Portland State University
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97204
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Portland State University
Position Details
Proposed Start Date: 07/01/2026
Classification Title: Unclassified Excluded
Rank: N – No Rank
Working Title: Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Department: 200101 – OAA Provosts Office Admin
Position Number: D99052
Representation: UX – Unclassified Excluded
Renewable: Renewable
Position FTE: 1
Tenure Status: F – Fixed Term
Position Summary Portland State University (PSU), Oregon’s urban public research university, invites nominations and applications for the position of
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs . As the chief academic officer and second‑in‑command to the President, the Provost will play a defining role in implementing PSU’s bold new strategic plan, Future in Focus, and transforming the University into a national model for inclusive student success, academic innovation, and regional impact. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary and collaborative academic leader to shape the future of a diverse, access‑oriented, and mission‑driven institution located in the heart of downtown Portland. The Provost will be charged with advancing academic excellence, empowering faculty, fostering research, supporting student learning, and overseeing the entire student experience, including admissions, enrollment management, financial aid, student affairs, advising, and student success. The Provost must demonstrate exceptional ability to lead strategic change, make difficult decisions, and ensure sustainable financial stewardship. The successful candidate will be a deeply committed champion of student achievement and belonging, with a passion for creating a learning environment that is culturally responsive, equity‑focused, and tailored to the needs of PSU’s diverse student population, including first‑generation, transfer, adult, and historically underserved students.
Strategic and Visionary Academic Leadership
Serve as the principal advisor to the President on academic and student affairs and as a collaborative partner in the implementation of the University’s Future in Focus strategic plan.
Work within a shared leadership model that emphasizes collaboration with the President’s Executive Council, Board of Trustees, Academic Leadership Team (including the Deans) and senior leadership colleagues.
Champion the integration of academics and student support to create clear, equitable pathways aligned with workforce needs, lifelong learning, and post‑graduation success.
In collaboration with the Deans, provide academic leadership across all colleges, schools, and departments, ensuring excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement, and steer the academic enterprise through the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing higher education landscape.
Lead strategic academic planning, program review, and realignment efforts to ensure PSU’s offerings remain responsive and sustainable. This includes the ability to translate multi‑year institutional strategies into decisive action.
Undergraduate Student Experience and Success
Oversee all aspects of the undergraduate student experience, including admissions, enrollment management, financial aid, student affairs, academic advising, and student success programs. This includes direct oversight of student services and a strategic vision for integrating academic and student affairs.
Foster a cohesive and proactive support ecosystem that ensures students receive timely, personalized guidance from entry to graduation. Promote clear academic pathways, proactive advising, and targeted interventions to support persistence, degree attainment, and career readiness.
Advance PSU’s commitment to equity and inclusive excellence by aligning student‑facing services to meet the needs of a diverse, transfer‑heavy, and often first‑generation student population.
Promote high‑impact practices such as undergraduate research, internships, service learning, community‑based learning, and digital and technology‑enhanced learning opportunities.
Research and Graduate Education
Work in close collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies to expand PSU’s research portfolio and strengthen its research infrastructure.
Support interdisciplinary collaboration, applied scholarship, and research addressing local, regional, and global challenges.
Co‑lead efforts to enhance and grow graduate programs, ensuring alignment with labor market needs and academic excellence.
Advance graduate student recruitment, retention, and success, especially among diverse and historically underserved student populations.
Faculty Excellence and Shared Governance
Support a dynamic, inclusive, and intellectually rigorous academic community by recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty.
Provide leadership for faculty hiring, development, tenure, and promotion processes that reflect excellence, fairness, and transparency.
Engage constructively with Faculty Senate and shared governance bodies, upholding academic freedom and faculty voice in institutional decisions.
Promote innovation in curriculum and pedagogy, including hybrid learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and digital delivery. The Provost should also demonstrate comfort with technological innovation, including AI, and strategically leverage academic technology to advance student learning.
Provide university leadership in bargaining with faculty and academic staff unions.
Regional Stewardship and External Engagement
Advance PSU’s role as a steward of place, building partnerships that support Portland’s economic, cultural, and civic vitality.
Strengthen ties with employers, government agencies, K–12 districts, community colleges, non‑profit organizations, and alumni to create seamless educational pipelines and work‑based learning opportunities.
Represent PSU’s academic mission to external stakeholders, including accreditors, legislators, foundations, donors, alumni, and community leaders.
Partner with the University President and the President of the PSU Foundation to align academic priorities with fundraising goals and foster a culture of philanthropy that supports students, faculty, and programs.
Operational Excellence and Resource Stewardship
Serve as a senior leader in PSU’s budgeting process, aligning academic and student support investments with institutional goals. This requires close partnership with the Vice President for Finance and Administration and the ability to analyze financial data for strategic decision‑making.
Promote data‑informed decision‑making and continuous improvement across all academic and student affairs functions.
Support administrative innovation and streamline academic operations to ensure financial sustainability and organizational effectiveness.
Minimum Qualifications
Terminal degree from an accredited institution and academic qualifications for appointment at the rank of full professor.
A distinguished record of academic and administrative leadership, including responsibility for academic affairs, student success, and resource management.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and access, with tangible outcomes in support of diverse learners and communities.
Proven success in collaborative leadership, institutional planning, and academic innovation within a complex higher education environment.
Demonstrated financial acumen and ability to develop strategic, sustainable, mission‑aligned responses to funding challenges.
Experience leading in alignment with shared governance values and working with faculty, staff, and students to build consensus and drive progress.
Strong people management skills, including the ability to guide, affirm, and hold accountable a large number of direct reports.
Expertise and experience with institutional assessment and regional and/or disciplinary accreditation processes.
Senior‑level leadership experience at a research university.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated academic leadership experience at a public, urban, research university serving a diverse, non‑traditional, and transfer‑inclusive student population.
A sustained record of fostering interdisciplinary teaching and research, innovative curriculum design, and leading academic transformation in response to institutional mission and societal needs.
Deep understanding of and demonstrated success with institution‑wide student success frameworks, including proactive advising, guided academic pathways, momentum‑building strategies, early alerts, and interventions that close equity gaps in retention, progression, and graduation.
A commitment to and experience in cultivating a culture of academic rigor and belonging, ensuring that student achievement is supported by intentional and equitable structures across academic and student affairs.
Experience advancing high‑impact learning practices, such as undergraduate research, internships, service learning, and experiential education, with attention to broad access and impact across student demographics.
Knowledge of graduate education, research development, and strategies to support both emerging and established research faculty and graduate student success.
Demonstrated ability to represent the academic mission to a range of external stakeholders, including employers, state and federal agencies, accreditors, philanthropic organizations, and community partners.
Experience serving in a unionized academic environment.
Key Cultural Competencies
Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement The starting annual salary for this position will be negotiable and will include an excellent benefits package including 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator
Search Details
Project Close Date for Posting: Open Until Finalists Identified
Quick Link: https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/48571
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
Applicant Documents Required Documents
Optional Documents
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI279006481
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Portland State University
Position Details
Proposed Start Date: 07/01/2026
Classification Title: Unclassified Excluded
Rank: N – No Rank
Working Title: Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Department: 200101 – OAA Provosts Office Admin
Position Number: D99052
Representation: UX – Unclassified Excluded
Renewable: Renewable
Position FTE: 1
Tenure Status: F – Fixed Term
Position Summary Portland State University (PSU), Oregon’s urban public research university, invites nominations and applications for the position of
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs . As the chief academic officer and second‑in‑command to the President, the Provost will play a defining role in implementing PSU’s bold new strategic plan, Future in Focus, and transforming the University into a national model for inclusive student success, academic innovation, and regional impact. This is a unique opportunity for a visionary and collaborative academic leader to shape the future of a diverse, access‑oriented, and mission‑driven institution located in the heart of downtown Portland. The Provost will be charged with advancing academic excellence, empowering faculty, fostering research, supporting student learning, and overseeing the entire student experience, including admissions, enrollment management, financial aid, student affairs, advising, and student success. The Provost must demonstrate exceptional ability to lead strategic change, make difficult decisions, and ensure sustainable financial stewardship. The successful candidate will be a deeply committed champion of student achievement and belonging, with a passion for creating a learning environment that is culturally responsive, equity‑focused, and tailored to the needs of PSU’s diverse student population, including first‑generation, transfer, adult, and historically underserved students.
Strategic and Visionary Academic Leadership
Serve as the principal advisor to the President on academic and student affairs and as a collaborative partner in the implementation of the University’s Future in Focus strategic plan.
Work within a shared leadership model that emphasizes collaboration with the President’s Executive Council, Board of Trustees, Academic Leadership Team (including the Deans) and senior leadership colleagues.
Champion the integration of academics and student support to create clear, equitable pathways aligned with workforce needs, lifelong learning, and post‑graduation success.
In collaboration with the Deans, provide academic leadership across all colleges, schools, and departments, ensuring excellence in teaching, learning, research, and community engagement, and steer the academic enterprise through the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly changing higher education landscape.
Lead strategic academic planning, program review, and realignment efforts to ensure PSU’s offerings remain responsive and sustainable. This includes the ability to translate multi‑year institutional strategies into decisive action.
Undergraduate Student Experience and Success
Oversee all aspects of the undergraduate student experience, including admissions, enrollment management, financial aid, student affairs, academic advising, and student success programs. This includes direct oversight of student services and a strategic vision for integrating academic and student affairs.
Foster a cohesive and proactive support ecosystem that ensures students receive timely, personalized guidance from entry to graduation. Promote clear academic pathways, proactive advising, and targeted interventions to support persistence, degree attainment, and career readiness.
Advance PSU’s commitment to equity and inclusive excellence by aligning student‑facing services to meet the needs of a diverse, transfer‑heavy, and often first‑generation student population.
Promote high‑impact practices such as undergraduate research, internships, service learning, community‑based learning, and digital and technology‑enhanced learning opportunities.
Research and Graduate Education
Work in close collaboration with the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies to expand PSU’s research portfolio and strengthen its research infrastructure.
Support interdisciplinary collaboration, applied scholarship, and research addressing local, regional, and global challenges.
Co‑lead efforts to enhance and grow graduate programs, ensuring alignment with labor market needs and academic excellence.
Advance graduate student recruitment, retention, and success, especially among diverse and historically underserved student populations.
Faculty Excellence and Shared Governance
Support a dynamic, inclusive, and intellectually rigorous academic community by recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty.
Provide leadership for faculty hiring, development, tenure, and promotion processes that reflect excellence, fairness, and transparency.
Engage constructively with Faculty Senate and shared governance bodies, upholding academic freedom and faculty voice in institutional decisions.
Promote innovation in curriculum and pedagogy, including hybrid learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and digital delivery. The Provost should also demonstrate comfort with technological innovation, including AI, and strategically leverage academic technology to advance student learning.
Provide university leadership in bargaining with faculty and academic staff unions.
Regional Stewardship and External Engagement
Advance PSU’s role as a steward of place, building partnerships that support Portland’s economic, cultural, and civic vitality.
Strengthen ties with employers, government agencies, K–12 districts, community colleges, non‑profit organizations, and alumni to create seamless educational pipelines and work‑based learning opportunities.
Represent PSU’s academic mission to external stakeholders, including accreditors, legislators, foundations, donors, alumni, and community leaders.
Partner with the University President and the President of the PSU Foundation to align academic priorities with fundraising goals and foster a culture of philanthropy that supports students, faculty, and programs.
Operational Excellence and Resource Stewardship
Serve as a senior leader in PSU’s budgeting process, aligning academic and student support investments with institutional goals. This requires close partnership with the Vice President for Finance and Administration and the ability to analyze financial data for strategic decision‑making.
Promote data‑informed decision‑making and continuous improvement across all academic and student affairs functions.
Support administrative innovation and streamline academic operations to ensure financial sustainability and organizational effectiveness.
Minimum Qualifications
Terminal degree from an accredited institution and academic qualifications for appointment at the rank of full professor.
A distinguished record of academic and administrative leadership, including responsibility for academic affairs, student success, and resource management.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and access, with tangible outcomes in support of diverse learners and communities.
Proven success in collaborative leadership, institutional planning, and academic innovation within a complex higher education environment.
Demonstrated financial acumen and ability to develop strategic, sustainable, mission‑aligned responses to funding challenges.
Experience leading in alignment with shared governance values and working with faculty, staff, and students to build consensus and drive progress.
Strong people management skills, including the ability to guide, affirm, and hold accountable a large number of direct reports.
Expertise and experience with institutional assessment and regional and/or disciplinary accreditation processes.
Senior‑level leadership experience at a research university.
Preferred Qualifications
Demonstrated academic leadership experience at a public, urban, research university serving a diverse, non‑traditional, and transfer‑inclusive student population.
A sustained record of fostering interdisciplinary teaching and research, innovative curriculum design, and leading academic transformation in response to institutional mission and societal needs.
Deep understanding of and demonstrated success with institution‑wide student success frameworks, including proactive advising, guided academic pathways, momentum‑building strategies, early alerts, and interventions that close equity gaps in retention, progression, and graduation.
A commitment to and experience in cultivating a culture of academic rigor and belonging, ensuring that student achievement is supported by intentional and equitable structures across academic and student affairs.
Experience advancing high‑impact learning practices, such as undergraduate research, internships, service learning, and experiential education, with attention to broad access and impact across student demographics.
Knowledge of graduate education, research development, and strategies to support both emerging and established research faculty and graduate student success.
Demonstrated ability to represent the academic mission to a range of external stakeholders, including employers, state and federal agencies, accreditors, philanthropic organizations, and community partners.
Experience serving in a unionized academic environment.
Key Cultural Competencies
Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.
Environmental Stewardship Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.
Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement The starting annual salary for this position will be negotiable and will include an excellent benefits package including 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/benefits-overview. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package: https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/psu-total-compensation-calculator
Search Details
Project Close Date for Posting: Open Until Finalists Identified
Quick Link: https://jobs.hrc.pdx.edu/postings/48571
Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)
Applicant Documents Required Documents
Optional Documents
Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
PI279006481
#J-18808-Ljbffr