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.
• Redesigning 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.
• Demonstrates agility and judgement 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.