The Dean of Student Engagement position is a crucial part of a reimagining of the academic affairs and student life structure at Luther College. The Dean will report to the newly created Provost position. The Dean will have oversight of seven units and will lead a staff of 35 with seven direct reports, including the Assistant Dean and Director of Residence Life, Associate Dean & Director of Case Management, Director of Wellness, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Health Services, Director of Counseling Services, and Administrative Assistant and Coordinator of Student Services. In addition, the Career Center and Safety and Security have a dotted line of collaboration back to the Dean.

Opportunities and challenges for the Dean:

• Support and engage the student body through transitions. The Dean of Student Engagement will join Luther following an unprecedented time in higher education and the world. Luther College is also undergoing a reconfiguration creating an integrated approach to student-facing work, bringing together academic affairs, student engagement, and student success. The Dean will use this time of change to work collaboratively to actively address current student needs and proactively envision how student engagement on a small liberal arts campus and the development of student leaders and global citizens can be supported in the future. The Dean will lead a team dedicated to supporting students throughout their experience at Luther, with particular emphases on developing student agency, self-efficacy, and integrating resources across academic and campus life. The Dean will be an active, visible, accessible, and approachable member of the community, getting to know students individually, dialoguing with them, listening to their voices, being present across campus, and meeting students where they are, while encouraging them in their development.
• Partner, communicate, and collaborate across the College in support of student success. Keeping the success of students at the forefront, the Dean of Student Engagement will develop strong and collaborative relationships across the College. With the Dean reporting to the Provost, there is a natural partnership and priority for providing a holistic experience for students and that includes a balanced and an integrated education inside and outside the classroom. The Dean will be a bridge builder working with faculty and academic affairs, enrollment management, athletics, music ensembles, and all areas that engage with the student experience. The Dean will foster clear, consistent, and frequent communication among the units within student life, with students, and across the campus.
• Bring vision and innovation to student life and programs. As Luther College transitions to a structure to support strategic collaborations between academic affairs and student life, it is the ideal time to set a vision moving forward and an opportunity to bring additional innovation to Student Life as a unit, to student programming and policies, and to the cultivation of student leaders. The new Dean will bring a grounding in student development theory and current best practices to set a course forward that enhances the student experience, promotes healthy community values on campus, supports the development of students as future citizens and leaders, champions DEI initiatives, and prepares students to be active participants in a global society prior to and after graduation.
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The Dean of Student Engagement will play a central role in championing the College’s commitment to diversifying the staff, student body, and faculty while also creating an equitable and inclusive environment. The Dean will bring thought leadership, expertise, and an understanding of how to engage students in these important discussions. The Dean will work collaboratively with students, staff, other administrators, and faculty to support Luther College as it strives for inclusive excellence.
• Support and develop the staff. The Dean will be an empathetic and decisive change agent, an inspiring leader, and an advocate for an evolving student life program within an integrated framework. Recognizing the challenges presented by the pandemic, the Dean will bring new enthusiasm while supporting and challenging a dedicated team of professionals. As a collaborative vision is created, the Dean will provide staff with mentorship and empower them with opportunities for professional development and growth as Luther continues to build excellence in student engagement and development in alignment with academic affairs.

The following units report to the Dean of Student Engagement:

• Campus Recreational Sports and Intramurals:  Recreational Services’ goal is to provide effective physical experiences that allow students to take their learning beyond the academic world. The intramural sports program offers individual and team sports, as well as noncompetitive activities.
• Counseling:  The Counseling Service assists students in resolving personal concerns and facilitates interpersonal learning. Short-term individual and group counseling is offered on a confidential basis. Staff refer students to other campus services or to off-campus mental health professionals as appropriate to their needs.
• Nena Amundson Lifetime Wellness Program:  The Wellness Program works with the entire college community to provide educational programs regarding a variety of health and wellness topics, focusing on fitness needs for students and employees, as well as general prevention issues. The program is committed to maintaining a healthy living/learning environment, based on a philosophy of appropriate, responsible, safe, and legal decision-making about personal wellness.
• Residence Life:  The Residence Life program directly assists students in their learning/living environment, while maintaining safe and attractive facilities for student residents. As students develop academic competencies, they are also learning how to handle life experiences, often in their first extended time away from home.
• Student Activities and College Union:  The Student Activities program provides students with opportunities to engage in cultural, educational, social, and recreational activities, an integral part of the living/learning community at Luther. Students develop their talents and abilities in leadership and teamwork through their participation in the Student Activities Council (SAC); numerous student organizations, including interest-based, academic, and service-oriented groups; and a variety of student leadership programs.
• Student Health Service:  The Health Service and its programs are a support service for the promotion of health and prevention of diseases. During the academic year physicians and nursing staff maintain regular office hours in an outpatient clinic.
• Student Life Office:  The Office of Student Life coordinates the efforts of all student life areas to provide a comprehensive co-curricular program and works with faculty, staff, and students to create the best possible environment for student learning.

The Dean of Student Engagement will bring deep experience engaging with college students coupled with a forward-looking lens, a strong work ethic, and a collegial spirit. The successful candidate will possess a master’s degree in student development theory or a related field in student affairs. In addition, the ideal candidate will possess the following experiences and qualities:

• A deep passion for student life and the holistic student experience in and outside of the classroom, ideally with experience at a residential liberal arts college;
• Experience supporting student mental health, managing crises, guiding student activism, and demonstrating calm under pressure;
• A proven track record of success in driving diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and dialoguing and engaging with students on these topics;
• A demonstrated ability to be both compassionate and firm in managing complex student issues and concerns in a changing environment;
• Approachability and accessibility to students and other campus constituents, with a passion for student engagement and student leadership development;
• Technological savvy coupled with a solid understanding of the role social media plays in students’ lives;
• An ability to build teams and to lead, inspire, mentor, and challenge staff;
• Inclusive decision-making skills with the capacity to build consensus, make difficult decisions when necessary, and communicate decisions with alacrity, clarity, and care;
• Superb listening skills and an ease interacting in a multitude of settings with multiple constituencies;
• Integrity and trustworthiness;
• Awareness of best practices in student life and the major trends influencing the student experience and student success nationally, especially in residential colleges;
• Awareness and support of the College’s history and mission; and
• Excitement for engaging with Luther’s surrounding community and an appreciation for the high quality of life in a destination college town.

Luther College seeks to build a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students. Luther College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Women and persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. We value the input of multiple viewpoints and perspectives to create an academic community that is rich with cultural, social, and intellectual diversity. Candidates are encouraged to identify their strengths or experiences that will contribute to this goal.

Please view the full prospectus for the Dean of Student Engagement position at Storbeck Search.

Nominations and Applications

For best consideration, please submit all confidential nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest as soon as possible to:

Julie E. Tea, Partner
Lindsay Allison, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
LutherDSE@storbecksearch.com