Gustavus Adolphus College has begun the search for its first-ever Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, a position that will join the College’s senior leadership team and be responsible for leading diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice strategy and alignment across the campus.
The position, which is now open to applications and nominations, will focus on institutional culture and decision-making; diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and racial justice leadership; and external relations and capacity building across campus.
“As we continue to elevate our diversity and racial justice efforts across the entire Gustavus community, we are excited to begin the process of hiring our inaugural Vice President for Equity and Inclusion,” President Rebecca Bergman said. “This is an important step for the College as we continue to live out our mission, which calls us to respect and affirm the dignity of all people.”
One of the new Vice President’s primary responsibilities will be to cultivate, grow, and strengthen the College’s robust DEI Ecosystem and work to create a centralized home for racial justice and inclusion initiatives. They will chair the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, supervise the Center for Inclusive Excellence, Center for International and Cultural Education, and Academic Support Center, and partner with faculty, staff, and students to advance the College’s work in all facets of equity and inclusion.
“The new Vice President will take on a robust portfolio of initiatives that are moving Gustavus toward its vision of being a just community where all of us feel a sense of belonging and benefit from an exceptional education,” Bergman said. “I look forward to getting to know the candidates throughout the search process as we prepare to welcome the new Vice President to Gustavus.”
The search will be chaired by Provost and Dean of the College Brenda Kelly, who will lead a diverse team of students, faculty, staff, and trustees through the process of reviewing applications and interviewing candidates. Other key stakeholders within the Gustavus community, including students, faculty and staff who are not on the search committee, will have the opportunity to meet and engage finalists for the position. The job posting and prospectus are live now and applications will be reviewed beginning on April 4, 2021.
The College’s creation of the Vice President of Equity and Inclusion role is one in a series of action-oriented steps that the Gustavus community is taking to advance its diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice efforts. Other initiatives include the expansion and renovation of the Center for Inclusive Excellence, a DEI education component for all students, faculty, staff, and trustees, the recent hiring of two mental health counselors focusing on those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), and a Racial Justice and Inclusion Resolution that was passed unanimously by the Gustavus Board of Trustees in November 2020.
For more information about the College’s work in this area, please visit the Gustavus President’s Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website.