Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Position description

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is excited to invite nominations and applications for the position of Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (VCDEI). The incoming VCDEI will be a proactive strategic thinker who will help shape the future of one of the nation's premier public universities. They will do so by working alonside passionate administrators, faculty, staff, and students who embrace and celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion across campus. As a lead strategic advisor, the VCDEI will serve as an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on campus by expanding the current operations of the office and further aligning resources, conversations, and partnerships throughout the university. Overall, the VCDEI will be an accessible and visible leader within the institution as well as more broadly throughout the University of California system. They will lead to collaboratively create a lasting legacy of excellence and equity at UC Santa Barbara by fostering a campus culture where every voice is heard and valued.

The successful candidate will have relevant administrative experience in the academic community and a strong record of scholarship that bears out a keen understanding of issues inherent to inclusion, equity, and diversity within a complex institutional setting. The VCDEI must have extensive knowledge of existing research and best practices to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and a demonstrated ability to apply these best practices across a large organization. In addition to the ability to lead internally, the VCDEI will be a thoughtful leader in conversations about inclusion and diversity on the state and national levels. The VCDEI must have well-developed skills in facilitating inclusive dialogues that enable positive growth, the capacity to develop and translate strategic goals towards a course for implementation, and experience in institutional change management. The VCDEI must be able to work effectively with people all across the University, including senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, as well as the surrounding community. The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.

In 2015, UC Santa Barbara was designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the first AAU institution to receive this designation, and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. In 2017, it was ranked second for economic mobility in the New York Times list of "Top Colleges Doing the Most for the American Dream." UC Santa Barbara is ranked 5th among all public universities according to Forbes Magazine and 12th according to U.S. News & World Report with seven of its graduate programs ranked among the top 50 in the nation, and three departments in the top 10. In addition, the University is home to 10 national centers and institutes, eight of which are sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). With only five colleges and professional schools, it offers the benefits of a premier researching university and an intimate undergraduate learning experience.

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will address a set of key opportunities and challenges. The Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will:

Further develop a cohesive vision and plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UC Santa Barbara;
In collaboration with campus leaders and the Academic Senate, align, integrate, coordinate, and elevate DEI efforts across campus;
Advance a culture of assessment and evaluation to enable data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement;
Effectively advocate for and generate resources in support of DEI efforts;
Serve as a visible and trusted member of the UCSB and UC communities on issues of inclusion and diversity.
The executive search firm Isaacson, Miller is assisting the University of California, Santa Barbara with this important search. 

Role of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Reporting to the Chancellor, the VCDEI is responsible for leading and coordinating the University's efforts to create a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, faculty, and alumni. A member of the Chancellor's executive leadership team, the VCDEI will serve as a critical advisor, bridge builder, strategic leader, and partner, enabling leaders and constituents across the institution to identify and execute initiatives to effect lasting institutional change. Broadly, the Vice Chancellor's areas of focus include the coordination of campus-wide diversity initiatives; strategic planning; training and educational programming; policy development; and campus climate issues. Operating within these broad areas, the VCDEI will assist in developing campus-wide partnerships, guidelines, and projects to expand access, equity, well-being, dignity, and success for students, staff, and faculty.

The VCDEI will work collaboratively with offices across UCSB, including but not limited to faculty equity advisors embedded in schools and colleges, student affairs, academic affairs, as well as staff and student campus leadership, to facilitate an integrated vision and shared responsibility for advancing the University's goals around programming, grants, and strategies related to promoting excellence, diversity, and inclusiveness on campus. UCSB is committed to providing resources to accomplish DEI goals. In addition to serving as a senior administrator at UCSB, the VCDEI serves as part of a system-wide network of Vice Chancellors and other diversity officers, coordinated by the University of California Office of the President, to support UCSB's overall diversity goals.

Qualifications and Characteristics
The Vice Chancellor should be an exceptional relationship builder, collaborator, communicator, and scholar with vision and capacity to develop and implement UC Santa Barbara's mission around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
At the time of application, applicants must hold a Ph.D. or the highest equivalent terminal degree;
A strong record of distinguished scholarly and professional accomplishment that qualifies for appointment as a tenured professor in an appropriate UCSB academic department; AND
3 to 5 years of demonstrated progressive leadership in developing and implementing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and programs in an academic setting.
Preferred qualifications
• A demonstrated appreciation of the mission of UC Santa Barbara and a deep commitment to diversity as part of the University's public mission;

• A keen understanding of issues related to inclusion and diversity, and an appreciation for the values associated with them in higher education.

• Demonstrated understanding of the lived experiences of the various diverse student, faculty, and staff populations in a higher education setting;

• Substantial administrative experience and proficiency at leading large-scale projects;

• An understanding of affirmative action and equal opportunity regulations, as well as diversity issues and initiatives grounded in social justice standpoints;

• Substantial knowledge of diversity policies, concerns and issues extant in higher education, especially in system-wide and campus levels;

• Demonstrated experience in diversity programming assessment;

• Proven success in strategic planning and communications;

• Well-developed skills in facilitating inclusive dialogues that enable positive growth;

• A demonstrated ability to conceptualize, assess, and cultivate diversity as a campus value;

• The ability to work with a diverse group of constituents to develop and implement a strategic plan and set campus priorities for diversity, equity, and inclusion.