Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University (Wayne State or the University) seeks a strategic, visionary, and collaborative leader to serve as the next Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs (Provost). The Provost will work in close collaboration with the newly appointed President, Richard A. Bierschbach. With dynamic new leadership, Wayne State is on the cusp of critical acceleration of innovation across faculty-driven academic programming, undergraduate student recruitment and success, graduate and professional degree enhancement, and advancement in distinction as a pre-eminent public urban research university.

Wayne State stands as Michigan's third-largestand onlypublicurban research university, offering more than 375 academic programs across 13 schools and colleges, and serving more than 24,000 students from across the U.S. and 70 countries. As a U.S. News top 100 public university and a national leader in economic and social mobility, Wayne State is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and its mission. Wayne State is one of only four universities in Michigan to receive the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education's classification of doctoral university: very high research activity, and has annual sponsored research expenditures of more than $290 million. Wayne State is a member of the Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M), an alliance of these four Carnegie R1 institutions that fosters a powerhouse of talent, research, and economic growth across the state. The University's unique connection to its home city of Detroit — a city known for its rich history, legacy of innovation, and resilient spirit — represents a model for how a university and its community can improve the lives and health of all. As one of the city's largest employers, Wayne State has a $4.6 billion annual economic impact in Detroit and has been a driving force behind the city's resurgence. 

The next Provost will have the unique opportunity to drive transformation during this period of transition and opportunity. The University has moved initiatives forward that reflect its essential mission in this rapidly changing higher education context including enhancing undergraduate student success, advancing College to Career and Undergraduate Research Opportunity programming, moving mobile health access to the forefront of its health affairs programming, building diverse faculty strengths across schools and colleges through "Pathway to Faculty" programming, and focusing this year on the intersection of AI, innovation, and social impact.

To build on Wayne State's upward trajectory, the Provost must demonstrate a clear understanding of and commitment to Wayne State's mission and the importance of academic excellence through both careful faculty and academic leadership recruitment and continuing innovation in graduate and professional education and undergraduate student success. The position requires an experienced entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to guide the academic division through the changes necessary to ensure that this urban research university can thrive despite the extraordinary challenges currently facing higher education. The Provost will have significant administrative and academic leadership experience, including a record of success managing a highly complex organization and demonstration of strong fiscal and budgetary skills. The Provost must be a strong communicator, enthusiastic collaborator, and a motivational leader who genuinely pursues transparency in managing changes that impact faculty, staff, and students. Essential to the position is an understanding of and a deep commitment to shared faculty governance. The Provost must show a proven ability to promote an inclusive culture that demonstrates authentic dedication to social mobility. An earned terminal degree is required, as is scholarship that merits a tenured appointment as a full professor at Wayne State University.

APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Wayne State University has retained the national executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in this search. All applications, nominations, referrals, and inquiries should be sent via the search for the Wayne State University Provost page on the Isaacson, Miller website: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/wayne-state-university/provost-and-senior-vice-president-academic-affairs.

Amy Segal, Partner
Robin Dougherty, Managing Associate
Olivia McVicker, Managing Search Coordinator
Isaacson, Miller

Wayne State University is an equal opportunity employer. No person will be discriminated against or harassed in employment because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, arrest record, height, weight, sexual orientation, qualified Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans and other protected veterans, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal or state law.

Isaacson, Miller, and Wayne State University are committed to creating an inclusive environment and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If you have any accommodation or access needs, we are happy to provide reasonable accommodation.





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