Vice President for Academic Affairs

EVANGEL UNIVERSITY

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Vice President for Academic Affairs

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Evangel University seeks an experienced, collaborative, and mission-centered academic leader to serve as Vice President for Academic Affairs [VPAA]. Reporting to the President, the VPAA serves as the University’s chief academic officer and provides leadership for academic programs, faculty, academic quality, student success, and academic planning.

The VPAA will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the President in advancing Evangel’s mission and institutional priorities. The position will play a central role in the University’s academic reimagination, ensuring that Evangel’s academic portfolio is academically strong, financially sustainable, enrollment-focused, and aligned with its Christ-centered mission and Pentecostal heritage.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Leadership 

• Provide vision and leadership for all academic programs and academic support functions.
• Partner with the President, Cabinet, faculty, and Board of Trustees on academic strategy and institutional priorities.
• Lead the review, development, consolidation, and growth of academic programs. 
• Align academic offerings with student demand, workforce needs, mission, and institutional strengths. 

Faculty and Academic Culture

• Lead faculty recruitment, development, evaluation, and retention. 
• Support a strong culture of academic excellence, collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Develop and support deans, department chairs, and other academic leaders. 
• Foster productive relationships with faculty governance. 

Student Success and Academic Quality 

• Strengthen student retention, persistence, graduation, and academic achievement.
• Ensure academic programs maintain high standards of teaching, learning, and assessment. 
• Lead accreditation and academic compliance efforts. 
• Promote innovation in teaching, learning, online education, and emerging technologies. 

Academic Health and Sustainability 

• Partner with the CFO and enrollment leadership to evaluate academic programs based on enrollment, student demand, quality, faculty capacity, and financial sustainability. 
• Align faculty resources, course offerings, and academic investments with institutional priorities. 
• Identify opportunities for new programs, partnerships, and enrollment growth.
• Use accurate and timely data to inform academic decision-making. 

Mission and Institutional Leadership

• Champion Evangel's Christ-centered mission and Pentecostal identity throughout the academic experience. 
• Integrate faith, learning, character, and calling across the academic experience. 
• Serve as a visible and engaged member of the University community. 
• Help advance Evangel's institutional priorities. 
• Represent the University with accrediting agencies, academic organizations, churches, partner, alumni, and other constituents. 

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree.
• Significant higher education academic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading faculty, academic programs, and institutional change. 
• Understanding of accreditation, assessment, academic governance, and institutional effectiveness.
• Experience with strategic planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. 
• Commitment to Evangel's Christian mission and Pentecostal heritage. 

Preferred:

• Experience at a Christian University. 
• Experience with academic program restructuring, enrollment growth, and financial sustainability. 
• Experience with online, graduate, adult, or innovative educational models. 

LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS

The successful candidate will be: 

• Mission-centered and committed to Evangel’s Christian identity.
• Strategic and able to connect academic decisions with enrollment and financial sustainability.
• Collaborative while willing to make difficult decisions.
• Data-informed and committed to continuous improvement.
• Student-focused and committed to student success.
• Faculty-minded and committed to a healthy academic culture.
• Innovative and open to new approaches to higher education.
• Communicative, humble, and transparent in leading through change.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS:

Success will be reflected in: 

• A strong, sustainable, and mission-aligned academic portfolio.
• Improved academic program health and enrollment.
• Stronger student retention and graduation outcomes.
• A healthy and engaged faculty culture.
• Continued academic quality and successful accreditation.
• Development of new academic opportunities where appropriate.
• Strong alignment among academic strategy, enrollment strategy, and financial health.
• Strengthened academic leadership across the University.

Evangel University is an equal opportunity employer participating in the E-Verify program.