About This Organization

Founded in 1901 as the Colorado State Normal School, Western Colorado University (WCU) delivers a liberal arts curriculum and career preparation to approximately 3,500 intellectually adventurous undergraduate and graduate students in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The University’s small size and unique setting ensure students receive personalized attention, gain hands-on experience, graduate without excessive debt, and are prepared to make meaningful contributions in Colorado and beyond. In nearly 125 years of service, WCU has grown to offer more than 100 areas of undergraduate study and nine graduate degrees, launching graduates into successful fields and allowing them to contribute dynamically to society’s needs. WCU embodies the values of courage, inclusivity, and integrity to promote growth in all Mountaineers as we provide stewardship for our community and world. Students, faculty and staff share a strong commitment to inclusivity and personalized, immersive education within a solid liberal arts tradition.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the President of the University, the Dean of Equity and Inclusion (Dean) leads with vision, creativity, and strategic purpose and collaborates across the campus to create an environment of inclusive excellence for all students, faculty, and staff. The Dean is responsible for educating the campus community regarding best practices and evidence-based initiatives to diversify the campus, build equity within the University, and create a more welcoming and inclusive culture at Western. The person in this position will oversee a team of three and work in close partnership with campus leaders serving Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Advancement, Finance and Administration, and Marketing and Enrollment, using institutional data to assess programs, policies, and services and help align these programs, policies, and services with Western’s values and strategic plan. The Dean will also collaborate with and serve as an ex-officio member of the university’s DEIJ+ committee which helps to translate the statement on diversity and inclusion into meaningful action in service to the university community.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

Provide visionary and strategic leadership as a critical member of the Senior Cabinet

• Serve on the Senior Cabinet and contribute to setting vision and strategic direction for the university.
• Lead the ongoing work of the university in upholding its Statement on Diversity and Inclusion to support and advance campus diversity and inclusion.
• Support in translating the University’s strategic plan into tangible evidence-based programs, initiatives and activities that embody equity and inclusivity.
• Motivate and inspire faculty, staff and students to champion the mission, vision, values and goals of the 2023-2028 strategic plan.
• Collaborate with the DEIJ+ Committee and provide thought partnership to advance the committee’s recommendations.
• Engage and support faculty and student leaders to advance the mission, goals and priorities of the Division for Justice and Inclusion.

Design and execute a coherent training and communication plan to advance DEIJ+ practices

• Disseminate DEIJ+ related communications and develop training and education plans to advance awareness, knowledge, and actions related to diversity, equity, inclusivity, cultural competency, and social justice for faculty, staff and students.
• Educate and train faculty, staff and students on DEIJ+, moving from theory to practice in tangible ways.
• Provide project management oversight for short- and long-term priority initiatives; develop tools to track progress and monitor key performance goals.
• Create proactive systems that garner feedback from the faculty, staff and students as evidenced by climate surveys, informal and formal office hours, and cross-collaboration.
• Communicate with various stakeholder groups to ensure that priorities and expectations are clear, and that questions are answered with clarity and transparency to resolve issues quickly.

Build relationships with stakeholders and engage with the university community

• Lead efforts to generate support for students and community members to feel safe, seen, heard and valued in the Western community.
• Work with the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Office of Advancement to conceive and pursue grant opportunities and develop gift prospects to advance student-centered DEIJ+ initiatives.
• Promote the university in creative and different ways to elevate the work and to attract, recruit and retain undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff.
• Actively participate in department meetings, programs and initiatives, campus and community events, and programs to create awareness and generate interest and buy-in for the work of the Division for Justice and Inclusion.
• Participate in or coordinate response to specific incidents or acute concerns raised by members of the community.

Lead and develop a small team of professionals

• Lead, coach and manage the performance and effectiveness of the team, aligned around a shared vision of service and support for students, faculty and staff.
• Ensure legal compliance, program effectiveness, and to highlight the campus culture contributions of the Director of Unity and Belonging, the Equal Opportunity Officer, and the Title IX Coordinator.
• Manage the team’s budget and advocate for equitable allocation and use of fiscal resources.

What Skills You’ll Need to be Successful (Competencies)

Equity, Inclusivity, Justice and Cultural Competence

• Demonstrate cultural fluency, sensitivity, and a strong equity lens to establish a culture of growth mindset around issues of equity and to meet the needs of students and staff.
• Build authentic relationships across lines of difference (race, gender, age, socioeconomic background, LGBTQIA+ status, political affiliation, etc.) through self-reflection, empathy, and a clear personal identity.
• Address matters of equity, race, and bias in decision-making with clarity, confidence, openness, empathy and historical context.
• Recognize race and power dynamics playing out within the university at all levels and interrupt those inequities through intentional and honest conversations and actions.

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Exhibit outstanding critical thinking skills, including identifying trends, pinpointing problems and root causes, asking probing questions, and developing feasible solutions.
• Set priorities, monitor progress and demonstrate persistence to overcome obstacles to achieve goals.
• Lead effectively and courageously, even in times of ambiguity.

Influence and Communication

• Champion unity and restorative practices, actively working to dissolve barriers and build bridges between teams, departments, faculty and students.
• Listen compassionately with an open mind - seeking to fully understand what makes WCU unique before establishing the direction forward.
• Communicate effectively, tailoring messages for the audience, context, and mode of communication.
• Navigate complex structures, relationships, and dynamics to challenge ideas and enable thoughtful decisions and positive outcomes for students.
• Build coalitions, maintain visibility, and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Gain the trust and respect of all faculty, staff and students through visibility on campus, authentic relationship building and personal accountability.

Team Leadership and Management

• Build the team culture to foster excellence, innovation and collaboration internally and throughout the campus.
• Assess team and individual skills and identify development needs; provide feedback and support to improve practice, build capacity, and maximize talent.