Dean of Students

Position Summary The Dean of Students will lead and advance Franklin University’s student-centered philosophy by providing strategic, results-driven leadership that supports student success, retention, and goal attainment. This role drives high-impact strategies across key student-facing units to ensure consistent, high-quality engagement throughout the student lifecycle, aligned with the University’s enrollment and growth goals. The Dean will serve as a transformational leader in applying artificial intelligence across Student Affairs, reimagining how high-quality, high-touch student support can be scaled without losing the human connection, while improving responsiveness and delivering measurable gains in student success. Duties and Responsibilities Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Dean of Students Office, including Academic Advising, Current Student Communications, and Community Standards. Lead and develop a high-performing, student-centered team focused on measurable outcomes. Build collaborative partnerships with Academics, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Support Services, and other university leaders to advance enrollment, retention, student success, and satisfaction. Own and execute the AI strategy for Student Affairs, identifying and scaling high-impact use cases that enhance engagement, improve responsiveness, and increase efficiency. Redesign service delivery models to balance automation and high-touch engagement, ensuring staff focus on complex, high-value student needs. Champion the use of data and analytics to drive decision-making, including dashboards, early alerts, and proactive identification of student risk. Serve as Co-Chair of the University’s Student Success Initiative (SSI), leveraging retention, persistence, and completion metrics to guide institutional strategy and decision-making. Build organizational capability in AI and other automation through staff development, change management, and adoption of new technologies. Lead continuous improvement of student-facing and operational processes to increase efficiency while maintaining strong student connection. Promote an inclusive campus environment that meets the needs of all student populations; provide leadership in the development, interpretation, and application of student policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, including military and veteran services. Serve as the University’s Primary Appeal Officer, overseeing institutional appeals and external complaints, including BBB inquiries. Manage the Student Affairs budget and steward resources in alignment with strategic priorities. Demonstrate agility and judgment in addressing urgent matters while maintaining a consistent focus on holistic student success. Engage in ongoing professional development and remain current with emerging research and best practices, supporting staff in translating theory and assessment into effective daily practice. Cultivate community partnerships that expand students’ access to additional support services. Thrive in ambiguity, leading complex, high-impact initiatives that materially improve student success and satisfaction. Lead special initiatives and perform other responsibilities as assigned in support of divisional and university goals. Minimum Requirements/Qualifications Doctoral degree preferred, with a Master’s degree required and at least five years of directly related experience in higher education. Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable large, high-performing teams, supported by strong communication, organizational, and prioritization skills. Demonstrated experience supporting student success, retention, and engagement initiatives. Clear student-centered philosophy and collaborative leadership approach. Demonstrated data literacy, including the use of metrics and dashboards to inform strategy and evaluate outcomes. Proven ability to lead large-scale innovation or transformation initiatives, especially around the adoption of emerging technologies, to improve student outcomes and operational effectiveness and improve operational performance while scaling services. Ability to lead cross-functional technology and process improvements; familiarity with student success platforms/CRMs, case management, or workflow automation tools is preferred. Preferred Skills And Characteristics Seven or more years of directly related experience in higher education, including senior-level experience within Student Affairs. Knowledge of and experience with academic advising, student support services, student conduct processes, and adult learner populations. Understanding of retention and persistence metrics, student assessment, and their application to the decision-making process. Demonstrated experience implementing or scaling AI, automation, or digital transformation initiatives in a service-oriented environment. Ability to translate complex technologies (e.g., AI) into practical applications that improve student experience and staff effectiveness. Experience writing and implementing university policy. Proven change management skills, including adoption of new tools, staff development, and continuous improvement practices. Demonstrated ability to lead initiatives independently in evolving environments. Additional Notes This position will work an on-site hybrid schedule and will require flexibility to cover the priorities of the Department. Evening and weekend events may be required. Some travel expected. Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr Franklin University