Washington State University Vancouver
Search for the Chancellor
Vancouver, Washington
Washington State University Vancouver (WSU Vancouver), one of six campuses of the distinguished Washington State University (WSU) system, seeks an experienced, visionary, and collaborative leader to guide the vibrant campus poised for growth and innovation. Reporting directly to the WSU System President, the Chancellor will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the only four-year research institution in Southwest Washington. WSU Vancouver takes pride in its deep connections to its community and the region, and its commitment to serving a diverse student population.
Established in 1989, WSU Vancouver has evolved into a vital hub of academic excellence and research innovation. Serving Southwest Washington and the Portland metropolitan area, the campus offers a unique blend of world-class education, intimate learning experiences, and access to the growing economy of the region. With more than 2,700 students benefiting from small classes and direct interaction with distinguished faculty, WSU Vancouver stands as a model of personalized, high-quality baccalaureate- and graduate-level education in the region.
As the third-largest campus of Washington’s land-grant university system, WSU Vancouver shares WSU’s prestigious Carnegie Classification of “Very High Research Activity” (R1). Faculty experts work on research of regional, national, and international impact, tackling some of the most complex and difficult issues of the modern world.The campus’s research focuses on areas such as water resources, climate change, sustainability, social justice, and health equity, reflecting its commitment to addressing pressing societal challenges. The state-of-the art Life Sciences Building opened in fall 2024 providing best-in-class laboratory space for programming in biology and chemistry and serving general educational needs for all students and foundational courses for an array of STEM degrees. The campus’s academic offerings span a diverse range of disciplines, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, Carson College of Business, College of Education, School of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Nursing. Additional programs from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, College of Agriculture, Human, and Natural Resources Sciences, and College of Veterinary Medicine further enrich the campus’s academic landscape.
WSU Vancouver takes immense pride in its unwavering commitment to equity and inclusion, reflected in its diverse student body. The campus serves as a critical pathway to higher education for a wide spectrum of learners. As of fall 2024, 6% of students are Veterans, 35% are students of color, 39% are the first in their family to attend college, and the student’s average age is 25. This commitment to access and serving a diverse student population is complemented by academic rigor and research excellence, with notable programs in business, creative media and digital culture, earth and environmental science, mechanical and electrical engineering, neuroscience, and psychology.
This moment represents a pivotal opportunity to join WSU Vancouver as only the third Chancellor in the campus’s 35-year history and lead the campus boldly into its next chapter. The next Chancellor will be joining WSU around the same time as a new WSU System President, which provides ample opportunity to help define a vision and strategy for the future that also integrates and augments the strengths of the other WSU campuses. The Chancellor will arrive with a comprehensive campaign underway, with half of its $65 million goal to support campus priorities already raised. WSU Vancouver also has state-of-the-art facilities, including the new 60,000-square-foot Life Sciences Building and adjacent greenhouse, and prides itself on strong community partnerships and support from more than 18,000 alumni—95% of whom remain in the area. The next Chancellor will be able to leverage the campus’s commitment to equity and student success, research profile, and academic offerings across the system to continue attracting and retaining talented and diverse faculty, staff, and students.
The ideal candidate will be a visionary and results-oriented academic leader with a proven record of fostering innovation and advancing equity, who can serve both as the chief executive of WSU Vancouver and as a critical leader within the broader WSU system. They must be able to articulate a compelling vision for the campus while navigating complex organizational structures and building productive partnerships across diverse constituencies.
The next Chancellor will address the following opportunities and challenges central to the future success of WSU Vancouver:
- Drive an ambitious, forward-looking vision for WSU Vancouver that leverages its strengths while aligning with university-wide goals
- Foster a vibrant and collective campus culture that builds community
- Advance academic excellence through teaching, research, student support resources, and new academic programming
- Creatively steward resources through strategic budget allocation, enrollment growth, and fundraising
- Champion equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging efforts
- Cultivate, build, and expand partnerships within Vancouver, in the Portland metropolitan area, and across Washington and beyond
- Be a visible, engaged, and collaborative member of the WSU system-wide leadership team
The anticipated salary range for this position is $350,000 – $450,000 annually and is commensurate with related experience and qualifications. Relocation assistance is available. WSU offers an inspiring higher education environment and offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, and paid time off. To learn more about WSU employee benefits, please visit: hrs.wsu.edu/employees/benefits.
WSU Vancouver has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in this search. Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. For more details, including the full position profile and to submit inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications, please see the Isaacson, Miller website for the search: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/washington-state-university-vancouver/chancellor. Electronic submission of materials is strongly encouraged.
Lindsay Gold, Julie FIlizetti, Phuong Ta, and Julia Hochner
Isaacson, Miller
1000 Sansome Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.655.4900
Washington State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action educator and employer. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
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