Chief Diversity Officer

Colorado College Colorado Springs, CO Full-time Education

Posted on May 16, 2024

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Colorado College, one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, nationally recognized for its industry leading commitment to antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, seeks a Chief Diversity Officer to build upon the transformational efforts the college has accomplished and to serve as a champion of the institution, its strategic plan and to embody the college motto of Scientia et Disciplina: "Learning through hard work." This is an exciting opportunity for an action-oriented, collaborative, and innovative thought partner and leader to advance a cohesive institutional approach to antiracism that embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion practices into college operations.

Colorado College is a private, four-year liberal arts college with roughly 2,300 undergraduates, located on a beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs, and is the only institution of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. The college is known as a community of forward-thinking innovators and pioneers, as it was the first college in the country to make a commitment to antiracism in 2019, and it is known for its Block Plan, established in the late 1960s, where students take, and professors teach, only one class at a time, offering students an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment.

Colorado College's mission – to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country – requires the campus community to strive for an environment that does not foster negative experiences or outcomes based on race. With antiracism central to the college's mission, a three-person antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) leadership team was established in 2020 to build capacity for equity and belonging — diving deeply into the day-to-day practices of the institution to highlight and clarify systemic gaps where ADEI principles can and should be applied. Using a constituent-centered lens, the team created a custom and modernized ADEI strategic plan, supported by divisional goals, to advance the college's commitment to antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. In the last four years, in collaboration with college-wide partners, the ADEI leadership team's efforts have been foundational and impactful in significantly strengthening the college's commitment to these values through relationship-building, thoughtful programming, and strategic planning and execution.

An integral member of the President's Cabinet, the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) reports to the president and will be charged with building an integrated college wide strategy to advance the foundational work of the ADEI leadership team in antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion that holistically serves students, faculty, and staff and the institution as a whole. This leader will offer a constituent voice at the executive level as they ensure an equity-centered lens, grounded in expertise, is incorporated into all institutional decision-making with transparency. The CDO will coordinate leadership for diversity issues across the college using a systems-thinking approach to regularly evaluate ADEI efforts, align resources with objectives, processes, and outcomes, and build upon the strength of the institution's efforts to-date to further cultivate a diverse and welcoming environment with a strong sense of belonging for the Colorado College community.

This CDO will join an invested community that has embraced the institutional commitment to antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The campus is ready to welcome a proactive, patient, and empathetic leader who inspires and listens as they meet people and the community who enter this space in different stages. Successful candidates will bring experience in shaping an institutional-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion plan while integrating this work into the culture across all constituents. A master's degree from an accredited university and a minimum of ten years of progressive administrative experience are required, as is evidence of influencing and working closely with executive-level leaders. A proven record of developing effective partnerships across disparate groups to organize and facilitate organizational and cultural change is a must. Prior experience in higher education is preferred.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in the leadership profile available at WittKieffer.com.

WittKieffer is assisting Colorado College in this search. This search will remain open until an appointment is made. Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer's candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Charlene Aguilar and Sarah Palmer
ColoradoCollegeCDO@wittkieffer.com

Compensation Range: $185,000 - $215,000

Benefits: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/humanresources/benefits/index.html

At Colorado College, we are dedicated to dismantling systemic and institutional discrimination. We embrace diversity and support a community where all individuals, without exception, feel valued, empowered, and treated equitably. Guided by the college's Antiracism Plan, we work to foster an equitable and inclusive environment for all who teach, learn, work, and live in our community.

Colorado College aims to provide the finest liberal arts education in the country. As a leading institution in higher education, we strive for inclusive excellence in access to, and development and delivery of, outstanding learning opportunities and success for our diverse community of individuals who teach, learn, and work at the college. We pursue the equal opportunity of individuals to fully participate in our mission.

Colorado College is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship—including (but not limited to) recruiting, hiring, promotions, compensation, benefits, and access to training—without regard to race, creed, color, caste, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or gender expression, perceived gender, sexual preferences, and sexual orientation), disability, marital status, veteran status, age, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

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