The University of Massachusetts System seeks an inspiring, collaborative, and solution-oriented leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Vice President of Equity and Access (AVP). Reporting to the Senior Vice President & Deputy Vice President for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Equity, the AVP will serve as the System’s primary advisor on all issues related to equity and access and aid in developing and sustaining a new equity and access unit within the System office. Working collaboratively across System campuses, they will assess and address needs that enhance the System experience for all constituents in order to continue advancing and sustaining an intellectually curious, welcoming, and diverse community for students, staff, and faculty. As UMass looks to its future growth, the AVP will provide innovative leadership in the System’s effort to cultivate a stronger and more inclusive university community by providing information, sharing resources and best practices, and facilitating conversations around issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The University of Massachusetts is a revolutionary university that harnesses the spirit of Massachusetts to deliver a world-class education that transforms lives. Massachusetts is home to one of the world's most expansive, knowledge-intensive economies, a culture that greatly appreciates university innovation, and a spirit of academic achievement where DEI efforts are able to thrive and have impact. As the second-largest employer in the state and the largest contributor to the Massachusetts workforce, UMass continues to expand opportunities for employers to do business with us and is implementing systems to open doors of opportunity for women- veteran- and minority-owned businesses.
The UMass community recognizes the seismic changes produced by social unrest stemming from increasing political polarization, growing racial, gender, and sexual discrimination, partisan disputes, and the recovery from a global pandemic. In this galvanizing time of change, the AVP has an incredible opportunity to harness the energy of this current moment to guide the UMass community into actualizing a more just and equitable future.
The University of Massachusetts System has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this search. All confidential inquiries, referrals, and nominations should be directed to the search firm as indicated at the end of this posting.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS SYSTEM
The University of Massachusetts is the public university system and the only public research system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The System encompasses four comprehensive undergraduate and graduate campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, and Lowell), a world-class medical school (Chan Medical School), and the state's only public law school (UMass Law School). UMass is now ranked 43rd among all U.S. institutions and 22nd among all U.S. public universities in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. UMass remains the top public university in New England, a position it has held in the Times Higher Education rankings since 2014.
The University of Massachusetts is governed by a 22-member Board of Trustees that represents various interests of the public at large on a non-partisan basis. Seventeen members of the board are appointed by the Governor and five members are UMass students elected by the student body on each of the five campuses. The Board of Trustees plays an important role in directing strategy and overseeing the financial and strategic direction of the UMass System. It functions as a legislative body dealing mainly with general policies governing the System. The Board is not an administrative or management board.
Leadership
Marty Meehan is the first undergraduate alumnus to lead the five-campus University of Massachusetts System. On July 1, 2015, he became the university’s 27th president after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and as chancellor of UMass Lowell. Meehan has an abiding belief in public higher education’s power to transform lives. His commitment to equity and access in higher education has been demonstrated throughout his prolific career as a member of Congress and as a university leader. His service on the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) Board of Directors, supporting APLU’s efforts to ensure that high-quality public higher education remains affordable and accessible for students of all backgrounds, to being named a Frederick Douglass Scholars University Leader for his commitment to making study abroad opportunities accessible to students of all backgrounds give further testimony of his commitment towards practicing equity and access.
Academic Affairs, Student Affairs & Equity
Academic Affairs, Student Affairs & Equity (AASAE) provides system-wide support and academic assessment for the UMass System. The team works in collaboration with the University's faculty, administration, student governance, and state education agencies to ensure UMass' status as a world-class public research university committed to advancing knowledge and transforming lives. The team also advises the Committee on Academic Affairs and Student Affairs (CASA), the Board of Trustees, the President, and campuses on the formulation, interpretation, and implementation of policies that will benefit the UMass faculty and students, research, academic programs, and outreach.
THE ROLE OF ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT OF EQUITY AND ACCESS
Reporting to the Senior Vice President & Deputy Vice President for AASAE, the inaugural AVP will be responsible for supporting the development of a new equity and access unit within the System office. They will work with colleagues in Institutional Research (IR), DEI, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Human Resources on the System’s five campuses and in the System office to support these efforts. The AVP will also work with the Office of General Counsel. In addition, the AVP will work with government affairs professionals at the state and local levels to communicate the System’s efforts, better understand opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, and assist the UMass System in all aspects of its mission, policies, and practices with the goal of serving all segments of its public equitably. The AVP will also be responsible for overseeing and growing pipeline programs, such as the UMass Community College Advantage Scholarship and the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy.
The ideal leader will serve through both influence and strategy development and will possess the ability to evaluate the progress of the System toward its vision for equity and diversity. The AVP must be able to convene and work effectively with people at all different levels, including state legislatures, senior leadership, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community. The AVP will need to be nimble, with the ability to pivot and adjust strategy when new circumstances arise. The AVP also must impress on the community that the System’s progress in equity and diversity will be the result of a shared endeavor. The AVP must foster an inclusive environment, creating equitable and collaborative partnerships that reach outside the University and affect change for the commonwealth. In addition, the AVP must have extensive knowledge of existing research and best practices to advance equity and access in higher education. This role also requires the demonstrated ability to apply and contribute to national best practices, and an appreciation for shared governance.
PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS
While no single candidate will likely have all the ideal qualifications, candidates should possess many of the following qualifications and characteristics:
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in social science, business, education, or related field 5+ years of experience within the higher education policy, equity and access, diversity, inclusion, and similar fields
- Experience navigating basic data visualization tools such as Tableau
- Experience developing equity and access policies related to or within the higher education industry.
- Excellent communication skills and experience presenting findings to decision-makers
- Ability to collaborate with internal and external audiences, work effectively and independently on multiple priorities with clear deadlines
- Experience working with government, for-profit, non-profit, and education sector professionals
- Experience executing conferences, summits, or similar events
- Knowledge of equity and access literature and frameworks as they relate to policy, process, and implementation
- Experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access in higher education, and the ability to synthesize and implement state and federal policy as it relates to higher education institutions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Terminal degree in social science, business, education, law, or related field
- Advanced research and data experience
- Prior experience working in the higher education sector
- Strong understanding of federal, state, and higher education equity and access policy, process, law, and regulation
WORK ARRANGEMENT
The Office of the President is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. The location of this position is flexible (Option to work in offices located in Boston, MA and Westborough, MA) and can operate in a hybrid model.
TO APPLY
The University of Massachusetts System has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the search for the Assistant Vice President of Equity and Access. Confidential inquiries, nominations, referrals, and curricula vitae with letters of interest should be sent electronically to the following:
Donna Cramer, Partner
Miguel Santiago, Senior Associate
Ryan Smillie, Senior Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-massachusetts-system/assistant-vice-president-equity-and-access
Electronic submission of application materials is strongly preferred.