Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students

Job Description:

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Campus Life, the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students (AVP/DOS) delivers an exceptional, responsive, and integrated student experience that meets the expectations of highly engaged, intellectually curious students who actively shape their community. The AVP/DOS is a strategic, mission driven, and deeply student-centered leader committed to the work of serving students. 

This role provides strategic vision and operational execution for four (4) departments: Student Support Services (SSS), Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS), Student Activities Office (SAO), Student Accessibility Services (SAS), and 25+ employee portfolio, delivering an integrated student experience for Brown’s 7,200+ undergraduates and approximately 4,000 graduate and medical students. As a visible advocate and hands-on senior leader, the AVP/DOS fosters a culture of innovation and transparency, ensuring the University is responsive to the needs of a highly engaged student body while strengthening collaborative partnerships across a complex, matrixed environment that bridges the division of Campus Life with the University’s academic mission.

Job Qualifications 

• Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred.

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible managerial experience within a higher education setting; significant experience supervising and developing staff, managing resources, and advancing organizational effectiveness is required.

• Direct experience in student affairs is helpful but not required; adjacent or complementary experiences and a willingness to challenge traditional models are preferred.

• Extraordinary commitment to a deeply student-centered leadership approach, with the ability to translate student voice into strategy and action.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, inspire innovation, and move teams beyond established practices.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Strategic mindset paired with a willingness to be hands-on and operational when needed.

• Exceptional collaboration and relationship-building skills, with success navigating complex, matrixed organizations.

• The ability to inspire confidence, build consensus, and lead change. 

• Comfort engaging with highly motivated, vocal, and engaged students who expect transparency, responsiveness, and partnership.

• Proven ability to manage through crises with equanimity, discretion, and a sense of responsibility and respect for students, families, and the institution.

• Ability to inspire, develop, and bring staff along through periods of evolution and cultural shift.

• Strong critical thinking skills and the capacity to assess systems and reimagine approaches to better serve students.

• Firm but fair approach to conflict resolution.

• Ability to leverage data and assessment to inform strategic decision-making and measure program effectiveness.

• Experience serving as a trusted thought partner in high-stakes, rapidly evolving situations.

DSG Storbeck has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Ruth Shoemaker Wood and Anne Koellhoffer. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out a Talent Profile or emailing the search team directly at Brown_AVPandDOS@dsgco.com. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Background Check: All offers of employment are contingent upon a successful criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown.

Additional Information: Please submit a resume and cover letter when applying for this position.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Information on the Benefits of Working at Brown can be found here.

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-04-22

Job Posting Title:

Associate Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students