Assistant Vice President for Equity and Student Engagement

Position Summary

This position the Assistant Vice President for Equity & Student Engagement (AVPESE) exists to serve as a senior leader within the Student Engagement and Well-being (SEW) unit of Enrollment & Student Affairs, providing strategic direction, operational oversight, and organizational leadership for a portfolio of identity-based engagement programs, student leadership development experiences, and campus-wide engagement initiatives. In addition to serving on the SEW Leadership Team, the AVPESE will serve as a member of the Enrollment & Student Affairs Leadership Team (Huddle). Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Well-being & Dean of Students, the AVPESE is responsible for cultivating a vibrant, inclusive, and “sticky” campus environment where students are meaningfully connected to the institution and to one another across academic, co-curricular, residential, and community spaces. Guided by the Student Engagement and Well-being (SEW) model and the socio-ecological framework, the AVPESE advances institutional goals related to recruitment, yield, retention, persistence, completion, and post-graduate success. Through the intentional design of equitable, high-impact experiences, the AVPESE cultivates a vibrant campus environment that supports student well-being and fosters meaningful connections among commuter, residential, online, and place-based learners across academic, co-curricular, and community spaces. The AVPESE is a systems and relationship-oriented leader who operates both strategically and operationally, balancing long-term vision with hands-on execution. This role requires the ability to lead complex, multi-unit operations while activating high-impact programs, events, and initiatives that shape the student experience across MSU Denver and the broader Auraria Campus. The AVPESE carefully curates an inclusive student experience that recognizes the unique needs of a majority commuter institution while supporting an expanding residential population and increasing modalities of engagement, including online, hybrid, and place-based learners. The AVPESE plays a critical leadership role in advancing MSU Denver’s identity as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Minority Serving Institution, and access-oriented university. This position ensures that engagement strategies are culturally responsive, equity-minded, and grounded in research and best practices that support diverse student populations. The AVPESE operates within a highly complex, multi-institutional environment on the Auraria Campus and provides leadership in tri-institutional coordination across MSU Denver, the University of Colorado Denver, and the Community College of Denver. This includes collaboration with the Auraria Campus (AHEC) and alignment of shared programs, services, and student engagement strategies across institutions.

Job Duties And Responsibilities

• 30% – Supervision and Leadership: Provides senior-level leadership and supervision for the Equity and Student Engagement programs, including direct supervision of department leaders and indirect leadership of professional staff and student employees across multiple functional areas. Establishes organizational structures, staffing models, and accountability systems to ensure effective, student-centered program delivery aligned with institutional priorities. Hires, trains, develops, and evaluates department-level leaders, administrative support staff, and student employees. Leads organizational effectiveness efforts, including staff development, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives. Ensures alignment of all programs and services with institutional, branch, and strategic priorities, with a focus on student engagement, belonging, well-being, and equitable outcomes.
• 25% – Strategy, Program Development and Student Engagement: Provides strategic leadership for campus engagement initiatives designed to foster belonging, connection, and student success. Develops and implements engagement strategies that contribute to enrollment goals, including recruitment, yield, persistence, retention, and completion, recognizing that meaningful student connection is foundational to student success and institutional vitality. Lead the development, implementation, and assessment of programs and initiatives that enhance student engagement across identity, culture, leadership, and community-building domains in alignment with the SEW student engagement strategy focused on holistic well-being and student support. Activates a “sticky campus” environment by advancing programs, events, and experiences that encourage students to remain on campus for learning, connection, employment, and co-curricular engagement. Designs experiences that reflect the diverse ways MSU Denver students engage with the institution, including commuter students, residential students, transfer students, online learners, adult learners, and students balancing employment and family responsibilities. Guides department leaders in identifying and scaling high-impact practices that increase student participation, learning, retention, and persistence for the diverse populations that comprise the MSU Denver community, ensuring opportunities for engagement are accessible, relevant, and responsive to students’ varied identities, experiences, and aspirations. Support programmatic alignment across supported departments and programs with post-graduate outcomes and career readiness in partnership with the Classroom to Career Hub. Ensures all programs are assessed for effectiveness and equity impact, with a focus on closing opportunity gaps across student populations. Maintains expertise in emerging research, theory, and best practices related to student engagement, identity development, and equity in higher education.
• 20% – Liaison, Collaboration and External Partnerships: Provides leadership for tri-institutional collaboration across the Auraria Campus, coordinating programs, services, and engagement strategies that serve students from MSU Denver, CU Denver, and CCD. Works in partnership with Enrollment Management to support recruitment, yield, onboarding, and student success initiatives through coordinated student engagement strategies and interventions. Collaborates on orientation programs, transfer student engagement, yield events, and targeted communication/drip campaigns that support enrollment growth, student connection, and retention efforts. In coordination with the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students, supports alignment and engagement with the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board (SACAB), ensuring student voice is represented in campus-wide governance and decision-making. Represents the University in internal and external partnerships that advance student engagement, belonging, and success including community partnerships that advance our students’ connection to the cultural and historical significance of Auraria, Denver and Colorado. Represent MSU Denver in regional, national, and other professional organizations, fostering strategic partnerships, advancing institutional priorities, and elevating the university’s visibility and reputation within the higher education and Denver community.
• 15% – Student Leadership, Governance and Advocacy: Provides executive oversight and support of the Student Advocacy Council (TSAC), supporting student leadership development and shared governance. Guides student organizations and leaders in navigating institutional systems, policies, and governance structures. Supports the advising and operational needs of TSAC and associated student governance bodies, recognizing the complexity and responsiveness required to effectively support student advocacy and leadership. Cultivates civic engagement and democratic participation through leadership development opportunities and engagement with local, state, and national public policy issues. Promotes student voice and leadership as a critical component of institutional decision-making and campus culture. Prepares information, briefings, and presentations to senior leadership, shared governance groups, and to the Board of Trustees on behalf of Enrollment & Student Affairs. Serves as a visible and accessible resource to student leaders and elected representatives, supporting the development of a robust shared governance culture and ensuring student perspectives inform institutional priorities.
• 10% – Operations, Events and On-Call Leadership: Provides operational oversight of major campus engagement programs and events, including those occurring during evenings and weekends. Provides oversight and leadership for tri-institutional partnerships, representing MSU Denver in collaborative programming with the CU Denver, CCD, and the Auraria Campus. Ensures successful planning and execution of large-scale programs that contribute to campus vibrancy and student connection. Identify, cultivate, and secure grant and donor funding opportunities to advance student equity, belonging, engagement, and success initiatives, including developing partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to sustain and expand programming. Manages financial resources including student fee funding, grants, donor funds, and tri-institutional memoranda of understanding. Serves as a senior administrator in the university’s on-call rotation, providing leadership and decision-making support for critical incidents and campus needs. Responds to time-sensitive situations with sound judgment and coordination across institutional partners. Provides visible leadership during major campus traditions, evening and weekend events, and institutional initiatives that contribute to a vibrant and connected campus culture.

Position Competencies

• Champions CADRE values-based leadership and creates a positive workplace culture, by setting expectations, eliciting feedback and coaching across departments, ensuring accountability and excelling in conflict management.
• Aligns operations across teams by optimizing resources, maintaining compliance, and empowering leaders to deliver consistent, measurable outcomes.
• Translates University strategy into coordinated action by guiding decision-making, prioritizing initiatives, and adjusting plans to drive long-term progress.
• Builds cross-functional partnerships, sharing information widely and facilitating dialogue to break down silos and advance University goals.
• Creates a positive workplace culture of belonging by embedding equitable leadership and talent processes, fostering feedback and holding leaders accountable.
• Drives innovation by aligning initiatives to University priorities, anticipating change, and empowering leaders to implement sustainable improvements.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree
• Eight years (8) of experience in student support, student equity, or student engagement in higher education.
• Eight years (8) of supervision and performance management experience.
• Experience advancing student engagement, belonging, equity, and student success through policy, practice, and student development.
• Experience advising, supporting, or partnering with student government, shared governance, or student leadership organizations.
• Experience using assessment and data to evaluate and improve programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a related field.
• Experience co-developing programs and initiatives in partnership with faculty and academic departments.
• Experience developing, implementing, or assessing programs that support student engagement, belonging, and success for diverse student populations.
• Experience leading initiatives that improve student engagement, belonging, and success for diverse student populations.
• Experience at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), or other mission-driven, access-oriented institution.