Job No: 503031
Work Type: Staff Full Time (1500 hours or greater)
Location: Dayton, OH
Category: University Staff
Department: Dean of Students - 700450
Advertised: August 29, 2025
Applications close:

POSITION SUMMARY:

As a Catholic and Marianist school that prizes inclusive excellence and values the dignity of every person no matter their identity, the University of Dayton maintains an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the past ten years, the institution as doubled the percentages of undergraduate students of color and Pell-eligible students, and the impact on the quality of the educational environment and the lives of all students has been profound. The University seeks an AVP/DOS who is eager and able to work across the campus to advance these critical values and directions.
This is a particularly exciting time to join the University as it continues to invest in student success and in high-impact experiential learning opportunities. This pivotal role provides visionary and strategic leadership in shaping a positive campus environment that fosters student success and prepares students to thrive academically, personally, and socially while also contributing to the broader administrative and leadership functions within the Division of Student Development and across the University.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The AVP/DOS fosters a learning environment that promotes student success by building and maintaining positive and productive working relationships with departments within and external to the Division of Student Development. As a close partner across the university, the AVP/DOS will help align Student Development goals with the strategic priorities and curriculum of the institution while fostering connections with faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders.
The AVP/DOS oversees Student Care and Advocacy, Community Standards and Civility, the Multi-Ethnic Engagement and Education Center, the Center for Student Involvement, and student emergency and crisis management. The Associate Vice President and Dean of Students serves as the primary contact and resource in addressing student issues, needs and concerns. This position also serves as a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
As a strong advocate for students, the Dean serves as an advisor to the Student Government Association (SGA) executive board and actively promotes and upholds student observance of the Student Code of Conduct.
Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Vision:

• Collaborate with University leaders and faculty to implement the University’s vision for the deepening of the holistic student experience, aligning with initiatives focused on enhancing the residential experience, student engagement and belonging, student health and well-being, and inclusive excellence.
• Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team for Student Development, sharing responsibility for leading the division and implementing University and divisional strategic priorities; provide informal coaching and mentorship to divisional staff, empowering staff toward change.
• Maintain active formal and informal contact with students to ensure that divisional departments, programs, and initiatives are responsive to evolving student needs and development.
• Provide overall vision and strategic direction for areas related to student care and advocacy, community standards, student involvement, fraternity and sorority life, student leadership programs, and multi-ethnic education and engagement.
• Stay current on trends and topics facing higher education and student affairs, as well as the impact on the student experience.

Dean of Students Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for the following departments and functions: Student Conduct, Student Care and Advocacy, emergency response protocols, behavioral intervention and threat assessment, and community relationships regarding student issues. Serve as an essential partner with academic affairs to enhance student success and retention initiatives and graduate student life.
• Formulate and execute short-term and long-range planning for the departments of Student Conduct and Student Care and Advocacy and collaborate across the institution on student success and retention, graduate student life, emergency response, medical withdrawals, behavioral intervention, and off-campus student issues.
• Oversee the development and implementation of procedures to respond to alleged violations of the University Code of Student Conduct; serve as the lead official to respond to appeals; and annually update and maintain the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct.
• Oversee implementation of processes to monitor and respond to situations involving students of concern and enact administrative and/or behavioral intervention and withdrawals; coordinate the process for medical withdrawals with the Office of Learning Resources.
• Lead the divisional crisis response system for individual students and student organizations, addressing critical situations; counsel and respond to concerned families, students, and faculty/staff; advise on-call staff during severe situations; and advise senior leadership on critical incidents.

Administration and Management:

• Support divisional and departmental strategic planning, goal setting, priority completion, evaluation and assessment, and data-driven decision-making.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, equipment and capital requests, and expenditures, ensuring effective stewardship of resources.
• Advise the Vice President for Student Development on key campus life initiatives, including program development, policy implementation, facilities planning, and risk management.
• Take a lead role in policy review and formation within the Division of Student Development and collaboratively across the University.
• Provide timely and effective response to inquiries from parents and family members of students, alumni, national organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the implementation of divisional crisis response systems for individual students and student organizations.

Supervision and Collaboration:

• Recruit, supervise, and provide professional development support for all direct reports.
• Initiate and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty and staff from across the campus to foster a learning environment that promotes student success.
• Serve as an advisor to the Student Government Association (SGA) executive board, convening other SGA advisors to provide comprehensive support.
• Interact effectively with parents and university guests, representing the Division of Student Development and the University.
• Collaborate effectively with student success, academic unit, legal affairs, audit and compliance, and enrollment management colleagues and initiatives across campus.
• Foster and promote and integrated team approach.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support key University events, including Convocations, Commencement, Family Weekend, and events related to Admissions and New Student Orientation.
• Serve on University, divisional, or departmental committees, task forces, and search committees.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Vice President for Student Development and Chief Student Experience Officer.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Education Administration, Counseling, or related field, Doctorate preferred
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative leadership experience within student development/affairs, including personnel management, budget and strategic planning, program development, and outcome-oriented assessment; seven or more years is preferred.
• Demonstrated success in leading several areas within the portfolio including student conduct, student advocacy, , student organizations, and crisis management.
• An expressed commitment to engaging with and advancing the core Catholic and Marianist values of the University of Dayton, including a genuine demonstration of community, compassion, integrity, and responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing strategic initiatives that align with the institution’s values and enhance the student experience.
• Experience with leading initiatives that bridge academic and student development curricular experiences in support of student success and retention.
• Track record in responding to complex student issues and emergencies, including mental health crises, behavioral concerns, and other critical incidents; Exceptional critical thinking skills under pressure and knowledge of relevant higher education laws and regulations (i.e FERPA)
• Proven ability to effectively lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of student affairs professionals; including strong change management skills, with an ability to inspire and motivate a team to embrace change.
• Strong analytic skills to develop, interpret, and enforce student policies and procedures that are fair, consistent, and promote student development.
• Collaborative mindset and outlook to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and community partners.
• Experience and comfort in a high visibility role on campus and capable of building relationships and trust with many constituents.

Dean of Students Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for the following departments and functions: Student Conduct, Student Care and Advocacy, emergency response protocols, behavioral intervention and threat assessment, and community relationships regarding student issues. Serve as an essential partner with academic affairs to enhance student success and retention initiatives and graduate student life.
• Formulate and execute short-term and long-range planning for the departments of Student Conduct and Student Care and Advocacy and collaborate across the institution on student success and retention, graduate student life, emergency response, medical withdrawals, behavioral intervention, and off-campus student issues.
• Oversee the development and implementation of procedures to respond to alleged violations of the University Code of Student Conduct; serve as the lead official to respond to appeals; and annually update and maintain the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct.
• Oversee implementation of processes to monitor and respond to situations involving students of concern and enact administrative and/or behavioral intervention and withdrawals; coordinate the process for medical withdrawals with the Office of Learning Resources.
• Lead the divisional crisis response system for individual students and student organizations, addressing critical situations; counsel and respond to concerned families, students, and faculty/staff; advise on-call staff during severe situations; and advise senior leadership on critical incidents

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support key University events, including Convocations, Commencement, Family Weekend, and events related to Admissions and New Student Orientation.
• Serve on University, divisional, or departmental committees, task forces, and search committees.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the Vice President for Student Development and Chief Student Experience Officer