What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Dean of Student Success position at Vanderbilt University?
The Associate Dean of Student Success at the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management is a member of the Dean’s senior leadership team. The Associate Dean of Student Success is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive student success strategy that spans the entire student lifecycle, from matriculation to graduation, including alumni engagement. This strategy must create a generative and collaborative environment that supports students at every stage of their academic and professional journey, facilitating a smooth transition for newly enrolled students, emphasizing holistic development throughout the program, ensuring a seamless transition to the next phase of students' careers, and maintaining strong connections with alumni to provide continued support for their professional growth.
The role is responsible for leading an exceptional student experience for the school’s full-time graduate students across multiple degree programs and undergraduate students enrolled in the Hoogland Undergraduate Business Minor. This position has oversight of several key student facing departments: Academic and Student Affairs, Career Management Center, Leadership Development Program, and other student focused centers, each contributing to a comprehensive and integrated support network that the school provides to its students. The Associate Dean of Student Success is responsible for coordinating and leading cross-functional collaboration among these student-facing departments. The role works collaboratively with the school and university constituents in their areas of focus including student care and engagement, career management, student programming, and initiatives to enhance a wide-ranging student experience, personal and professional development, and community building.
About the Work Unit
The OGSM is a professional school at Vanderbilt University, located in Nashville, Tennessee, focused on graduate-level business education. Owen’s mission is to create opportunities for its faculty, staff, and students to discover, grow, and thrive in business and beyond. Owen recognizes discovery in traditional forms, such as scholarly research, intellectual curiosity, and curricular learning. But it also celebrates discovery unique to the human experience, that is, the art of becoming, which is lived through a desire to connect with others, to find meaning in work and relationships, and to create something new. Owen sees transformation as foundational.
- Directs and oversees a wide variety of departments and programs that support the success and personal and professional development of students from various backgrounds throughout their academic journey at Owen and beyond graduation.
- In conjunction with the Dean and the Associate Dean of Academic Programs, develops a comprehensive student success strategy across all academic programs that enhances a generative and collaborative environment and aligns with the student body profile and their leadership and career development goals.
- Utilizes data-driven analyses of the student population and market trends to continuously evaluate student programs and services, identify areas for improvement, and drive student growth and innovation.
- Synchronizes services and programming offered by the student facing departments to ensure a holistic approach to the student experience.
- Collaborates with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders to create and implement strategies that enhance student success, satisfaction, and outcomes.
- Develops and maintains strong relationships with students, providing mentorship and support to ensure their academic and personal well-being throughout their academic and professional journeys.
- Works closely with the Development and Alumni Relations office to help mobilize the Owen alumni network in support of current students' success and alumni engagement. These endeavors include building alumni connections, expertise, and resources to enhance experiential learning opportunities, providing career guidance and mentorship, and fostering a vibrant student and alumni community.
- Promotes a growth mindset among students, encourages them to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and continuously strive for personal and professional growth.
- Represents the school in internal and external engagements and serves as an advocate for current student success initiatives and the continuous evolution and refinement of these initiatives.
- Establishes and implements short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies, budgets, and operating procedures.
Supervisory Relationships
The Associate Dean of Student Success reports to the Dean for the Owen Graduate School of Management. This position oversees the directors and their teams for: Academic and Student Affairs, the Career Management Center, the Leadership Development Program, and other student focused centers.
Education, Qualifications, and Experience
- A master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary, with a strong preference for those with a master’s degree in business, higher education administration, or a closely related field.
- A minimum of eight to ten years of progressive experience at an academic institution and a demonstrated track record of success in student affairs, academic advising, or a similar role in a graduate or professional school setting.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work in, and appreciate a highly productive, change oriented, and research oriented academic community.
- Ability to be a team player and work effectively and collaboratively with Owen students, faculty, and staff.
- Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to manage a team of professionals with varied backgrounds.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with students, faculty, and external partners.
- Commitment to fostering an environment that supports the holistic development of students, faculty, and staff.
- Ability to adapt to change and embrace new approaches to enhance the student experience.
