Eastern Washington University (EWU or Eastern) seeks a visionary, forward-thinking, data-informed, and collaborative leader to serve as its next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost).
Founded in 1882, Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney and Spokane, Washington, with over 150 areas of study in over 70 programs offered throughout the state and online. EWU provides high-quality, student-centered education to a diverse population of over 10,740 students. Over one-third of the student population is first-generation university students, and 37% are from historically underrepresented ethnic backgrounds. EWU’s campus is a driving force for the culture, economy, and vitality of the Inland Northwest region, providing students a small-college-town, residential campus experience (1,300 beds) with high-quality experiential learning, exceptional faculty mentoring, and civic and community engagement opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students alike. With its main campus in Cheney, Eastern also offers programs in downtown Spokane’s “University District” at the new SIERR building, the Catalyst building (“South Landing”), and on the shared Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane campus. Additional programs exist throughout the state in partnership with community colleges in Bellevue and Everett. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the NCAA and is a member of the Big Sky Conference.
Eastern Washington University’s next Provost will join a dynamic, mission-centered, and performance-driven leadership team led by President Shari McMahan. As the University’s chief academic officer, the Provost will play an integral role in the University’s leadership team by actively collaborating with the President and the creative and dedicated faculty, staff, and student body to enact the University’s new strategic vision. The Provost will have experience creating innovative academic pathways that drive enrollment and will stimulate ideas on how to best accomplish this, given EWU’s unique strengths and resource environment. The next Provost should be knowledgeable about how to leverage data for future campus planning; focused on collaborative leadership across the institution in support of student success; an inclusive manager focused on driving accountability for student success and outcomes; and financially literate in an effort to support short and long-term budget decision making. Additionally, the Provost will serve as the key ambassador between faculty and administration, building effective and sustainable relationships with an eye toward the whole student experience to promote enrollment, retention, persistence, and success.
The successful Provost candidate will be a synergistic leader committed to student success and an experienced change manager who promotes leadership and empowerment at every level of the University. The Provost will have a strong understanding of the complex social, political, economic, and technological changes affecting higher education today, bringing creativity and vision to help EWU meet those potential challenges head-on. The new Provost will possess many key attributes necessary to support the evolution of the University, including the ability to inspire and instill optimism and confidence; experience in leading student success initiatives and teaching excellence; experience with enrollment initiatives; a record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion; valuing the educational experience offered by a public comprehensive regional university; practiced skill in making data-driven decisions; the ability to work collegially and cooperatively; and the financial expertise to innovate academic and student success programming and initiatives that will serve the EWU student population. The successful candidate must have an earned doctorate with the academic qualifications of teaching, research, and service acceptable for appointment at the rank of professor, combined with a record of progressive administrative experience. More information can be found at https://wittkieffer.com.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV, a letter of interest that describes the applicant’s experience in reducing equity gaps and increasing retention and graduation, and a diversity statement that describes how applicants would apply an approach that is supportive of the diverse needs, including universal access, of Eastern Washington students, faculty, staff, and the public.
In addition, per Chapter 28B.112.080 of the Revised Code of Washington regarding Campus Sexual Violence, all applicants are required to complete a sexual misconduct disclosure form.
WittKieffer is assisting Eastern Washington University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 2, 2024.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D., Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., and Bree Liddell at EWUProvost@wittkieffer.com.
Compensation and Benefit Information: The compensation range for this position is $280,000 to $300,000. On top of salary, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, life and disability insurance, and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year, and fringe benefits, such as tuition waivers for employees, discounted EWU sports tickets, and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits, please see the Human Resources website.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer: EWU does not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, age, marital status, families with children, protected veteran or military status, HIV or hepatitis C, status as a mother breastfeeding her child, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, as provided for and to the extent required by state and federal laws.
