Dean of Students

Join Our Team as the Dean of Students
At San Diego State University (SDSU), we are committed to fostering a culture of care, inclusion, and belonging that supports every student's success. The Dean of Students plays a vital role in upholding that mission, providing visionary leadership for programs and services that promote student well-being, engagement, and personal development.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, the Dean of Students provides strategic oversight of multiple student-facing departments and programs that serve as the backbone of the SDSU experience. This position is a visible, trusted leader and a key contributor to the university's student support, crisis response, and community engagement efforts.

As the Dean of Students, you will:

• Provide leadership, vision, and direction for a portfolio that includes the CARES Team, Center for Commuter & Transfer Life, Center for Student Organizations & Activities, Orientation & Transition Programs, Parent & Family Programs, the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service, Pierce Greek Life Center, and SDSU Connects.
• Lead case management and crisis response coordination, ensuring timely and compassionate support for students in distress.
• Collaborate across campus to uphold policies and protocols related to student safety, well-being, and success.
• Serve as a senior crisis responder and key participant in emergency management, student death protocols, and behavioral intervention efforts.
• Partner with Academic Affairs and university leadership to strengthen student engagement, retention, and academic success strategies.
• Represent SDSU in community and city partnerships, addressing student-related issues, public safety, and town-gown relations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of Assistant Deans, Directors, and professional staff dedicated to advancing student life and leadership.

This position is both strategic and hands-on, requiring the ability to manage complex issues, inspire collaboration, and make critical decisions under pressure, all while modeling SDSU's values of inclusion, integrity, and care.

Why you'll love this work:

Purpose-Driven Leadership: Direct initiatives that shape the student experience, ensuring care and connection are at the heart of SDSU's culture.

Collaborative Environment: Partner with faculty, staff, and community leaders to create meaningful impact on and off campus.

Dynamic Portfolio: Oversee a diverse range of programs that foster leadership, engagement, and student success.

Commitment to Inclusion: Join a division that celebrates diversity and leads the university's equity and belonging efforts.

Community Impact: Play a key role in SDSU's relationship with the greater San Diego region, promoting civic responsibility and positive engagement.

Position Information

• This is a full-time, at-will role, offering comprehensive benefits.
• Position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, due to the nature of the role, evenings and weekends are often required.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity acknowledges and honors the inherent value and dignity of all individuals by fostering a learning and working environment that affirms and leverages our community's diversity of traditions, heritages, perspectives, and experiences. We are committed to inclusive excellence and to developing leaders who believe in and model civility, mutual respect, and inclusion in our workplaces and society.

For more information regarding the Student Affairs & Campus Diversity, click here.

Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Counseling, College Student Personnel, Higher Education, or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs, student support, or crisis management.
• Demonstrated experience in on-call response, student advocacy, and policy implementation in a higher education environment.
• Experience supervising professional staff, managing budgets, and leading diverse, complex teams.

Key Qualifications

• Deep understanding of student development theory, student engagement, and retention strategies.
• Proven experience in crisis management, behavioral intervention, and emergency response.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to lead through influence and empathy.
• Experience managing in a collective bargaining environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Ability to represent the university in high-profile, community-facing situations with professionalism and diplomacy.
• Excellent strategic planning, organizational, and leadership abilities.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends in support of key university programs, events, and emergency response efforts related to student well-being and safety.

Compensation and Benefits

At San Diego State University, we value our team members and offer a competitive salary that reflects your qualifications and experience. But that's just the beginning Our exceptional benefits package is designed to support your well-being and work-life balance:

• Generous Leave Benefits: Enjoy 15 paid holidays, 24 vacation days, and 12 sick days per year.
• Retirement Security: Benefit from a CalPERS defined benefit pension plan, with reciprocity with the UC Retirement Plan, plus retiree healthcare benefits.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Access a variety of health, dental, and vision plans at no or low cost to you.
• Educational Opportunities: Take advantage of the California State University system fee reduction program for yourself or a qualified dependent.
• Voluntary Benefits: Opt into additional benefits like Auto & Home Insurance, Life and Disability Insurances, a Legal Plan, Pet Insurance, and the ScholarShare 529 Plan for college savings.

The expected hiring salary for this position ranges from $155,000 to $180,000 annually.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU's Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

This position is open to current SDSU employees only.  Apply by November 19, 2025 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Casie Martinez