THE OPPORTUNITY
The University of Virginia (UVA) seeks an accomplished, strategic professional with a record of authentic and innovative leadership, who will become the next Associate Vice President and Dean, Office of African-American Affairs (AVP and Dean). As a unit within the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of African-American Affairs' (OAAA) mission is to help develop and sustain a welcoming, supportive environment for African-American students at the University of Virginia. As a proponent of the interests and needs of African-American students, the Office's primary responsibility is to promote the active involvement of African-American students in all aspects of the University community. In addition, through its programming and outreach, OAAA enhances the University's sensitivity and awareness of African-American issues, culture, and history.

This AVP and Dean is an important member of the Student Affairs Leadership Team, along with the UVA Career Center, Student Engagement, Housing and Residence Life, Student Health & Wellness, Development, Student Safety and Support and Student Engagement. As the leader and Dean of OAAA, this individual will join a strong and dedicated team committed to the engagement and support of all students in the discovery and pursuit of meaningful lives.

The Office of African-American Affairs
The Office of African-American Affairs was established in 1976 as an integral part of the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Virginia. It is charged with the responsibility of assisting academic and non-academic units in meeting the challenges of service delivery to African-American students. The University has maintained one of the best 4-year graduation rates of any public university in the country for black students and, in recent years, has seen marked improvement of the GPA’s of black students during their time at the University - a testament to the success of OAAA in supporting black student academic achievement. The Office also assumes broad responsibility for the creation of a supportive environment that promotes the students’ full participation in the University’s curricular and co-curricular life and enhances the sensitivity of the larger community to the needs, interests, and culture of African-American students. At the same time, it recognizes the intellectual and social diversity among black students and strives to gear its programs and services accordingly.

In addition to providing services, the Office also seeks to foster interest in African-American culture as a major force in a pluralistic society. It maintains ongoing cooperative relationships with students, faculty/staff, alumni, parents, and the community. These liaisons exchange information and advice and enhance the opportunities for the educational growth and successful matriculation and retention of African-American students. Finally, the Office of African-American Affairs serves as a change agent, seeking to assist the University in addressing a range of issues related to students. It advocates their interests and fosters the modification of institutional structures, policies, and practices that may inhibit the development of a genuinely pluralistic institution.

Student Affairs

Student Affairs at UVA is guided by a three-pronged mission: to help students build community, pursue wellness, and grow as citizen leaders. They help students develop in these three essential areas by upholding policies and resources that:

• Foster a university environment that promotes students' intellectual inquiry and responsible decision-making.
• Support students as they clarify personal values, develop a personal identity, build sound interpersonal relationships and explore career directions.
• Promote diversity, cultural richness, and full participation of all students in the University community.
• Respond to students' changing needs at varying stages of intellectual, social, personal, and career development.
• Attend to students impacted by a unique status, including minority, disability, health, financial resources, and nontraditional, among others.
• Equip students to be informed and active citizens within our society.

This is an important time for innovation within Student Affairs, and this individual will work with a community of individuals across Grounds, and beyond to help position the Office of African-American Affairs to create a community of belonging and thriving for our black students. The Division of Student Affairs will complete its strategic planning process this spring. This individual will also align the Office of African-American Affairs with the ambitious goals of UVA’s 2030 Strategic Plan(also known as The Great and Good Plan), which provides a roadmap for the future of UVA focusing on strengthening our foundation, cultivating the most vibrant community in higher education, enabling discoveries that enrich and improve lives, and making UVA synonymous with service.

In 2019, UVA named Kevin G. McDonald as the new Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In September of 2020, the University's Board of Visitors (BOV) endorsed long-term goals tied to specific actions to advance racial equity at the University. These initiatives were rooted in the analysis and recommendations of President Jim Ryan's Racial Equity Task Force, convened in the summer of 2020. This important work is now ongoing across many areas of the University. The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion supports the Office of the President in tracking the progress made on racial equity initiatives endorsed by the BOV. Status updates provide updates on initiatives endorsed by the BOV and additional new and ongoing work contributing to achieving institutional goals for racial equity. Additionally, in 2023, the University’s inaugural Director of HOOS First began work towards developing the ecosystem to support the increasing number for first-generation and low-income students, respectively. Student Affairs is passionate about building and sustaining inclusive and equitable living, learning, and working environments for all students, staff, and faculty. They believe every member of our institution enriches our diversity by exposing us to various ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design and deliver solutions.

THE ROLE
Reporting directly to Robyn Hadley, Vice President and Dean of Students, Chief Student Affairs Officer, the AVP and Dean will provide strategic leadership, vision, direction, and administrative and fiscal oversight for all activities of OAAA. The AVP and Dean will direct, coordinate and evaluate all activities and support services in OAAA, including the Luther P. Jackson Black Cultural Center, the Peer Advising Program, and other critical initiatives that enhance the academic achievement of African-American students. In addition, the AVP and Dean creates and strengthens partnerships with offices within and outside Student Affairs, pursuing collaborative strategies to benefit students and maximize the effective use of resources, and provides advice and support to University deans, faculty, and administrative staff on issues as needed. The AVP and Dean will also maintain an active presence in direct engagement with students, advocating for the needs and interests of black students, providing advice and counsel to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as information and support to student organizations that support the black experience at the University.

Additional Responsibilities include the following:

• The AVP and Dean will set the strategic mission and vision of the unit and manage all operational aspects of the office, aligning budget development and fiscal administration toward the stated mission.
• The AVP and Dean will provide close supervision and management of the Associate and Assistant Deans in the office to provide programs that collectively advance student development with three cardinal pivots in mind: academic support; leadership and student self-efficacy; and mastery of issues of cultural identity and difference.
• Working as a member of the Division’s senior leadership team, the AVP and Dean will assist with division planning, resource allocation, and policy formulation. The AVP and Dean will work together with this team to develop and implement approaches to thematic objectives that cross unit boundaries to improve processes and resolve issues.
• From time to time, the AVP and Dean will represent the Division and/or the Vice President to the University.
• The AVP and Dean may also be asked to represent the Vice President to external stakeholders, including engaging with and fostering closer relationships with public school systems and with the African-American community of the Charlottesville-Albemarle region.
• The AVP and Dean will play a role in fundraising and donor activities with support from the Division’s internal development team.
• The AVP and Dean will also manage special projects as requested

by the Vice President and Dean of Students, Chief Student Affairs Officer.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

Candidates will bring 7-10+ years of increasingly responsible experience in student affairs in higher education, with specific experience in supporting the needs of students with marginalized identities, including the needs of black/African-American students. Direct experience building and motivating an effective team, including direct experience in recruiting, selecting, supervising, coaching, retaining, and providing growth opportunities for a diverse staff. Successful candidates will have a demonstrated understanding and commitment to student learning and development, including marginalized identity development, and a passion for working with students. This will include a proven understanding of the needs of marginalized student communities in a predominantly white, Research 1 institution, including how historical legacies of marginalization may impact current policies and practices related to the support of black students.

Additional qualifications include the following:

• Demonstrated ability to foster change management and program improvement using methods informed by data, creativity, and innovation.
• Demonstrated record of success working in a highly collegial environment with other student affairs units, as well as University and community constituencies, including alumni and parents; ability to build collaborative relationships characterized by mutual respect, trust, and commitment to shared goals.
• Sensitive, diplomatic, and highly effective written and verbal communications with all constituencies.
• Knowledge of specific trends affecting student affairs practice, including black and multicultural student support.
• Experience managing crisis and/or student behavioral issues with a multicultural lens, providing outstanding student advising and support while excelling in a fast-paced work environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ability to communicate knowledge and understanding of how issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion impact students, particularly those from marginalized communities, and how these issues manifest in building community, belonging, and student health and wellbeing.
• Direct budget, planning and management experience
• Candidates ideally will possess an advanced degree, in an appropriate and relevant discipline or field, or comparable work experience.

Interpersonal Characteristics

• Integrity, creativity, energy, and decisiveness along with the capacity to engage and inspire others.
• Personal humility, the will to succeed, and ambition at an organizational level.
• Versatile and nimble, with the ability to lead, listen, and serve.
• Practices open and transparent communication and inspires trust; assumes the best in people and creates a culture that rewards collaboration and teamwork.
• Inspirational, genuine, and enthusiastic, with a high level of energy and endurance.

The search will be carried out with full confidentiality. Confidential inquiries and nominations should be directed to Nalini Turner at nms3bt@virginia.edu .

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visitthe UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines webpageprior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirementsandguidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.