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.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Dean of Students Office, including Academic Advising, Current Student Communications, and Community Standards.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team focused on student success, retention, persistence, and degree completion.
• Partner with Academic Affairs, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Support Services, and other university leaders to develop and implement strategies that support enrollment growth, student engagement, and positive student outcomes.
• Serve as Co-Chair of the University's Student Success Initiative (SSI), leveraging data, analytics, and student success metrics to identify opportunities and guide institutional decision-making.
• Champion innovative approaches to student support, including the thoughtful application of artificial intelligence, technology, and process improvement to enhance the student experience while maintaining meaningful human connection.
• Develop and oversee proactive student outreach, intervention, and support strategies designed to improve retention, persistence, and completion rates.
• Promote an inclusive and supportive learning environment that meets the needs of Franklin’s diverse student population, including adult learners, military-affiliated students, and other special populations.
• Provide leadership in the development, interpretation, and implementation of student policies, procedures, and practices to ensure consistency, fairness, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the University's Primary Appeal Officer, overseeing institutional appeals and external student complaints.
• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and operational priorities in alignment with institutional goals.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to expand student support resources and strengthen community partnerships.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, service delivery, and student satisfaction.
• Remain informed of emerging trends, research, and best practices in student affairs and higher education, applying those insights to advance departmental and institutional priorities.
• Demonstrate agility, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset when responding to complex or urgent student and institutional matters.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; doctoral degree preferred.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education, Student Affairs, enrollment management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting student success, retention, engagement, and persistence initiatives.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, metrics, and assessment to inform strategy and evaluate outcomes.
• Experience leading organizational change, innovation, or technology-enabled improvements.
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and leadership skills.
• A clear student-centered philosophy and commitment to fostering student success.