Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

Framingham State University was founded in 1839 for a singular purpose - to meet a public need and promote the public good. At our founding as the nations first public normal school that need was for comprehensively educated public school teachers who would in turn promote an educated citizenry. FSU continues to offer exceptional teacher education programs and while we are proud of our roots as a teachers college we have grown far beyond them. Public need continues to evolve and FSU right along with it. Our students and alumni are making waves in the fashion industry designing nutrition plans for professional athletes writing for major media and news organizations working for Fortune 500 companies right here in Framingham and so much more. FSU is a proudly public and truly transformative institution offering accessible affordable educational opportunities that integrate an academically challenging liberal arts education with workforce preparation programs in a highly personalized teaching environment. Our programs have expanded but our purpose and commitment to public education for the public good remain steadfast.

FSU currently enrolls about 3500 undergraduate and graduate students across 60 undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and humanities behavioral and social sciences and professional fields. Approximately 49% of undergraduate students identifyas students of color and 51% identifyas first-generation college are deeply committed to inclusive excellence and strive to promote a culture of equity and antiracism as part of our mission to democratize access to a first-rate education. This commitment has earned FSU eight Insight Into Academia Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Awards and led to our recognition in the Great Colleges to Work For program. We encourage applications from those who share our commitment to promoting a diverse welcoming and inclusive community.

FSU is ideally situated between Boston and Worcester on land originally stewarded by the Nipmuc people for thousands of years. FSU and the surrounding area are steeped in history achievement and innovation and provide access to urban hotspots verdant landscapes natural and cultural amenities and diverse communities.

Our founding motto LIVE TO THE TRUTH was said at the end of each class by ourfirst principal Cyrus Peirce who sought to discover and teach truth in theory and in spirit and in manner and intellectual and truth moral. Early leaders found this motto speaks of sincerity of intensity of effort of resolution to succeed of joy in achievement. LIVE TO THE TRUTH aptly reflects our past and our pledge for the future as it continues to guide our institution in practice and endeavor. If you share in this quest for truth and a commitment to living it fully make the next chapter of your career the best chapter at Framingham State University.

Learn more about our career opportunities at Description:

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Vice President for Equity and Inclusion is a strategic leader campus practitioner and organizational capacity builder who advances equity inclusion and belonging through institutional strategy and direct engagement with the university community. The Vice President advances a clear vision and priorities; builds structures partnerships and capacity to advance that vision; and remains actively engaged in the day-to-day work of listening facilitating responding problem-solving and helping the university navigate complex challenges.

The successful candidate will be an influential and highly relational leader who can advance a compelling vision while also doing the work necessary to bring that vision to life. They will be equally comfortable advising senior leaders building collaborative relationships with faculty and staff meeting with students facilitating difficult conversations mediating conflict leading workshops responding to emerging campus concerns and connecting the University to expertise or resources beyond their own. They will understand that their role is not to personally solve every equity challenge but to build the structures relationships knowledge and capacity that enable the entire University to take shared responsibility for fostering an equitable and inclusive community.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Reports to the President of the University

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Directly supervises an Executive Assistant and the Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE). Indirectly supervises the CIE Program Coordinator and other CIE staff. Provides direction and oversight to faculty participating in fellowships within the division. Supervises other staff as assigned.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

• Advances a clear actionable vision for equity inclusion and belonging grounded in evidence-based practices relevant scholarship existing institutional frameworks and the needs and experiences of the university community.
• Translates institutional commitments into sustainable structures priorities policies practices partnerships and accountability mechanisms.
• Provides leadership for integrating equity inclusion and belonging into the Universitys strategic planning process including the development implementation assessment and ongoing refinement of strategic priorities and initiatives.
• Influences organizational change builds consensus and advances complex institutional priorities across organizational boundaries.
• Provides strategic leadership for the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE) communicating its identity purpose priorities service model organizational structure and approach to resource allocation including identifying and developing appropriate partnerships across university departments to ensure the division has access to the resources expertise and institutional support needed to effectively carry out its work.

Campus Practice

• Maintains a visible and active presence throughout the university community and regularly engages directly with students faculty staff alumni and community partners.
• Builds trusting collaborative and productive relationships with faculty and academic leaders and partners to strengthen inclusive teaching learning scholarship departmental culture faculty development and faculty engagement.
• Collaborates with university offices and divisions in identifying and leveraging internal expertise conducting needs assessments and designing professional development opportunities.
• Personally facilitates complex conversations and provides consultation mediation and problem-solving support when conflicts or concerns arise related to equity identity inclusion belonging and organizational culture.
• Brings demonstrated skill in listening facilitating dialogue negotiating across differing perspectives and helping individuals and groups move toward constructive resolution.
• Provides informed timely collaborative and thoughtful leadership in response to emerging campus concerns and incidents affecting members of the university community. Exercises sound judgment in determining when issues require immediate intervention consultation communication mediation referral or longer-term institutional action.

Organizational Capacity Building

• Builds the capacity of faculty staff students and university leaders to recognize and address equity-related challenges access relevant expertise and information and take responsibility for advancing inclusion within their respective areas.
• Provides and facilitates educational opportunities workshops and training for faculty staff students and University leaders to strengthen knowledge skills and institutional capacity related to equity inclusion and belonging.
• Exercises sound judgment regarding the appropriate role of the division and CIE balancing direct intervention with consultation collaboration referral empowerment and capacity building to ensure that responsibility for institutional equity is broadly shared.
• Serves as a trusted institutional resource and connector bringing substantial knowledge of equity-related issues while demonstrating intellectual curiosity humility and the ability to identify engage support and mobilize additional expertise when needed.
• Advances an expansive and intersectional understanding of equity that recognizes the diverse experiences and barriers affecting members of the university community including socioeconomic background first-generation status disability geographic and educational access identity and other factors that influence opportunity and belonging.
• Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify and address disparities in student access experience persistence retention completion and belonging. Develops and supports targeted evidence-informed interventions for populations experiencing disproportionate barriers or lower rates of retention and success.
• Assesses and ensures that the Universitys equity and inclusion efforts meaningfully address the experiences and needs of students faculty and staff recognizing that sustainable institutional change requires attention to learning workplace culture organizational practices and community belonging.
• Supports the development revitalization and sustainability of student and employee affinity groups and other community-building networks. Works with participants to clarify purpose establish sustainable structures connect groups to institutional resources and create opportunities for meaningful engagement and collective action.
• Partners with University Advancement Alumni Relations and external community stakeholders to strengthen relationships elevate diverse voices and experiences and create opportunities for alumni and community members to contribute to the Universitys equity and inclusion efforts.

As a Member of the Presidents Executive Team:

• Exhibits visible transparent collaborative and caring leadership in all aspects of the work.
• Monitors National and Commonwealth higher education and DEI trends and developments for potential impact on the University.
• In collaboration with the President and executive staff members identifies creates and executes the development of strategy and tactics to enhance public (municipal state and federal) support for the institution.
• Serves on and/or leads various committees or teams as assigned.
• Engage regularly in professional development to support continuous individual growth and remain current on emerging research best practices and developments relevant.
• Responsible for reporting to the Equal Opportunity Officer or Title IX Coordinator knowledge or receipt of reports of discrimination discriminatory harassment and retaliation from students or other members of the university community.
• This position is designated as a Clery Campus Security Authority.
• Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity inclusion and equity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility.
• Perform other duties as assigned or otherwise consistent with the purview of the position.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

This role performs work primarily on the Framingham State University campus. Weekend evening and early morningpresence is required for various meetings and events.

The University seeks candidates who bring the professional experience competencies and personal qualities needed to thrive in this role. The qualifications below reflect qualifications that align strongly with the position. However we recognize that talent and potential can take many forms. If you bring related experience and are excited about the opportunity we encourage you to apply.

• Substantial experience working in higher education with a sophisticated understanding and application of the principles of equity inclusion and belonging in education.
• Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to equity inclusion organizational leadership education public administration or another field that provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of the position.
• Demonstrable scholarship and/or thought leadership in areas relevant to the position.
• Demonstrable strategic collaborative and relational leadership experience.
• Demonstrable strong and effective interpersonal oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively across backgrounds across all levels of administration staff faculty and students and with the community beyond the university.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the principles practices and culture of public higher education.
• Substantial experience working with university personnel policies and procedures.

This is a full-time exempt benefits-eligible non-unit position. The salary range is $00 commensurate with experience and credentials.

Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions.

Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University considers all qualified candidates without regard to race color sex age national origin disability status Veteran status gender identity gender expression sexual orientation genetic information or any other characteristics protected by law.

Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups women veterans persons with disabilities and all persons committed to equity diversity and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates must apply online by submitting:

• Cover Letter articulating your philosophy and vision for advancing equity inclusion and belonging at FSU. Your letter should describe how your experiences leadership approach and understanding of equity and inclusion would inform your work in this role.
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Names and contact information for three (3) professional references (references are not contacted automatically upon submission of application).

For best consideration please submit application materials by October 8 2026. The review of applications may continue beyond that date and until the position is filled at the discretion of the search committee.

Framingham State University only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail email fax or hand delivery. If you experience technical issues with the online application process please submit ahelpdeskticket.

Framingham State University understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance please contact the Human Resources Office ator.