Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

Randolph-Macon College invites applications for a full-time Associate Vice President & Dean of Students. The Dean of Students serves as the senior operational officer of the Student Affairs division and the primary student-facing leader within it. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA), the Dean of Students is responsible for the effective, consistent, and educationally grounded delivery of the full range of student support programs and services. The Dean of Students directly supervises the professional staff responsible for residential life, student engagement and organizations, student conduct, Greek life, orientation, student wellbeing programs, and related functions.

This is a role that demands not only deep professional knowledge across these areas but also the organizational capacity, steady judgment, and genuine care for students required to lead a complex operational portfolio at a residential, liberal arts institution. While the VPSA provides the strategic framework and institutional direction, the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students translates that framework into daily practice and brings the ground-level intelligence of student life back into divisional leadership.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership for the Student Affairs division. The Dean will oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring effective programs and services, staff accountability and support, alignment with the VPSA’s strategic direction, and an effective organizational structure that meets student needs.

• Oversee Residential Life. The Dean will oversee the Office of Residence Life, including the four-year residency requirement, residential programming, community standards, housing assignments, and exemption requests. The Dean will supervise professional Residence Life staff and the Resident Advisor program, including student staff selection, training, evaluation, and development.

• Administer Student Conduct. The Dean will serve as the College’s principal conduct officer or designate appropriately, overseeing a fair, consistent, educational, and legally sound conduct system aligned with the College’s mission. The Dean will administer proceedings under the Student Conduct Code, protect students’ due process rights, and maintain knowledge of Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, Virginia law, and other requirements affecting conduct administration. The Dean will also oversee anti-discrimination processes and procedures at the operational level.

• Lead Student Engagement and Greek Life. The Dean will oversee student life functions including student activities, clubs and organizations, fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, community service, commuter life, student government, and Brock Commons. The Dean will work closely with Greek organizations, governing bodies, and advisors to support risk management, hazing prevention, membership development, and compliance with College policy and the Board of Trustees’ Greek housing framework. The Dean will promote a vibrant campus culture that fosters engagement, belonging, and personal growth.

• Implement the College’s commitment to pluralism. Working with the VPSA and Senior Advisor to the President for Mission Advancement, the Dean will integrate pluralism principles across co-curricular activities, Greek life, student government, and leadership programs, ensuring these experiences support students’ development as engaged participants in a pluralistic society.

• Support Student Wellbeing Programs. The Dean will oversee the delivery of student wellbeing programs, including mental health referrals, health education, wellness programming, and related services, in alignment with the VPSA’s strategic direction. The Dean will coordinate with counseling, health services, and academic support offices to ensure students of concern are identified and supported in a timely manner.

• Partner to Manage Student Cases and Crisis Response. In partnership with the Associate Provost and Dean for Student Success, the Dean will coordinate support for students of concern across divisions, including participation in BAIT/CARE teams. The Dean will serve as the primary institutional contact for families regarding student welfare, conduct, and crises and provide operational leadership during campus emergencies within the framework established by the VPSA and President’s Cabinet.

• Liaise with Parents and Families. The Dean will serve as a central liaison for parents and families, helping them support their students and partnering with Communications and Advancement to foster an informed, welcoming parent community.

• Manage the Dean of Students Office. The Dean will oversee the office budget and professional staff, assess programs and use data to drive improvements, and manage the student complaint process to ensure timely and appropriate resolution.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Leadership and Management

• Demonstrated operational leadership across multiple student affairs functional areas and the ability to manage complex portfolios effectively.
• Strong supervisory skills and a genuine commitment to the professional development and mentorship of staff at all levels, with the ability to inspire and motivate staff and students through change.
• Sound judgment and discretion in high-pressure situations, including conduct proceedings, student crises, and sensitive family matters.
• Experience implementing policies, procedures, and accountability systems consistently, fairly, and equitably.
• Student-centered philosophy grounded in the educational mission of a liberal arts college.
• Visible, accessible, and engaged with students.

Collaboration and Communication

• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, presentation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, faculty, staff, and peer institutions, including in difficult and sensitive situations.
• Strong collaborative skills and the ability to work effectively with the VPSA, Academic Affairs, Campus Safety, Athletics, Health Services, and other campus partners.
• Ability to represent the Dean of Students Office clearly and credibly with external audiences, including accreditors, legal counsel, and families.

Technical and Professional

• Thorough operational knowledge of residential life, student conduct, student engagement, and Greek life administration.
• Working knowledge of Title IX, the Clery Act, FERPA, ADA/Section 504, and applicable Virginia law, including their application to conduct proceedings and anti-discrimination processes.
• Experience with CARE/behavioral intervention team models and student case management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to implement the principles of pluralism and civil dialogue at the program level.
• Experience managing budgets and assessing programs against measurable outcomes.
• Extensive experience in crisis response — with steadiness, discretion, and appropriate care for students, families, and the institution.

Qualifications:

Required

• Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible student affairs experience.
• Substantial direct experience in at least two of the following areas: residential life, student conduct, student engagement, or Greek life administration.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with professional staff.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable laws and policies.

Preferred

• Experience at a residential liberal arts college.
• Direct experience administering a student conduct system, including cases involving Title IX, hazing, and substance use.
• Familiarity with CARE/behavioral intervention models.
• Experience with inter-Greek governance and chapter management.

The College

Founded in 1830, Randolph-Macon has about 1800 students and is located in Ashland, VA, a residential community 15 miles north of Richmond and 90 miles south of Washington D.C., thereby having all the benefits for its students, faculty and staff of a dynamic metropolitan area which serves as the state capital. Over 85% of students reside on campus. For more information about the College see

Randolph-Macon College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

Application

Please complete an online application at to include uploading a resume, letter of interest, and contact information for two professional references addressed to: Claudia Burcham, HR Generalist. Screening of applications will begin immediately.