Qualifications
Essential
Washington State University seeks a President with the following essential qualifications and strengths:
- An earned doctorate, equivalent terminal degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Understanding of and, ideally, experience at a research-intensive, land-grant, and/or multi-campus system institution.
- A deep commitment to the values and mission of WSU and an understanding of the many diverse communities of Washington that WSU serves.
- An understanding of the national higher education landscape and a keen sense of how to differentiate an institution in a competitive field.
- Ability to oversee, engage, and inspire a leadership team as well as staff, faculty, students, alumni, and other stakeholders; the ability to build trust with a range of stakeholders, particularly in a shared governance environment.
- A lasting commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a track record of leading and implementing impactful programs and initiatives that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- An astute understanding of complex finances and a strategic, data-informed approach to budgeting.
- An inspirational leadership style with the capacity to unite a diverse and disparate organization around common values and goals.
- A high level of integrity, empathy, and emotional intelligence; the ability to engage in constructive conflict in support of WSU, and strong change management skills.
Preferred
While no candidate will bring all of the ideal qualifications, in addition to the essential qualifications, the ideal candidate would demonstrate these preferred attributes:
- Excellence in academic and / or administrative leadership at a high level in a major research university or equivalent organization.
- A highly developed understanding of academic values and culture, across research, teaching, and extension missions.
- Demonstrated track record of engaging diverse stakeholders in the development and execution of large-scale strategic visioning, planning, and change management.
- Excellent communication skills across a range of media and audiences, and the energy and passion to be a tireless advocate on behalf of Washington State University.
- A track record of overseeing successful initiatives to increase enrollment and improve the student experience.
- Understanding of or experience overseeing successful, division 1 athletic programs and the ability to balance the complex needs of an intercollegiate athletics program linked to fulfilling an organization’s teaching, research, and service missions.
- A demonstrated understanding of and track record of successful philanthropic fundraising including significant involvement in leading a comprehensive campaign.
- Experience developing relationships with lawmakers and government officials at the state and federal level; ability to thrive in the public sector with well-developed political and diplomatic skills.
- A deep understanding of the needs of a complex research infrastructure, including health sciences research; a keen sense of the research landscape and developments in policy around funding for large, federal research grants.
- The ability to leverage the expertise of a team to make difficult decisions informed by data; a commitment to transparent, collaborative leadership and active communication.
- Experience working with an appointed or elected governing Board and demonstrated success achieving meaningful gains.
Characteristics
Ensuring inclusivity is a critical aspect of leadership, especially in a university setting like WSU. Below are seven key characteristics that the new president of WSU should possess to promote and enhance inclusivity on campus. By embodying these characteristics, the new president of WSU can help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of the university community.
- Commitment to diversity: The new president should demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all members of the university community.
- Strong communication skills: Effective communication is essential for building relationships, fostering understanding, and ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.
- Collaborative leadership style: The president should be able to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to address issues. Clear problem statements should be defined and proactive solutions developed to ensure both internal and external community members understand the challenges and the decisions moving forward. Collaboration should be representative of inclusivity and diversity on campus.
- Empathy and cultural competence: It is important for the president to have empathy and cultural competence to understand the lived experiences, expertise and perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Advocacy for underrepresented groups: The president should be a strong advocate for underrepresented groups on campus and actively work to address systemic barriers while promoting equity and inclusion. This is a critical element of our land-grant mission to provide access to all in Washington State.
- Transparent decision-making: Transparency in decision-making processes is crucial for building trust and ensuring that all community members have a voice in shaping the university’s policies and practices.
- Commitment to ongoing learning and growth: Inclusivity is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning, self-reflection, and growth. The new president should be committed to expanding their understanding of diversity issues and implementing strategies to promote inclusivity on campus.