Dean of Students at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana

Job Description:

Position Overview: Wabash College is seeking a Chief Student Affairs Officer, Dean of Students, who is a dynamic, creative, inspiring, and visionary leader. The successful candidate will be passionate about working with college-aged men in a residential liberal arts community. The Dean will play a central role in shaping student life on campus and fostering an environment that enhances brotherhood among students and enriches the personal and academic development of all students.

Reporting to President of the College Scott E. Feller, the Dean of Students will be a proven leader who empowers those who work with them; understands and appreciates generational change; values traditions and helps them evolve; and is consistently firm and fair.

About the Dean of Students Office at Wabash College: The Dean of Students at Wabash oversees all aspects of residence life, including a thriving and essential fraternity system with 10 national fraternity chapters; student activities; student health, counseling, and wellness; disability services; and campus safety and security. The Dean has the following direct reports:

• Associate Dean of Students Associate Dean for Student Engagement and Success Director of the Student Health Center and Nurse Practitioner Director of the Counseling Center Coordinator of Student Development and Wellness Director of Campus Safety and Security Senior Administrative Assistant

About Wabash College: Wabash is a private liberal arts college for men located in the West-Central Indiana city of Crawfordsville. Founded in 1832, the colleges mission is to educate young men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely. Student development is fostered through rigorous academics and high levels of personal responsibility articulated in the lone rule of conduct, the Gentlemans Rule: The student is expected to conduct himself, at all times, both on and off campus, as a gentleman and responsible citizen.

Wabash is a traditional liberal arts college that offers 28 majors and 36 minors with strong pre-professional programs in law (88% acceptance rate) and medicine (91% acceptance rate); dual degree programs in engineering (Purdue, Columbia, or Washington Univ.) and accounting (IU Kelley School); and innovative Wabash X programs in Business and Entrepreneurship, Democracy and Public Discourse, and Global Health.

The colleges 882 students come from 29 states and 21 foreign countries. Roughly half of all students participate in one or more of 12 intercollegiate sports, and approximately 60% are members of one of the 10 national fraternities hosted on campus (the college owns all chapter houses). Approximately 25% of students are federal Pell Grant recipients, one-third are first-generation college students, and 21% identify as domestic students of color.

Home to the Malcolm X Institute of Black Studies for 55 years and a newly launched La Alianza Latino Community Center, Wabash is a top-55 National Liberal Arts College according toU.S. News and is a member ofColleges That Change Lives. In addition, Wabash boasts 10 top-20 rankings in the Princeton Reviews college guide, including for faculty accessibility, classroom experience, health services, student support and counseling, career services, alumni network, and internship program.

Key Responsibilities of the Dean of Students:

• Visionary Leadership: The Dean will articulate a vision for student life, focusing on both immediate needs and long-term goals that includes innovative strategies that meet the evolving needs of Gen Z students, especially young men in a residential community governed by the Gentlemans Rule.

• Leader of Student Life: The Dean will lead all aspects of student development, including building brotherhood through residential and fraternity life, student activities, and health, counseling, and wellness programs. The Dean will be actively engaged in students lives, fostering a community that values inclusivity and personal responsibility as articulated in the Gentlemans Rule.

• Team Development: As a manager and leader, the Dean will oversee a diverse and accomplished Student Life team. This includes building strong collaborations across departments and ensuring the team effectively supports student success and belonging.

• Fraternity Life Advocate: A key responsibility is ensuring the success of fraternity life at Wabash. The Dean will play a leading role in guiding 10 Greek chapters, focusing on student recruitment and new member onboarding, brotherhood initiatives, risk management, and aligning fraternity culture with the Gentlemans Rule.

• Student Agency and Structure: The Dean will find balance between providing students agency in their decision-making and ensuring they operate within a well-defined structure. The Dean will cultivate a supportive, disciplined, and empathetic environment while holding students accountable.

• Sense of Belonging and Community: The Dean will be a leader in promoting inclusivity on campus and will lead conversations about how students can work together to ensure a strong sense of brotherhood and belonging across the student body. The Dean will also play a key role in advancing Wabashs priority to enhance proven strategies to improve retention and four-year graduation rates.

• Campus Partnerships: The Dean will collaborate with key campus offices, including Admissions, Athletics, and Professional Development to provide a holistic student experience. Strengthening these partnerships will be vital to the role.

• Risk Management and Crisis Response: The Dean will serve as a campus expert on risk assessment and mitigation related to student safety, fraternity life, and crisis response. A strong understanding of higher education policies, including FERPA and Title IX, is essential.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• A passion for working with young men in a residential environment, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities they face.

• Experience working with student affairs leadership, ideally in a liberal arts setting, is preferred, though non-traditional candidates with experiences either in the classroom or outside higher education, including the military, are welcome.

• Belief in the power of the Gentlemans Rule, and how freedom, personal responsibility, and accountability are interrelated and critical to the education and character development of young men.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to connect with students, faculty, and staff, as well as external stakeholders, including parents and alumni.

• Experience in leading change and fostering innovation.

• Understanding of and experience with risk management and crisis response will be helpful.

This position provides the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of Wabash students, guiding them through critical years of personal and academic growth. The successful candidate will bring passion, leadership, and a deep understanding of the liberal arts mission to Wabash College.

To apply, go towww.wabash.edu/employment. Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vita, a vision statement, email addresses for three persons who will submit confidential letters of recommendation electronically, and unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Wabash College, a liberal arts college for men, seeks faculty and staff who are committed to providing quality engagement with students, high levels of academic challenge and support, and meaningful experiences that prepare students for life and leadership among diverse populations around the globe. Wabash is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from persons of all backgrounds.

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