Leadership Search
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students Search
Western Connecticut State University invites applications, nominations, and expressions of interest for its Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students, the university's Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO), that will help shape the student experience from transition to graduation through integrated oversight of student life, support, wellbeing, and engagement.
Portfolio Scope
Student life, support, wellbeing, housing, conduct, involvement, and transition
Senior Officer
Serve as the university's senior student affairs officer (SSAO), reporting to the President
Leadership Opportunity
Help redesign a more connected, modern, and student-ready campus experience
Danbury, Connecticut
Regional public university serving students and the broader community
About the Opportunity
Reporting directly to the President, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & 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. This leader also serves 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.
Western Rising and the Work Ahead
The search is grounded in Western Rising (2026-2028) , the university’s focused strategy for the next three years, designed to sharpen collective efforts, ensure financial sustainability, and strengthen student success, belonging, and regional impact.
Portfolio of Responsibility
- Housing & Residence Life
- 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
- Recreation and Club Sports
- First-Year Programming, New Student Orientation, and student transition initiatives
- Mentoring and connected-student engagement strategies
What This Leader Will Do
- Provide visible, values-driven leadership for student experience and thriving
- Serve as a senior advisor to the President on student climate, wellbeing, engagement, retention, and emerging issues
- Strengthen integration across orientation, mentoring, student support, housing, wellness, conduct, and involvement
- Lead student support, care, and behavioral intervention processes
- Oversee student conduct, community standards, and restorative practices
- Advance a safe, engaging, and inclusive residential experience
- Coordinate student wellness and health promotion efforts
- Strengthen belonging, intercultural affairs, and community support
- Lead student engagement, recreation, and transition programming
- Use technology, data, and AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve service delivery
- Build strong community and family partnerships
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing student affairs team
What WestConn Is Seeking
WestConn seeks a collaborative, student-centered, equity-minded leader who can strengthen student-facing systems, navigate complex situations with sound judgment and care, build durable partnerships, and help create the conditions for student thriving.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Public Administration, or a related field, or comparable preparation
- Progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs, student success, or student services
- Demonstrated ability to lead and improve student-facing services with a student-centered, equity-minded approach
- Experience managing complex situations involving student support, wellbeing, and/or conduct
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and build durable partnerships
- Demonstrated ability to use data and technology to inform decisions and improve service delivery
Preferred Qualifications
- Earned doctorate in a related field
- Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs in higher education
- Senior student affairs leadership experience in public higher education or similarly mission-driven environments
- Direct oversight experience in multiple relevant functional areas across the portfolio
- Experience leading crisis response, care processes, and complex student support cases
- Experience modernizing services through process redesign, analytics, systems, and responsible AI-enabled tools
Search Committee
Committee deliberations and discussions are confidential. The university community will have the opportunity to meet and provide feedback on finalists. The search committee is advisory to the President.
- Jennifer Labate, Chief Diversity Officer (Co-Chair)
- Melissa Stephens, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management (Co-Chair)
- Robert Berry, Chief of Police
- Dr. Jessica Coronel, Assistant Dean of the School of Graduate, International, and Career Studies
- Youmna Elawa, Undergraduate Student
- Owen Ibey, SGA President, Undergraduate Student
- Dr. Leslie Lindenauer, Director-Hawkes Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, Professor, Department of History and World Perspectives, AAUP
- Jokin Martinez, Undergraduate Student
- Dr. Johnine P. McCartney, Assistant Professor of Marketing, University Senate
- Dr. Joan Palladino, Dean, School of Professional Studies
- AnnMarie Puelo, Director, University Advisement, SUOAF
- Guy Rancourt, Coach, Men’s Basketball, AAUP
- Dr. Trisha J. Stewart, Professor in the Doctoral Program in Instructional Leadership, AAUP
- Yara Zoccarato, Associate Director of Pre-College & Access Programs
Search Timeline
Anticipated timeline. Updates will be shared as needed.
Applications and Nominations
Salary & Benefits: The hiring salary range is $140,721 to $175,901, commensurate with experience. WCSU offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Application Materials: Candidates should submit a cover letter, including the names and contact information for three professional references, and a resume.
Submission Process: To apply, submit materials through the online application portal. All materials should be submitted as PDF files.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
Candidates should submit a cover letter that includes the names and contact information for three professional references, along with a resume. Materials should be submitted through the online application portal.
What is the salary range?
The hiring salary range is $140,721 to $175,901, commensurate with experience. WestConn offers a comprehensive benefits package.
Who should I contact with questions?
Questions may be directed to hrpositions@wcsu.edu, with “Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students” in the subject line.
Will there be updates for the university community?
Yes. This page is designed to serve as a central location for university information about the search.
About Western Connecticut State University
WestConn is a regional public university with a student-centered mission. The university enrolls 4,573 credit students, including 3,696 undergraduates, 627 graduate students, and 260 dual-enrolled students. WestConn proudly serves 1,473 first-generation students and is committed to expanding access, opportunity, and student success.
WestConn serves as a regional anchor and opportunity engine with deep ties to Danbury and the surrounding region. The university is community-facing, partnership-oriented, and committed to building a stronger future for students and the region it serves.