Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

At Western Connecticut State University, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are foundational to who we are and how we lead. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution, WestConn embraces both the honor and responsibility of expanding access, advancing opportunity, and delivering student success through equity in practice, not just in principle. We are building a community where every person is respected, supported, and empowered to thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates who share these values and are committed to helping us live them every day.

About the Role

The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students (AVP & Dean of Students) will report directly to President Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., serving as a close strategic partner and a core member of the university’s executive leadership team. This role is central to shaping a more connected, modern, and student-ready campus experience, aligning with WestConn’s Western Rising Focused Strategy (2026-2028), a tactical roadmap designed to sharpen the university’s collective efforts over the next three years.

The AVP & Dean of Students will help design a student experience that supports persistence, strengthens community, and advances WestConn’s mission as an engine of opportunity. This leader will oversee key functions that foster student success and belonging, including housing and residence life, student support and case management, wellness programs, intercultural affairs, student involvement, and transition initiatives.

WestConn’s Western Rising strategy reflects five institutional commitments, each of which the AVP & Dean of Students will help advance:

• Strengthening Foundations: Build student-ready systems, from seamless orientation and mentoring pathways to responsive case management, housing, wellness, conduct, and involvement structures.
• Distinctively WestConn: Shape a student experience that is relationship-rich, equity-driven, and grounded in belonging through vibrant campus life, transition programs, intercultural engagement, and leadership opportunities.
• Regional Anchor & Opportunity Engine: Extend WestConn’s mission beyond the classroom by building partnerships that connect students and families to regional opportunities, including community-based wellness resources and nonprofit relationships.
• Culture of Shared Leadership & Renewal: Serve as a collaborative builder who listens, earns trust, and brings people together around student-centered change, partnering with Academic Affairs, operational leaders, staff, and students.
• Creating an Environment for Student Thriving: Steward a campus environment where safety, wellbeing, belonging, and accountability are lived realities, integrating prevention, care, restorative practices, student voice, and identity-affirming support.

Responsibilities

The AVP & Dean of Students provides leadership and oversight for the following areas:

• Housing & Residence Life (in partnership with the VP for Operations/COO on housing facilities)
• 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 (in partnership with the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer)
• Recreation and Club Sports
• First-Year Programming, New Student Orientation, and student transition initiatives
• Mentoring and connected-student engagement strategies

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Strategic Student Experience Leadership:
  • Provide visible, values-driven leadership to ensure services are coordinated, accessible, and responsive to student needs across residential, commuter, and transition experiences.
  • Serve as a senior advisor to the President on student climate, wellbeing, engagement, retention, and emerging issues.
  • Partner with academic leadership to strengthen the integration of learning and engagement, including first-year programming, new student orientation, co-curricular learning, leadership development, mentoring, and student support pathways.
  • Promote a culture of care, accountability, and belonging that supports persistence, completion, and holistic student development.
• Student Support, Care, and Behavioral Intervention:
  • Provide leadership for student support/case management and coordinated care for students of concern, including triage, follow-up, and referral to campus and community resources.
  • Serve in leadership roles for student care structures (e.g., student care team, behavioral intervention/threat assessment team processes), supporting effective communication, documentation, and appropriate escalation.
  • Support crisis response protocols and participate in an on-call/administrator-on-duty rotation to ensure timely support outside of business hours.
• Student Conduct, Community Standards, and Restorative Practices:
  • Oversee student conduct/judicial affairs and community standards, ensuring alignment with restorative practices and university values.
• Residential Experience and Living-Learning Partnerships:
  • Lead the development of a residential experience that fosters community, learning, and personal growth, in collaboration with housing operations and academic partners.
• Student Wellness and Health Promotion:
  • Oversee wellness programs, including counseling services, health services, substance abuse prevention, and wellness education, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to student needs.
• Belonging, Intercultural Affairs, and Community Support:
  • Advance intercultural engagement and community support through the Center for Intercultural Affairs, fostering an environment where all students feel a sense of belonging.
• Engagement, Involvement, Recreation, and Student Transition Programs:
  • Lead initiatives that enhance student engagement, involvement, and transition, including orientation, mentoring, leadership development, and recreational opportunities.
• Technology, Data, AI-Enabled Tools, and Continuous Improvement:
  • Leverage modern systems, student feedback, and 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.
• Community and Family Partnership:
  • Build and strengthen partnerships with local businesses, civic organizations, and nonprofits to expand WestConn’s regional impact and support student success.
• People Leadership, Operations, and Budget Stewardship:
  • Provide leadership and supervision to professional and support staff, ensuring effective operations, budget stewardship, and a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

WestConn seeks a forward-looking leader with a demonstrated commitment to equity, student success, and community-building. The ideal candidate will bring creativity, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a data-informed approach to redesigning the student experience. While no specific degree or years of experience are mandated, the following qualifications are preferred:

• A master’s degree in student affairs, higher education administration, counseling, or a related field (doctorate preferred).
• Progressive leadership experience in student affairs, with a track record of overseeing multiple functional areas (e.g., housing, wellness, conduct, intercultural affairs, student involvement).
• Experience working in a public, regional, or Hispanic-Serving Institution, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities these contexts present.
• Demonstrated success in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with a commitment to fostering belonging for all students, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds.
• Strong partnership-building skills, with experience collaborating across divisions (e.g., Academic Affairs, Operations, Enrollment Management) to align efforts around student success.
• Familiarity with modern student support technologies, data analytics, and emerging tools (e.g., AI-enabled capabilities) to enhance service delivery and decision-making.
• Experience in crisis management, behavioral intervention, and student conduct, with a restorative and equity-minded approach.
• Excellent communication, listening, and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders—including students, faculty, staff, and community partners—in shared decision-making.
• A high-energy, action-oriented leadership style that balances high standards with genuine care for people and culture.
• Experience in budget management, resource allocation, and operational leadership.
• Commitment to shared governance and a collaborative approach to leadership, with a track record of earning trust and building consensus.

About the University

Western Connecticut State University (WestConn) is a public, regional university enrolling 4,573 credit students (Fall 2025), including 3,696 undergraduates, 627 graduate students, and 260 dual-enrolled students. The university proudly serves 1,473 first-generation students and is a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

WestConn’s highest-enrolling undergraduate programs include Psychology, Nursing, Management, Biology, and Public Health. At the graduate level, top programs include Counselor Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, Creative & Professional Writing, and Health Care Administration. The university is focused on sustaining and growing enrollment by expanding into new markets and creating pathways for learners.

WestConn is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, governed by the Board of Regents (BOR). The system includes Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU), CT State Community College (CT State), and Charter Oak State College (online). This structure creates opportunities for partnerships, shared services, and cross-institutional collaboration.

About the Community

WestConn serves as a regional anchor and opportunity engine for Western Connecticut, with deep ties to Danbury and the surrounding area. The university expects its leadership to be visible, engaged, and community-facing, helping to strengthen partnerships with local businesses, civic organizations, and nonprofits.

Danbury is a diverse and dynamic city located on Connecticut’s western border, spanning 44 square miles—more than twice the size of Hartford, New Haven, or Bridgeport. With easy access to New York City and comparatively affordable housing, Danbury attracts residents from across Fairfield County and the greater metro area. The city’s economy is anchored by manufacturing, health care, construction, and higher education, and it is one of Connecticut’s most ethnically diverse communities, home to a vibrant mix of cultures and immigrant-owned businesses.

Residents enjoy a strong quality of life, with access to arts, dining, parks, and recreation at Candlewood Lake. Major airports are within roughly 40