Dean of Students

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Dean of Students is the senior student affairs officer at Olin College of Engineering, providing strategic leadership and oversight for Student Affairs and Resources (StAR) in alignment with Olin’s mission, values, and strategic goals. Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer and Provost, the Dean develops and executes a comprehensive vision for student affairs that enhances student engagement, success, and well-being. They work in close partnership with faculty, academic affairs, admission and financial aid, student accounts, and other administrative areas to create a seamless, integrated curricular and co-curricular experience where students can learn, grow, and achieve their educational and personal goals.

The Dean supports student leadership and co-creation of the student experience while ensuring best practices, leadership development, and accountability structures. They lead efforts to assess and innovate within student affairs, positioning Olin as a model for the future of student engagement.

The Dean oversees a broad portfolio of student-facing services, including academic resources, student belonging and well-being, and career services. As the senior student care and conduct administrator, the Dean provides leadership for student conduct, crisis management, and student support services.

Additionally, the Dean manages key institutional partnerships, overseeing Babson-provided Public Safety, Student Health Services, and Fitness resources, as well as facilitating Babson/Olin/Wellesley (BOW) collaborations on student life initiatives. They also drive assessment, continuous improvement, policy development, and resource management to ensure student affairs initiatives are data-driven and aligned with best practices.

As a highly visible, student-centered leader, the Dean plays a vital role in shaping the Olin student experience, championing student success, and advancing institutional priorities through strategic leadership and cross-campus collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Student Advocacy: Provides vision, leadership, and oversight for StAR, fostering a supportive, inclusive, and engaging campus environment. Advocates for student development, well-being, and success, advising senior leadership on issues related to student life, mental and physical health, risk management, and student rights.
• Integration of Curricular & Co-Curricular Learning: Collaborates with faculty, administrators, and BOW partners to bridge curricular and co-curricular experiences, ensuring student learning outcomes are embedded across StAR programs. Secures student agency as a central component of leadership and self-advocacy development.
• Student Engagement & Leadership Development: Mentors and oversees student government, student organizations, and campus events, ensuring meaningful engagement opportunities. Advises student government, oversees co-curricular programs and funding, supports student safety in clubs and teams, and facilitates sports and recreation initiatives, including Babson and Wellesley participation. Provides leadership development opportunities, including direct support of student leadership and the Council of Olin Representatives (CORe).
• Residence Life & Community Development: Oversees residence life, ensuring a holistic student development experience beyond housing. Supervises staff managing housing assignments and residence halls while collaborating on facilities oversight and residential programming that fosters student engagement and growth.
• New Student Onboarding: Provides leadership for orientation and the first-year seminar, ensuring a structured and comprehensive transition program aligned with Olin’s culture and student needs. Supervises staff responsible for planning and implementation.
• Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution: Administers student conduct policies and procedures, ensuring fair and compliant practices. Oversees the student-involved Honor Board and Honor Code. Facilitates conflict resolution and discussions on critical campus issues.
• Inclusion & Belonging: Provides overall leadership for inclusion and belonging initiatives, supporting a diverse student body. Oversees staff responsible for programming and coordination with Babson’s Spiritual and Religious Life office.
• Health & Wellness Initiatives: Oversees the College’s mental health and wellness programs, including coordination with external providers, Babson health services, local hospitals, and consulting mental health professionals. Leads preventative wellness programming and ensures a comprehensive approach to student well-being.
• Crisis Management & Student Support: Leads student emergency response efforts, including oversight of the on-call system and the Concern, Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) team. Ensures staff preparedness for crisis situations through training and establishment of protocols.
• Disability Services & Accessibility: Ensures equitable access to education, supervising staff responsible for academic, housing, dining, and other accommodations. Works closely with the Director of Non-Discrimination, the College’s Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator.
• International Programs & Study Away: Provides leadership for international student support, immigration processes, and exchange programs. Oversees staff managing study away opportunities, student advising, and partnerships with international institutions.
• Career & Professional Development: Oversees career services, ensuring student access to internships, research opportunities, employment, scholarships, fellowships, and graduate school advising.
• Academic Advising & Student Success: Leads academic advising efforts, overseeing advisor assignments, training, tutoring services, and direct student support as needed. Monitors student academic performance and ensures appropriate follow-up through advising and support services.
• Library & Information Literacy: Supports student engagement through library programming, ensuring integration of curricular and extracurricular activities. Promotes the library as a hub for student collaboration and learning.
• Policy Development & Compliance: Works across departments to develop policies that address student needs, including safety, facility usage, and community standards. Serves as the Designated Law Enforcement Liaison, ensuring student rights are upheld in compliance with relevant laws and policies related to activism, free speech, and student conduct.
• Institutional Partnerships & Campus Services:
• Dining Services: Manages the relationship with Rebecca’s Dining Services to ensure a dining program that meets student needs, supports dietary and religious accommodations, and enhances campus life.
• Public Safety: Manages the relationship with Babson Public Safety, serving as the primary point of contact and directing student emergency response and incident accountability.
• Facilities & Operations: Collaborates with leadership to address student-related concerns, including residence halls and shared spaces.
• Institutional Planning & Events: Contributes to student-focused planning and execution as a member of the Commencement and Convocation Planning Committees.
• Assessment & Continuous Improvement: Leads the development of data-driven initiatives to enhance student engagement, retention, and post-graduation outcomes. Establishes a culture of assessment and continuous improvement within StAR.
• Professional Development & Industry Engagement: Engages in professional organizations to stay informed on best practices and trends in student affairs. Leads efforts to redefine and integrate the Olin student experience across functional areas.
• Budget & Resource Management: Oversees StAR financial resources, ensuring fiscal responsibility. Develops external funding partnerships to support essential programs.
  

Experience And Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, or a related field; doctoral degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in student affairs or related areas within higher education.
• Demonstrated leadership in student affairs, including residence life, student conduct, academic advising, wellness, and inclusion initiatives.
• Experience developing and implementing programs that enhance student engagement, success, and well-being.
• Strong commitment to equity, access, and belonging, with experience supporting diverse student populations, including first-generation, international, and students with disabilities.
• Expertise in student conduct, conflict resolution, crisis management, and emergency response.
• Proven ability to lead, supervise, and mentor professional staff and student leaders.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and advocacy skills to support student needs while aligning with institutional priorities.
• Knowledge of student development best practices, retention strategies, and higher education compliance, including FERPA, ADA, Title IX, and other relevant regulations.
  
  

Company Description

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

As Olin evolves under the leadership of our president, Dr. Gilda Barabino, we seek to become a more diverse and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station for the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page.

• Take a Virtual Campus Tour: From the moment you step on campus at Olin, you feel a buzz of energy and activity—and once you experience it, you want to be a part of it.
  
  

Olin College is committed to supporting an innovative, integrated learning and working environment. As a small campus, the in-person experience and cross-team collaboration is what helps build a strong, dynamic community for our students, faculty and staff. Typically, most roles at Olin College are intended to be in-person and on-campus. Certain paid positions may be eligible for flexible working arrangements, at the College’s sole discretion. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process.

Benefits

Olin College prides itself on offering to faculty and staff comprehensive benefits that provide both choice and value. These benefits are an important part of total compensation.

Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week may be eligible for the following benefits:

Core Benefits

• Medical (three different options)
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (company paid)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• Long Term Disability (company paid)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Liberal sick and vacation time and paid holidays
• Free parking
  
  

Additional Benefits

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Travel Assistance Services (company paid)
• Health Care Management Program
• Pet Insurance
  
  

Please note that benefits are subject to change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

At Olin College we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We especially welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at HR@olin.edu.