Associate Vice President and Dean of Students

Overview

The Associate Vice President for Engagement & Well-Being & Dean of Students (AVPEW) serves as a senior campus leader providing strategic vision, direction, and oversight for university-wide initiatives that promote student engagement, holistic well-being, and retention. The AVPEW advances a comprehensive framework that integrates involvement, belonging, mental health, physical wellness, community standards, and supportive interventions to ensure students thrive academically and personally.

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Success, the AVPEW provides leadership, supervision, and budget oversight for wellness-focused departments—including Campus Recreation, Counseling and Prevention Services, the Wellness Center, CARE, and Student Conduct & Community Standards—as well as engagement-centered units such as the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, Residence Life, and the Veterans Resource Center. The AVPEW ensures that these areas operate collaboratively within a cohesive strategy designed to remove barriers to student persistence and success.

The AVP will join the Division of Student Success during an exciting time as the division is reimagining student retention efforts to best serve students and align with a new USU strategic plan.

As a member of the Vice President’s leadership team, the AVP will have division-level responsibilities to advance divisional initiatives, promote student well-being and engagement campus wide, and maintain focus on student-centered services.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive engagement and well-being strategy aligned with the university’s strategic plan and student retention goals.
• Champion a campus-wide culture of belonging, wellness, and meaningful involvement.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the Vice President on matters related to student engagement, behavioral health trends, campus climate, and retention risk factors.
• Provide direct supervision, leadership development, and performance management for directors of assigned departments.
• Oversee divisional budgets, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning for engagement and wellness units.
• Ensure policies, practices, and services are student-centered, equitable, and aligned with regulatory and compliance standards.
• Collaborate with academic affairs, enrollment management, and data analytics to identify barriers to student persistence and implement targeted interventions.
• Lead assessment efforts to measure program effectiveness, student engagement trends, and well-being outcomes. Utilize data analytics to inform strategic decisions and continuously improve services in response to evolving student needs.
• Support faculty and staff in understanding their role in promoting student belonging, resilience, and community standards.
• Engage external partners and community organizations to expand resources and referral networks that support student health and engagement.
• Serve as a member of the divisional leadership team, as well as represent the division on various committees, work group and task forces related to student success.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state and university laws and policies.
• Reports to the Vice President for Student Success and supervises both exempt and non-exempt positions.

DisclaimerThis position description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with eleven years of experience in higher education, including seven years of leadership experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Progressive leadership experience in student affairs, wellness services, engagement programming, or related areas.
• Demonstrated success supervising multiple functional units and managing complex budgets.
• Experience using assessment and data-informed strategies to support student retention and success.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and leading successful initiatives in student well-being and/or engagement.
• Advanced knowledge of budget/fiscal planning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience leading campus-wide retention and/or well-being initiatives.
• Experience in supervising director-level professionals.
• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong understanding of student development theories, student populations, and best practices in higher education.
• Collaborative and transparent leadership.
• Excellent leadership, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to make data-driven decisions to maintain a nimble environment.
• Crisis response and decision-making skills.
• Budget management experience.
• Commitment to holistic, student-centered services.
• Ability to think strategically and see the big picture of this role in the broader landscape of student retention.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

2. Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and may lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

College/Department Highlights

The Division of Student Success supports Utah State University’s mission of learning, discovery, and engagement by focusing on the full lifecycle of a learner, from enrollment through graduation. Our division is committed to increasing not only access to education, but access to graduation. We are driven by a passion for student success, achieved by looking beyond the standard practices and pushing each other towards best practices.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by recent Mountain West regular-season and tournament championships in women’s volleyball, three consecutive Mountain West tournament titles in women’s soccer conference championships, and a first-ever conference championship for gymnastics, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected]. 

*updated 12/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

*updated 10/2025