Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Who We Are:

National Louis is a 135+ year old university that has been grounded in the values of innovation, access, excellence, and equity from its inception. As an institution, we believe in providing access to educational opportunity and that education is our greatest lever for social and economic mobility. We are a student-focused community that is committed to continuous improvement and superior student service. We believe that through education we are able to empower change and build healthy communities. Our hard-working community is based on collaboration and respect for all team members and students.

What You Will Do:

Reporting to the the Office of the Provost, with a dotted-line to the President for strategic initiatives, the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA) and Dean of Students provides senior leadership for a comprehensive range of student life and support services that promote student engagement, well-being, and long-term success. The VPSA is responsible for co-curricular programming that promotes student engagement, enriches student life, and develops durable and competitive skills to support students' transition to employment and economic mobility upon graduation. This includes oversight of the Student Experience Office, Student Disability Services, Residential Life, Student Conduct, Campus Safety, Orientation and First-Year Programs, Leadership and Multicultural Initiatives, International Student Support, Student Activities, Volunteerism, Counseling and Basic Needs Services, Sexual Misconduct Awareness, and Commencement. The VPSA collaborates across the institution and with external partners to foster an inclusive, student-centered culture and serves as a visible campus leader, engaging regularly with students, families, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders. The VPSA ensures a robust and consistent student experience across all NLU campus locations and learning modalities, promoting connection and engagement university-wide.

Provide strategic leadership in hiring, supervising, and mentoring a dynamic Student Affairs team; establish clear goals and performance expectations, support ongoing professional development, and foster a collaborative, inclusive, and student-centered work environment.
• Oversee strategic budget planning, fiscal management, and resource allocation across Student Affairs units; ensure alignment with institutional priorities, effective use of resources, and compliance with university financial policies.
• Provide leadership, strategic planning, and coordination for all units within the Student Affairs division, and related co-curricular programming, student services, and wrap-around support.
• Provide leadership and guidance in implementing innovative, student-centered strategies that support student success through both curricular and co-curricular experiences for campus-based and online students. Oversee key areas such as multicultural affairs, student organizations and events, first- and second-year transition and retention programming, student conduct, counseling services, and other initiatives that foster engagement, well-being, and academic persistence.
• Lead the development and management of a metrically driven, outcomes-based assessment process to evaluate the effectiveness of Student Affairs programs and services. Ensure ongoing evaluation efforts are aligned with institutional goals and provide actionable insights into how student engagement, support services, and co-curricular experiences contribute to student persistence, satisfaction, and overall success.
• Provide visible and engaged leadership in campus life by actively shaping, leading, and participating in key student programs, events, and traditions. Collaborate with staff and student leaders to co-create meaningful experiences that foster connection, inclusion, and institutional pride. Serve as an accessible presence across student populations by attending and helping lead events such as new student orientation, student leadership programs, cultural celebrations, student organization activities, and commencement.
• Lead student crisis response efforts and collaborate with campus partners on emergency planning, behavioral intervention, and student safety protocols to support the physical and emotional well-being of the student population.
• Ensure that all Student Affairs programs and services comply with federal, state, and institutional regulations and policies.
• Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet and Academic Cabinet.

• Master's Degree in higher education, student affairs, educational leadership or other closely related field (Doctoral Degree preferred)
• Minimum of 10 Years of experience in student affairs leadership (or closely related area) with a record of increasing responsibility
• Proven ability to work well with and nurture relationships with students, faculty and staff, community members, and other stakeholders
• Supervisory and administrative skills that include oversight of contracted student support services such as dining and residence life including a successful history of supervising and mentoring staff, enhancing student life on a primarily commuter campus, and working effectively across the campus community.
• Experience in varied higher education activities such as accreditation, compliance, and professional organization service
• The capacity to work well with students; An ability to interact effectively with business community and public sector; Highly self-directed, well-organized, and comfortable completing tasks with a minimum of direct supervision; Successful experiences in conflict resolution
• Possess deep experience and knowledge of current trends in student affairs management and implementation of best practices and demonstrate understanding of first-generation learners and diverse learners needs
• Experience providing responsive assistance to students and the university in crisis situations and a proven ability to create and maintain a culture responsive to student concerns
• Leadership experience in student development and learning, strategic planning experience, extensive risk management experience with a working understanding of applicable higher education law, and knowledge of metrics to assess student-learning outcomes
• Strong organizational, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, and must demonstrate effective leadership, strategic planning, writing, and intercultural skills

This position is based out of our downtown Chicago Campus, but may require visiting other campus locations as needed.

NLU Inclusion Statement:

National Louis University is deeply committed to serving its community, advancing access and equity, and ensuring that all individuals are welcomed and valued. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion remain at the core of who we are. These are more than just words to us: they are truly a way of life for the NLU community. We recognize that differences in abilities, age, ethnicity, gender (identity and expression), race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, and background bring richness to our work environment. We affirm diverse perspectives, innovative contributions, and authentic presentations of self from every member within the NLU community. We believe inclusion is grounded in the actions we intentionally take each day. Our goal is to inspire and empower NLU employees and community members to cultivate an environment where we collectively focus on uplifting and advancing our institutional culture.

At National Louis University, we offer our employees an innovative environment to work together and inspire the ideas that will make an impact. As our external environment changes, our employees are provided the opportunities and tools needed to grow both personally and professionally to remain successful. NLU employees and dependents are offered a wide range of benefits, including but not limited to, Health Insurance benefits, Retirement benefits, Paid Time Off and Educational Opportunities. Additional information regarding full-time staff benefits can be found here.

The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $175,000 annually. Compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. Offers are based on multiple factors permitted by law, including but not limited to: budgetary considerations, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, market considerations, tenure and standing with the university (applicable to current employees), and internal equity.

Please Include the following along with your application:

• Resume (Required)
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Current NLU employees please also submit an Internal Posting Form