectiveness in setting priorities and deadlines to ensure project goals and objectives are met.
• Demonstrated experience in utilizing institutional data to benchmark and promote accountability that aligns with institutional mission.
• Deep understanding of the higher education landscape, including trends, challenges, and opportunities facing public, regional institutions.

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

This position reports directly to the president, serves on senior leadership team, and is responsible for delivering on outcomes that will be determined by the president.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/ and Salary Range:

• Administrative Professional Salary Position
• Full Time
• Permanent
• Full Year
• Typical work hours are 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday, with on-call duties related to crisis management that require occasional night and weekend service as well.
• This is an on-campus position.

Salary

The salary range is $153,000 to $170,000, plus a comprehensive benefits package

Application Process

A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

Application Deadline

Application materials received by 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2025, will receive full consideration.

The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts and pass a background check.

About Fort Lewis College:

On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving, Non-Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango