The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), one of the nation’s preeminent public institutions, seeks a visionary academic leader and experienced administrator with a strong record of effective leadership for the position of provost. The new provost will assume office in the summer of 2025.
The College of New Jersey, a nationally recognized public institution founded in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, is a primarily undergraduate and residential college, with targeted graduate programs. Grounded in the liberal arts, TCNJ’s personalized, collaborative, and rigorous education engages students at the highest level within and beyond the classroom. TCNJ believes in the transformative power of education to develop critical thinkers, responsible citizens, and lifelong learners and leaders. The college empowers its diverse students, staff, and faculty to sustain and enhance their communities both locally and globally.
TCNJ is a learning community with a rich tradition of shared governance and inclusive decision-making, which has been recognized by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) with its Ralph S. Brown Award for Shared Governance. The college maintains an active Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, and Student Government. Students, faculty, and staff are represented on all key committees, councils, and task forces. Transparency is deeply valued on the campus, as is broadly based participation. A strong network of collective bargaining units represents several constituent groups within TCNJ. Senior leadership, faculty leadership, and the local union have a history of working together effectively to advance the college. A clear set of policies, procedures, and agreements enables contract negotiations and other related matters to be widely understood.
The provost leads the Office of Academic Affairs and organizes the strategic planning process, allocates resources, administers policies, and promotes high standards to achieve the college’s academic aspirations:
- To be recognized nationally as a premier public, primarily undergraduate institution
- To serve as a national exemplar in the education of those who seek to sustain and advance the communities in which they live
The work of the provost will be broad and all-encompassing. The provost will provide strategic, visionary, consultative, and collaborative leadership for all aspects of TCNJ’s academic programs and be a vibrant thought partner to the president and members of cabinet. Building on the past and ongoing work at the college, the provost will bring translatable experience in change management in a higher education setting; exhibit superior financial acumen; positively impact culture and morale for all members of the TCNJ community, and demonstrate a strong commitment to faculty development.
The successful candidate will bring significant academic and administrative experience, a highly relational approach, outstanding communication skills, self-confidence balanced with humility, integrity of the highest order, a strong work ethic, and a clear understanding of liberal arts institutions to the provost’s work.
A PhD/terminal degree, tenure at the rank of full professor, and a scholarly record that garners the respect of the academic community at the college are typically expected – but excellent, non-traditional candidates, are welcome. The provost will support, respect, and commit to embracing diverse backgrounds, values, and points of view to build an intellectually curious college community.
View the full position specification here. The search committee for the College of New Jersey’s provost will begin accepting nominations and reviewing applications immediately. Requested application materials include a letter of interest and curriculum vitae and should be uploaded to our Talent Profile. Although applications will be welcomed until a new provost is selected, for best consideration all candidates should submit materials via the Talent Profile before February 3, 2025.
To submit nominations, please contact:
Julie E. Tea, Managing Director
Danielle Mebert, Managing Associate
Storbeck Search
TCNJProvost@storbecksearch.com
