Villanova University invites nominations and applications for its Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion role. Reporting directly to the president, Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, and joins cabinet leadership driven by a shared vision for Villanova and its 10-year Strategic Plan rooted in Augustinian values and restless in a desire to ignite change. The next VPDEI will continue to engage with academic, administrative, and other units of the University to develop strategies to foster a Villanova community where individual differences are acknowledged, valued, and appreciated. As a partner and colleague, the VPDEI builds bridges and serves as a mentor and guide to Villanova constituents while articulating and communicating a strategic vision for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Villanova University.
Villanova University, a co-educational Roman Catholic institution, was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842. A premier institution of higher education, Villanova provides a comprehensive education rooted in the liberal arts; a shared commitment to the Augustinian values of veritas, unitas and caritas; and a community dedicated to service to others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.
Villanova is located just 12 miles west of Center City Philadelphia, the 6th largest city in the U.S. and the 2nd largest on the East Coast. The region offers plentiful cultural and entertainment offerings, including world-class museums, historic sites, great restaurants, performing arts, and a wide spectrum of neighborhoods and attractions. Villanova is also close to Valley Forge National Historical Park, and the bucolic Main Line, featuring shops and restaurants, is just steps away.
The Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a member of the President’s cabinet and reports directly to the president, contributing to strategic institutional discussions and planning. The VPDEI serves as the senior diversity, equity and inclusion officer for Villanova University and will share responsibility and accountability for initiatives and priorities. The VPDEI plays a critical role in ensuring a vibrant and equitable campus experience for members of the Villanova community, closely working throughout the institution to achieve this. There are several spheres of influence for the next VPDEI, and this individual will collaborate with the university’s diverse constituents to provide leadership and strategic direction that will lead to the continued cultivation of a nurturing environment that is also welcoming, inclusive and respectful.
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 profile available at www.wittkieffer.com. For fullest consideration, candidate materials should be submitted by a priority deadline of September 6, 2024. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.
If this is an opportunity that might interest you, or if there is a colleague that you would like to recommend, we would value hearing from you. Please email our consultant team at Villanova-VPDEI@Wittkieffer.com
Villanova is an equal employment/affirmative action employer. Villanova University is committed to providing leadership in the attainment of equal employment for all individuals. It is the policy and practice of Villanova University to recruit and select applicants on the basis of their qualifications and abilities. This effort is in compliance with all federal and state laws, including Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1975, Executive Order 11246, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
