Deputy to the President and Chief of Staff

At Western Connecticut State University, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are foundational to who we are and how we lead. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, WestConn embraces both the honor and responsibility of expanding access, advancing opportunity, and delivering student success through equity in practice, not just in principle. We are building a community where every person is respected, supported, and empowered to thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates who share these values and are committed to helping us live them every day.

WestConn invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for its Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff.
The Western Rising Focused Strategy (2026-2028) serves as a tactical roadmap to sharpen the university’s collective efforts over the next three years, ensuring financial sustainability while honoring its core academic mission. Led by President Jesse M. Bernal, the strategy was forged through a highly collaborative process involving hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community leaders to synthesize existing planning into actionable priorities. This community-guided approach balances necessary fiscal stewardship with a deep commitment to student success, belonging, and regional impact. For the Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff, Western Rising calls for a forward-looking leader who can help design a more connected, creative, and responsive student experience, one that supports persistence, strengthens community, and advances WestConn’s mission as an engine of opportunity.

Five Institutional Commitments and Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff:
 

• Strengthening Foundations: The Deputy translates presidential priorities into coordinated action, improving organizational effectiveness and advancing responsible fiscal and operational stewardship.  Working across academic and administrative divisions, this leader identifies barriers, aligns resources, and modernizes university processes through strategic project leadership, thoughtful use of AI and emerging technologies and consistent follow-through.

Distinctively WestConn: The Deputy brings WestConn’s distinctive identity, values and aspirations to life through presidential initiatives, intuitional communications, and strategic engagement.  Working with faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners, this leader connects the President’s vision to action, ensuring WestConn’s commitment to student success, belonging, academic excellence and innovation shows in its decisions and daily work.

• Regional Anchor & Opportunity Engine: The Deputy supports the President in strengthening WestConn as a vital educational, economic, and civic partner in Western Connecticut and beyond.  This includes coordinating government relations, supporting legislatives and policy engagement, and advancing strategic partnerships that connect institutional priorities with regional workforces and community needs.
• Culture of Shared Leadership & Renewal:  The Deputy fosters collaboration, transparency, accountability and renewal.  As a trusted advisor and connector, this leader helps the President engage shared governance partners, executives, faculty, staff and students; facilitates complex conversations; coordinates decisions across organizational boundaries; and ensures commitments produce measurable progress, with sound judgment, discretion and urgency.
• Creating an Environment for Student Thriving: The Deputy keeps student success central to institutional decisions, investments and operations.  Rather than directly overseeing student services, this leader works across divisions to advance presidential initiatives that improve access, persistence, belonging and achievement, using data, emerging technologies, and student perspectives to remove barriers from enrollment through graduate and beyond.

Importantly, Western Rising is more than a plan, it is a moment. Over the next three years, WestConn is building on hard-won momentum to strengthen its foundation, modernize how it serves students, and position the institution for long-term success in service of its academic mission. This focused strategy reflects a university that is moving with purpose, clear-eyed about its realities, confident in its direction, and ambitious about what comes next.
 
The Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff will report directly to President Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., serving as a close strategic partner and a core member of the university’s executive leadership team. Since becoming WestConn’s leader in 2025, Dr. Bernal has advanced a focused period of renewal, working to strengthen trust, modernize systems, and center student success and campus wellbeing. He leads with integrity and transparency, with a deep commitment to shared governance and the belief that the best decisions are made when faculty, staff, and students are engaged early as true partners. WestConn’s mission of access, equity, and opportunity is central to his leadership, alongside clear expectations for measurable progress and responsible stewardship. His work style is high-paced, collaborative, energetic, and action-oriented, with a strong emphasis on creativity, prudent risk-taking, and high standards paired with genuine care for people and culture. In partnership with the President, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the broader leadership team, the Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff will help shape a more connected, modern, and student-ready campus experience.
WestConn enrolls 4,573 credit students (Fall 2025): 3,696 undergraduates, 627 graduate students, and 260 dual-enrolled students. We proudly serve 1,473 first-generation students. Our highest-enrolling undergraduate programs include Psychology, Nursing, Management, Biology, and Public Health. At the graduate level, top programs include Counselor Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, Creative & Professional Writing, and Health Care Administration. Looking ahead, WestConn is focused on sustaining and growing enrollment by expanding into new markets and creating new pathways for learners, and we seek a Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff who brings creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to help translate those opportunities into results.

WestConn is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, governed by the Board of Regents (BOR). CSCU includes Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), CT State Community College (CT State), and Charter Oak State College (online). This system creates strong opportunities for partnerships, shared services, and cross-institutional collaboration, efforts the Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff will help advance and scale.
WestConn serves as a regional anchor and opportunity engine for Western Connecticut, with deep ties to Danbury and the surrounding region. University leadership is expected to be visible, engaged, and community-facing. The Deputy to the President & Chief of Staff will help strengthen partnerships with local business, civic, and nonprofit leaders to expand WestConn’s impact and advance its mission.

Danbury sits on Connecticut’s western border and spans 44 square miles, more than twice the size of Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport. With easy access to New York and comparatively affordable housing, it attracts residents from across Fairfield County and the greater metro area. The city’s economy is diverse, anchored by manufacturing, health care, construction, and higher education, and Danbury is among Connecticut’s most ethnically diverse communities, home to a vibrant mix of cultures and immigrant-owned businesses. Residents enjoy a strong quality of life with arts, dining, parks, and recreation at Candlewood Lake, along with convenient access to major airports within roughly 40 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes. With its central location, many WestConn students and employees commute from nearby communities, including New York.

Per State Law and CSCU Policy, the selected executive must be a permanent residence of Connecticut within 90 days of hire.
 
POSITION SUMMARY
Reports to the President and serves as their deputy, trusted adviser, and lead for advancing presidential priorities. Works across divisions, roles, and campuses to bring people together, resolve barriers, and move shared work forward. Combines strong judgment, project leadership, and communication skills with a deep, practical understanding of AI and technology. This position supervises Professional and Support staff.

Examples of Duties:

The following examples of duties illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

1. Serve as the President’s deputy. Advise on priorities and emerging issues, prepare recommendations, and represent the President in assigned meetings and initiatives. Exercise delegated authority with discretion and sound judgment.
2. Lead work across organizational boundaries. Build relationships among academic and administrative leaders, faculty, staff, and campus partners. Convene the right people, reconcile competing needs, and coordinate shared efforts across divisions and campuses.
3. Drive projects and follow-through. Turn presidential priorities into clear assignments, timelines, and outcomes. Coordinate implementation, address obstacles, and hold teams accountable for agreed commitments.
4. Prepare and facilitate meetings. Develop agendas, briefings, and decision materials; prepare the President for internal and external engagements; facilitate discussions and ensure decisions lead to action.
5. Lead presidential communications and support government relations. Draft speeches, messages, correspondence, and presentations in the President’s voice. Coordinate legislative briefings, policy monitoring, external relationships, and follow-up with University and CSCU colleagues.
6. Apply AI and technology to improve how work gets done. Use AI, automation, and data tools to strengthen research, communications, project management, and decision support. Work with technology and campus leaders to improve shared processes, evaluate tools, and help colleagues adopt them effectively and responsibly.
7. Work in partnership with the Provost, Chief Operating Officer, and other leaders, respecting assigned authority and shared governance.

Incumbents must possess proven ability to effectively work with a culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse faculty, staff, and students. They are expected to have excellent oral and written communication skills along with strong Information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.). Incumbents are required to have demonstrated advanced knowledge and abilities in the following:

• • Bachelor’s degree and at least eight years of progressively responsible relevant experience, or a master’s degree and at least five years. Comparable combinations of education and experience may be considered.
  • Demonstrated success leading complex projects across divisions, professional roles, or campus locations, including coordinating people outside one’s direct reporting structure and delivering agreed results.
  • Deep, practical understanding and hands-on use of AI and emerging technologies, including generative AI, automation, data analysis, and digital collaboration tools.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills, including preparing executive briefings, speeches, correspondence, and recommendations for varied audiences.
  • Strong meeting preparation, facilitation, and project management skills, with consistent follow-through on decisions, assignments, and deadlines.
  • Sound political and organizational judgment, discretion with sensitive information, and the ability to build trust and work effectively with diverse colleagues and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• • Experience serving as a chief of staff, executive adviser, deputy, or leader of initiatives sponsored by a senior executive.
  • Experience in public higher education, shared governance, or a university or system with multiple campuses.
  • Experience in government relations, public affairs, or public policy, including work with elected officials, agencies, or legislative processes.
  • Demonstrated success using AI and technology to improve organizational processes, lead change, and achieve measurable results.
  • Ability to evaluate AI capabilities and limitations, improve workflows, and support technology adoption while exercising judgment about accuracy, privacy, security, and human oversight.
  • Experience developing communications in a senior leader’s voice and coordinating relationships with government, community, and institutional partners.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS
Salary & Benefits: The hiring salary range is $151,465 - $189,331 and is commensurate upon candidates’ experience. WCSU offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Generous leave policies

• Multiple retirement plan options
• Comprehensive health insurance choices
• Supplemental benefits for retirement and family protection
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)

 Additional information on benefits can be found at www.wcsu.edu/hr/benefits/.

All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check. WCSU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check and a financial (credit) report or driving history check. 

Work Environment: Typical office environment with periodic evening/weekend commitments for meetings and university events. Some travel may be required for system, state, or professional meetings. Reasonable accommodation will be made for incumbents and candidates with physical limitations.

Application Process: Prospective candidates must submit a cover letter, which includes the names and contact information for three (3) professional references and a resume. All materials should be submitted as PDF files.

To apply, submit your materials to: https://westernconnecticutstateuniversity.applytojob.com/apply/4o5pcry6Ov/Deputy-To-The-President-And-Chief-Of-Staff

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled or the search is closed.