Park University seeks an innovative and growth-oriented leader to serve as its next President.
Park, a four-year, private, nonprofit, liberal arts institution, has helped students break barriers to education since 1875. The University’s motto, fides et labor (Latin for “faith and work”), is as relevant today as it was in the 19th century. A Park University education provides an opportunity for students to find faith in themselves by discovering their potential and working to realize it.
Park currently serves over 7,421 students nationally each year through its flagship campus in Parkville, Missouri, its residential campus in Gilbert, Arizona, campus centers serving civilian and military students across the country, and a robust online program and blended learning modalities, including 8-week and 16-week formats. Honoring its founding mission to provide academic access to all qualified learners, the University continues to serve a highly diverse student population: 61% come from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and 499 international students from 64 countries.
The flagship campus in Parkville, Missouri, sits atop rolling hills overlooking the Missouri River and boasts an impressive community with its beautiful, historic buildings. The campus also includes a unique underground academic space excavated from native limestone. The underground campus houses classrooms, faculty and staff offices, a boardroom, and student services. The University also manages and oversees the successful Parkville Commercial Underground, an innovative commercial space that provides 302,000 square feet of economical and secure space for small businesses and wholesalers in the Kansas City area.
Park enters this presidential transition from a position of growing stability and renewed possibility. Recent years have seen significant institutional assessment, organizational restructuring, strategic planning, and actions to strengthen the University’s financial position and accreditation standing. As a result, the next President will inherit an institution that has undertaken important foundational work and is now positioned to build upon that progress. The successful candidate will honor the gains already achieved while leading Park confidently into its next phase of growth, innovation, and institutional distinction.
Reporting to an engaged Board of Trustees, the President will be expected to grow the University into the future. The President provides leadership in developing, articulating, and executing the University’s vision and, in collaboration with the Board, establishes Park’s goals, objectives, and strategic priorities. The President is the steward of all University assets and resources and ensures the establishment and execution of the governing policies and procedures across Park’s campuses. The President will possess the temperament, comportment, and acumen to establish and maintain constructive relationships with University constituents. The President will foster a culture of high performance and accountability within the leadership team and deliver results consistent with established targets. The next President will lead by personal example, molding the staff and faculty into an effective team that harnesses Park’s diverse components, synchronizes its dynamic features and functions, and successfully leads Park into the future. The next Park University President will be expected to focus their efforts on elevating the vision, identity, and strategic planning of the University; grow enrollment and student success; diversify revenue streams and strengthen academic programs; support academic excellence and shared governance; lift up institutional culture and collegiality; and enhance philanthropy and external engagement. The President has oversight of the $62 million operating budget and a $67 million endowment and is supported by a talented team of leaders.
The next President will have extensive leadership experience and skills, demonstrating the ability to successfully lead complex and diverse organizations in settings that value individual and collective achievement, innovation, and accountability. They will be known for demonstrated collegiality, creativity, financial acumen, and a proven track record in academic innovation and success. The successful candidate will have an earned doctorate, an equivalent terminal degree, or proven leadership and sufficient understanding of higher education to earn the respect of the Park faculty.
All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at WittKieffer.com.
WittKieffer is assisting Park University in this search. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be received by December 3, 2026.
Park University reasonably expects to pay within the range of $310,000 – $350,000, plus the opportunity to earn an additional annual performance-based bonus. Benefits include medical, dental, vision insurance, retirement, life insurance, and tuition remission. The university provides a newly renovated presidential residence.
Nominations and inquiries can be directed to: Melody Rose, Ph.D., Alejandra Gillette-Teran, and Sarah Seavey at ParkPresident@wittkieffer.com.
The University will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, and veteran status.
The University will follow procedures to prohibit discrimination in accordance with applicable legal principles, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
