Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

At Western Connecticut State University, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are foundational to who we are and how we lead. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, WestConn embraces both the honor and responsibility of expanding access, advancing opportunity, and delivering student success through equity in practice, not just in principle. We are building a community where every person is respected, supported, and empowered to thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates who share these values and are committed to helping us live them every day.

WestConn invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for its Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students.

WESTERN RISING FOCUSED STRATEGY )

Weaving our Strengths. Building our Futures.

The Western Rising Focused Strategy ) serves as a tactical roadmap to sharpen the university’s collective efforts over the next three years, ensuring financial sustainability while honoring its core academic mission. Led by President Jesse M. Bernal, the strategy was forged through a highly collaborative process involving hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community leaders to synthesize existing planning into actionable priorities. This community-guided approach balances necessary fiscal stewardship with a deep commitment to student success, belonging, and regional impact. For the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, Western Rising calls for a forward-looking leader who can help design a more connected, creative, and responsive student experience, one that supports persistence, strengthens community, and advances WestConn’s mission as an engine of opportunity.

Five Institutional Commitments and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students Leadership

• Strengthening Foundations: The AVP & Dean of Students helps build the student-ready systems that make thriving possible, from seamless orientation and mentoring pathways to responsive case management, housing, wellness, conduct, and involvement structures. This leader strengthens the foundation beneath the student experience so services are coordinated, modern, and dependable.
• Distinctively WestConn: The AVP & Dean of Students shapes a student experience that feels unmistakably WestConn, relationship-rich, equity-driven, and grounded in belonging. Through vibrant campus life, strong transition programs, intercultural engagement, and meaningful leadership opportunities, this role helps students find community, purpose, and momentum from their first days on campus through graduation.
• Regional Anchor & Opportunity Engine: The AVP & Dean of Students extends WestConn’s mission beyond the classroom by building partnerships that connect students and families to the region’s opportunities and supports. This includes community-based wellness resources, school and nonprofit relationships, and student engagement models that help WestConn serve as a trusted pathway to opportunity and upward mobility.
• Culture of Shared Leadership & Renewal: This role calls for a collaborative builder who listens well, earns trust, and brings people together around student-centered change. Through strong partnership with Academic Affairs, operational leaders, staff, and students themselves, the AVP & Dean of Students helps redesign how the institution supports students, with clarity, care, accountability, and a spirit of continuous renewal.
• Creating an Environment for Student Thriving: The AVP & Dean of Students stewards a campus environment where safety, wellbeing, belonging, and accountability are lived realities. By integrating prevention, care, restorative practices, student voice, and identity-affirming support into daily practice, this role helps create the conditions in which all students can grow, persist, and thrive.

Importantly, Western Rising is more than a plan, it is a moment. Over the next three years, WestConn is building on hard-won momentum to strengthen its foundation, modernize how it serves students, and position the institution for long-term success in service of its academic mission. This focused strategy reflects a university that is moving with purpose, clear-eyed about its realities, confident in its direction, and ambitious about what comes next.

PRESIDENT JESSE M. BERNAL

The AVP & Dean of Students will report directly to President Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., serving as a close strategic partner and a core member of the university’s executive leadership team. Since becoming WestConn’s leader in 2025, Dr. Bernal has advanced a focused period of renewal, working to strengthen trust, modernize systems, and center student success and campus wellbeing. He leads with integrity and transparency, with a deep commitment to shared governance and the belief that the best decisions are made when faculty, staff, and students are engaged early as true partners. WestConn’s mission of access, equity, and opportunity is central to his leadership, alongside clear expectations for measurable progress and responsible stewardship. His work style is high-paced, collaborative, energetic, and action-oriented, with a strong emphasis on creativity, prudent risk-taking, and high standards paired with genuine care for people and culture. In partnership with the President, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the broader leadership team, the AVP & Dean of Students will help shape a more connected, modern, and student-ready campus experience.

UNIVERSITY FACTS

WestConn enrolls 4,573 credit students (Fall 2025): 3,696 undergraduates, 627 graduate students, and 260 dual-enrolled students. We proudly serve 1,473 first-generation students. Our highest-enrolling undergraduate programs include Psychology, Nursing, Management, Biology, and Public Health. At the graduate level, top programs include Counselor Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, Creative & Professional Writing, and Health Care Administration. Looking ahead, WestConn is focused on sustaining and growing enrollment by expanding into new markets and creating new pathways for learners, and we seek an AVP & Dean of Students who brings creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset to help translate those opportunities into results.

WestConn is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, governed by the Board of Regents (BOR). CSCU includes Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), Western Connecticut State University (WCSU), CT State Community College (CT State), and Charter Oak State College (online). This system creates strong opportunities for partnerships, shared services, and cross-institutional collaboration, efforts the AVP & Dean of Students will help advance and scale.

WESTERN CONNECTICUT & DANBURY

WestConn serves as a regional anchor and opportunity engine for Western Connecticut, with deep ties to Danbury and the surrounding region. University leadership is expected to be visible, engaged, and community-facing. The AVP & Dean of Students will help strengthen partnerships with local business, civic, and nonprofit leaders to expand WestConn’s impact and advance its mission.

Danbury sits on Connecticut’s western border and spans 44 square miles, more than twice the size of Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport. With easy access to New York and comparatively affordable housing, it attracts residents from across Fairfield County and the greater metro area. The city’s economy is diverse, anchored by manufacturing, health care, construction, and higher education, and Danbury is among Connecticut’s most ethnically diverse communities, home to a vibrant mix of cultures and immigrant-owned businesses. Residents enjoy a strong quality of life with arts, dining, parks, and recreation at Candlewood Lake, along with convenient access to major airports within roughly 40 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes. With its central location, many WestConn students and employees commute from nearby communities, including New York.

THE OPPORTUNITY

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the President, the AVP & Dean of Students serves as a senior leader who helps shape the student experience from transition to graduation through integrated oversight of student life, support, wellbeing, and engagement. They also serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and the President’s Council. The AVP & Dean of Students is expected to be imaginative, technology-forward, and data-informed, leveraging modern systems, student feedback, and responsible use of emerging tools, including AI-enabled capabilities where appropriate, to redesign service delivery, strengthen coordination, and elevate the student experience while maintaining privacy, compliance, and human accountability. This role leads key functions that support students’ success and sense of belonging, partnering closely with academic leadership and other senior leaders to align orientation, mentoring, housing, wellness, conduct, and involvement into a coherent ecosystem of support. This position supervises Professional and Support staff.

Portfolio of Responsibility

The AVP & Dean of Students provides leadership and oversight for:

• Housing & Residence Life (with functional partnership with the VP for Operations/COO on housing facilities)
• Dean of Students Office, including student support/case management, behavioral intervention, and Judicial Affairs
• Center for Student Involvement, including student activities, leadership development, and campus traditions
• Student Wellness, including Alcohol & Substance Abuse Programs, Counseling Services, Health Services, and Wellness Education & Prevention
• Center for Intercultural Affairs, including Intercultural Affairs and Campus Ministry (with functional partnership with the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer)
• Recreation and Club Sports
• First-Year Programming, New Student Orientation, and student transition initiatives
• Mentoring and connected-student engagement strategies

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1) Strategic Student Experience Leadership

• Provides visible, values-driven leadership for student experience and thriving, ensuring services are coordinated, accessible, and responsive to student needs across residential, commuter, and transition experiences.
• Serves as a senior advisor to the President on student climate, wellbeing, engagement, retention, and emerging issues affecting students.
• Partners with academic leadership to strengthen the integration of learning and engagement, including first-year programming, new student orientation, co-curricular learning, leadership development, mentoring, and student support pathways.
• Promotes a culture of care, accountability, and belonging that supports persistence, completion, and holistic student development.

2) Student Support, Care, and Behavioral Intervention

• Provides leadership for student support/case management and coordinated care for students of concern, including triage, follow-up, and referral to campus and community resources.
• Serves in leadership roles for student care structures (e.g., student care team, behavioral intervention/threat assessment team processes), supporting effective communication, documentation, and appropriate escalation.
• Supports crisis response protocols and serve, as assigned, in an on-call/administrator-on-duty rotation to ensure timely support outside of business hours.

3) Student Conduct, Community Standards, and Restorative Practices

• Oversees student conduct/judicial affairs and community standards processes that are fair, educational, timely, and consistent.
• Strengthens preventative education and restorative practices where appropriate, reinforcing belonging and accountability.

4) Residential Experience and Living-Learning Partnerships

• Oversees residence life strategy and operations to support a safe, engaging, inclusive residential experience.
• Partners functionally with the VP for Operations/Chief Operating Officer on housing facilities and related operational needs to ensure a coordinated student experience (e.g., maintenance communication pathways, safety protocols, capital planning input).
• Strengthens residential programming that supports belonging, wellbeing, and academic success.

5) Student Wellness and Health Promotion

• Oversees Alcohol & Substance Abuse Programs, Counseling Services, Health Services, and Wellness Education & Prevention in a coordinated wellness model that increases access, cross-training, shared resources, and continuity of care.
• Promotes prevention, early intervention, and resilience practices across the campus community.
• Ensures appropriate privacy, ethical standards, and compliance in wellness-related operations and vendor/community partnerships.

6) Belonging, Intercultural Affairs, and Community Support

• Provides leadership for the Center for Intercultural Affairs, including Intercultural Affairs and Campus Ministry.
• Advances a campus culture where students are welcomed, supported, and able to thrive, ensuring programs are responsive to diverse identities, experiences, and needs.
• Builds partnerships across campus to strengthen inclusive practices, community education, and student engagement.

7) Engagement, Involvement, Recreation, and Student Transition Programs

• Oversees the Center for Student Involvement and student activities that foster leadership development, connection, and vibrant campus life.
• Provides leadership for recreation and club sports to support wellbeing, community, and student engagement.
• Leads or advances first-year programming, new student orientation, mentoring, and other transition initiatives that help students build connection, confidence, and momentum. Strengthens pathways for student voice, feedback, and leadership participation in campus improvement.

8) Technology, Data, AI-Enabled Tools, and Continuous Improvement

• Champions effective use of technology to streamline access to services (e.g., case management systems, scheduling/appointment platforms, engagement platforms, communications tools) and to improve the user experience.
• Uses data and student feedback to assess needs, evaluate effectiveness, and improve programs and services (e.g., service utilization, engagement indicators, satisfaction, barriers to access).
• Encourages responsible use of emerging capabilities, including AI-enabled tools, to improve service navigation, operational efficiency, and insight, while maintaining privacy, compliance, and human judgment in decision-making.

9) Community and Family Partnership

• Maintains strong relationships with community partners and providers to expand support for students (e.g., health/wellness resources, crisis supports, veteran services, identity-supporting organizations).
• Supports appropriate family/guardian engagement consistent with policy and student privacy, especially during crises and transitions.

10) People Leadership, Operations, and Budget Stewardship

• Leads, coaches, and develops a high-performing team grounded in respect, accountability, and collaboration.
• Establishes clear expectations, service standards, and effective cross-unit coordination.
• Partners with the President and appropriate operational leaders to support responsible stewardship of resources, effective planning, and service-focused operations.

11) Other Duties

• Performs other duties and responsibilities related to those enumerated above which do not alter the basis level of responsibility of the position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field or a combination of education, credentials, and progressively responsible leadership experience that provides comparable preparation for this role.
• Progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs/student success/student services within a complex organization, including supervision of professional staff and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and improve student-facing services with a student-centered, equity-minded approach.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage complex situations involving student support, wellbeing, and/or conduct with sound judgment, care, and appropriate escalation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences (students, families, faculty, staff, community partners) and build durable partnerships.
• Demonstrated commitment to working effectively in a diverse campus community and fostering belonging and student thriving.
• Demonstrated ability to use data and technology to inform decisions, assess impact, and improve service delivery.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in a related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs in higher education.
• Senior student affairs leadership experience in public higher education, and/or experience supporting a diverse student body, including at an HSI or similarly mission-driven institution.
• Direct oversight experience in multiple relevant functional areas such as housing and residence life, dean of students/case management, student conduct, counseling/health promotion, intercultural affairs, student involvement, first-year programs, mentoring, and/or campus recreation.
• Experience leading crisis response, behavioral intervention/care processes, and complex student support cases.
• Familiarity with key compliance frameworks affecting student affairs operations (e.g., FERPA, Clery, ADA/504, Title IX processes as applicable, professional ethics and privacy standards).
• Demonstrated experience modernizing student services through process redesign, system implementation, analytics, and/or responsible adoption of AI-enabled tools.
• Experience advancing inclusive excellence through identity-affirming programs, culturally responsive practice, and effective community partnerships.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

Salary & Benefits: The hiring salary range is $147,053 - $183,816 and is commensurate upon candidates' experience. WCSU offers a comprehensive benefits package. Additional information on benefits can be found at . All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check. WCSU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check and a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Work Environment: Typical office environment with frequent presence across campus and periodic evening/weekend commitments aligned with campus life and student needs. Participation in an on-call/administrator-on-duty rotation may be required. Availability outside normal business hours is required for critical incidents and operational continuity. Some travel may be required for system, state, or professional meetings. This position may be eligible for a flexible or hybrid work arrangement consistent with University needs and policy. Reasonable accommodation will be made for incumbents and candidates with physical limitations.

Application Process: Prospective candidates must submit a cover letter, which includes the names and contact information for three (3) professional references and a resume. All materials should be submitted as PDF files.

To apply, submit your materials to:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Western is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Educator/Employer