Dean of Students

Catawba College seeks an experienced student affairs leader and administrator with a strong record of progressively responsible leadership to serve as the College’s Dean of Students. The Catawba Student Affairs Office is one of three student-focused units within the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. It collaborates with Academic Affairs, Student Success, and Enrollment Management to ensure a comprehensive institutional approach to support the holistic development of all students at Catawba. The position is required to have extensive collegial and collaborative relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff within the Division of Academic and Student Affairs and throughout the campus. Specifically, the Dean of Students will also collaborate closely with the Vice Provost and Vice President of Enrollment Management to develop and expand initiatives that increase retention and persistence, including the new Thrive@ Catawba retention program and new student orientations. Serving as a valued partner with units across the college and supporting recruitment, retention, and student success efforts will be critical.

The Dean of Students provides leadership and administration for all units within Student Affairs. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Dean of Students is a key member of the Executive Vice President & Provost’s Leadership team.

This role encompasses oversight of the Health Center, Campus Mail Services, Housing and Residence Life, Student Activities, Student Conduct, Title IX, Student Programming, Counseling Center, Bookstore, and Dining Services. In a close partnership that fosters an inclusive, dynamic, and collaborative environment, the Dean of Students works alongside the Vice Provost, who is responsible for student success and advancing the College’s student development and academic success initiatives. The Dean sets the strategic direction for student programming and recommends related policies. This position involves contributing to strategic initiatives, such as new living and learning strategies, and ensuring comprehensive support for students' well-being and educational success.

Catawba College, with a current enrollment of 1304 undergraduate and graduate students, is consistently named one of the Top 10 Best Colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report and is regularly recognized by Colleges of Distinction for its innovative approach to education and its expert blending of the liberal arts with professional programming in business, health sciences, and education. The College's combination of small size, undergraduate focus, and professional programs immersed in the liberal arts has long been the foundation of its success.

The College has embarked on an ambitious commitment to environmental sustainability, with academic programs in environmental science, policy, and green tech, and is aggressively pursuing a goal of being a model of campus sustainability. Catawba College endeavors to be the leading environmental small college in the southeast and a national center of distinction. The College’s Center for the Environment is a nexus of efforts to enhance the sustainability of institutional operations, foster experiential learning opportunities, and improve the long-term health of the environment. At Catawba, the teaching and research of faculty across disciplines have clear links to the College’s identity around sustainability. The College is the 13th campus in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality and the first in North Carolina. Catawba College is committed to contributing to a more sustainable world through its programs and people.

Catawba received three transformational gifts in three years to its endowment, the most recent being a $200 million gift. This follows another $200 million gift in 2021 and a $42 million gift in 2022, pushing Catawba’s endowment to more than $580 million. The per-student endowment approaches $500,000, which is among the highest in the Southeast. The College is undergoing a time of significant development on campus, with multiple projects underway that align with their commitment to sustainability, community, and student experience. The Smokestack, a reclamation of the College’s old coal power plant, will be renovated according to Living Building Challenge stands and will provide an additional 10,000 square feet of student space. A new 150-bed residence hall is scheduled for completion in August 2026, and two additional residence halls are being renovated.

ABOUT CATAWBA COLLEGE

Catawba College's scenic campus is in the historic Piedmont city of Salisbury, North Carolina (pop. 34,000), located 45 minutes from the greater Charlotte and Triad areas of Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem. Spread out over 276 wooded acres and 41 buildings, the campus is a beautiful blend of neogothic architecture which meets the shaded hillside of the Center for the Environment and the College’s 189-acre ecological preserve. Catawba is two hours from the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina and four hours from some of the best beaches on the Atlantic Coast.

Catawba's 1377 students hail from 40 U.S. states and 35 foreign countries. Approximately 83 percent of first-year students live on campus. Sixteen percent of students identify as first-generation students, 39 percent are Pell-eligible, and 46 percent of 2024-25 first-year students identify as non-white (20 percent African American, 10 percent Hispanic). All Catawba students receive financial aid; on average, the college meets 85 percent of their financial needs. The average first-year retention rate for full-time undergraduates is 71 percent over the last five years. Within six months of graduation, 99 percent of Catawba alumni are employed professionally or enrolled in graduate school.

Catawba faculty embody a broad range of opinions and philosophy cultivated in study at many of the nation's leading colleges and universities. Of the 84 full-time teaching faculty employed at Catawba, 88 percent hold a doctorate or terminal degree in their discipline. Ranked as one of the best colleges in the south, Catawba offers 70 fields of study.

Catawba is a learning community that supports students inside and outside the classroom. Faculty and staff are genuinely committed to the mission of the College, which expresses concern for the total development of the student. Students are provided unique opportunities to explore their vocation, helping them consider their calling, passions, and purpose as they prepare for service worldwide. Regardless of a student’s academic program, Catawba provides a liberal education, which entails a broad range of knowledge, intellectual and practical skills, and fosters individual and social responsibility. The College's faculty members are excellent teachers who also guide and challenge students through interaction with them in clubs, scholastic organizations, and athletic and social activities. The 13:1 student-faculty ratio supports an environment where former students often attribute their success to the fact that faculty members cared about them as people, not just as students.

Catawba College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelors and masters degrees.

MISSION STATEMENT

Catawba College is committed to providing students with an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation.

Catawba College draws strength from Judeo-Christian values, sustains a dynamic community of learners, and seeks to unite a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff as active co-participants in scholarship and service. Catawba College prepares students to reach their highest potential while becoming responsible citizens with a zeal to enrich human life.

LOCATION AND HISTORY

Catawba College is located in Salisbury, North Carolina, a historic Southern city situated between the greater Charlotte area and the triad area of Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem. In Salisbury, community members find both a quiet countryside filled with wineries and pick-your-own farms and a bustling downtown district with breweries, historic trolleys, a thriving arts scene, and more. Salisbury is home to the Lee Street Theatre, the Meroney Theater, the Norvell Theater, and the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. Situated in the Piedmont region of beautiful North Carolina, residents enjoy four mild seasons and plenty of opportunities to explore the area's natural treasures.

Catawba College was established in 1851 in the town of Newton, a center of commerce in the foothills of western North Carolina. The region was settled in the 1740s by German pioneers who had traveled from eastern Pennsylvania to inhabit the valleys of the Haw, Yadkin, and Catawba rivers. The high value these pioneers placed on education was visible during the 1848 meeting of the German Reformed Classis at St. Matthew's Arbor, where it was suggested that the Education Society "found a college of our own in our own midst." Catawba bears the name of the native American tribe associated with the county of the college’s founding and the river flowing nearby. Following a hiatus during the Civil War, Catawba resumed operations under its original charter and awarded its first college degrees in 1889. Catawba moved from Newton, North Carolina, to its current location in Salisbury in 1925.

Catawba seeks to serve the Salisbury-Rowan County community through its programs and services. The Robertson College-Community Center, a facility built as a joint venture with the community over 37 years ago, houses the Shuford School of Performing Arts and showcases musical and theatre productions from the College and the community. Similarly, the College's athletic facilities have been enhanced by the local community and are available to local residents as well as students. Students have many opportunities to be an active part of a larger community while they are enrolled at Catawba and find opportunities for community interaction, service, and personal development.

LEADERSHIP

The Catawba College Board of Trustees elected Dr. David P. Nelson as its 24th President on March 11, 2020. Dr. Nelson's career in higher education is marked by creative and strategic leadership, significant fundraising successes, overseeing campus development – including new build and historic renovation, and cultivating effective leadership teams.

A first-generation college student, Dr. Nelson received his Ph.D. in Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music from Hardin-Simmons University.

Prior to joining Catawba College, President Nelson served as the President of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Provost of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Dean of the Faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Throughout his administrative career, he has remained active in the classroom, teaching religious studies, philosophy, and music courses.

WELL BEING, EQUITY, AND BELONGING

Catawba prides itself on being an open, safe, and welcoming learning and working environment for all students, faculty, staff, and others who are a part of the extended community. Catawba College believes all persons and the planet have inherent worth and dignity, that learning is best done in community, and that our lives are enriched when we share experiences with people different than us.

STRATEGIC PLAN

Driven by the College’s mission and values and with a ten-year horizon in mind, Catawba recently developed its strategic plan, A College of our Own. As a key member of the EVP/Provost leadership team, the new Dean of Students will play a key team leadership role in the implementation of the strategic plan, which provides a framework in which to define shared goals and build on Catawba's many strengths, allowing the institution to focus the use of its resources and create the conditions for continued success.

The new strategic plan, A College of our Own, embraces creativity and innovation and focuses on Catawba's distinctive strengths to build an even more remarkable place to learn, work, and live. The planning process was intentionally collaborative by design. President Nelson shared his perspective on important topics related to the life of the college in his “Perspectives” series, delivered in Fall 2022 during the first phase of the planning process.

ATHLETICS

More than 500 student-athletes compete in 24 NCAA Division II sports at Catawba, which accounts for over 40 percent of the undergraduate student body. Students, faculty, and the Catawba community embrace the vibrant athletics program. Student-athletes are among the most prominent leaders within the student body, and student-athletes regularly prove that, while pursuing success on the playing fields, they also engage with their classmates and participate in the community in substantial ways off the field. Catawba's student-athletes are retained at a higher rate than their peers.

Men's sports include Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball, and Track & Field. Women's sports include Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. Coed programs include Cheerleading, Dance Team, and Esports.

DIVISION of ACADEMIC AND STUDENT AFFAIRS

Dr. Monica Cowart joined Catawba College in 2024 as the Founding Executive Vice President and Provost. This new position oversees units including Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Student Success; a structure that reflects a bold institutional commitment to breaking down silos and fostering seamless collaboration. This innovative approach ensures that every aspect of the student experience is integrated, cohesive, and deeply student-centered. By uniting these critical areas under the leadership of the EVP/Provost, Catawba is creating a dynamic, holistic approach to education that prioritizes student engagement, well-being, and achievement. The new Dean of Students will join a forward-thinking leadership team dedicated to enacting this vision and shaping policies and programs that empower students to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

THE POSITION

Specific Responsibilities Include:

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master's degree in higher education administration, student development, or a related field.
• Significant experience in higher education, including advising students, managing academic support programs, working with faculty, and managing complex budgets.
• Demonstrated understanding of student development theories and best practices for promoting student success.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications and Characteristics:

• A comprehensive understanding of trends and issues facing students and the savvy to anticipate the needs of their development environment.
• A collaborative leadership style that inspires students and motivates faculty, staff, and administrators toward a common goal by soliciting ideas and input, communicating decisions openly, and supporting shared responsibility in strengthening student retention, persistence, and academic success.
• Ability to exercise representative thinking in the decision-making process and to make decisions that might be unpopular yet be best for the overall goals and objectives of the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
• Exceptional analytical skills that comprehend complex data and issues, resulting in an ability to draw accurate and actionable conclusions.
• Ability to formulate, develop, implement, and review various policies, standards, and outcomes to ensure students receive optimum supportive services while pursuing their studies.
• . Significant experience in higher education, including advising students, managing academic support programs, and working productively with faculty and academic leadership
• A nimble leader who understands how to build collaborative teams that can address challenges and leverage opportunities in Higher Education’s current volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environment.

Nominations and Application Process:

Carter&Associates Executive Search Consultant Ronald L. Carter, Ph.D. will assist the Division of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs with the search. Nominations and prospective candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Carter by e-mail to arrange a phone conversation to discuss this opportunity.

The Catawba College Dean of Students Search Committee will begin its review of applications on April 4, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. For priority consideration, please apply by April 14. 2025.

Application materials should include: 1) a letter of interest that addresses how the candidate’s experience and qualifications intersect with the listed priorities and desired leadership characteristics as listed in the job description; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of five references for future contact. Please include your professional relationship with each reference listed.

All candidate names will remain confidential except those invited to campus interviews. Applications should be submitted electronically in a single file, pdf version only, to BOTH carter17ron@gmail.com and employment@catawba.edu.

Catawba College is an equal opportunity employer. As such, Catawba is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, unless allowed by law and deemed necessary to Catawba operations. Candidates must successfully pass a background check and drug screening before employment begins, and Catawba complies with all federal, state, and local laws governing non-discrimination.