Westfield State University
Vice President for Student Life and Formation
Westfield State University, San Diego, California, United States, 92189
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) seeks a mission-driven, spiritually grounded, and administratively gifted leader to serve as the Vice President for Student Life and Formation (VPSLF). Reporting directly to the President and serving on the President’s Cabinet, the VPSLF provides strategic, pastoral, and operational leadership for the holistic formation of PLNU students, primarily traditional undergraduates, across multiple campuses and delivery modalities.
As the senior student affairs officer, the VPSLF oversees a broad portfolio of departments supporting student engagement, care, belonging, wellness, and spiritual growth. This leader will foster a culture of flourishing that integrates faith, learning, community, and service in alignment with PLNU’s Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.
Key Responsibilities Institutional Leadership
Serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet, offering vision and counsel on matters related to student experience, formation, and support.
Collaborate with the Vice President for Mission and Calling on university-wide initiatives that advance PLNU’s Christ-centered mission and strategic priorities.
Collaborate with Cabinet peers to strengthen mission coherence, student success, and long-term institutional vitality.
Facilitate change, foster collaboration, and sustain institutional priorities and Christian mission.
Student Spiritual Formation Oversight
Work closely with the Vice President for Mission and Calling to ensure that spiritual formation student initiatives reflects PLNU’s theological heritage and Christian formation framework.
Provide strategic oversight and leadership for chapel, discipleship, worship, service, and missions initiatives, guiding the integration of Upreach (worship), Inreach (discipleship), and Outreach (service) across all student affairs and ministry initiatives.
Supervise and develop the leadership team involved with chapel, discipleship, worship, service, and missions programming, cultivating theologically rich and experientially engaging opportunities for students to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with Christ.
Ensure equitable spiritual care for graduate, online, and adult undergraduate students through coordinated ministry efforts and across multiple campuses.
Student Affairs Oversight
Provide strategic oversight and leadership to all traditional undergraduate co-curricular student affairs functions, including:
Residential life and student housing Student conduct New student programming Student leadership development Student government Transfer and commuter student services Multicultural engagement and education Medical and counseling services Behavioral Intervention Team Study abroad Spiritual formation programming (chapel, worship, service opportunities, and short term missions) Supervise and develop the leadership team involved in student affairs functions, supporting their professional growth, program effectiveness, and operational efficiencies.
Champion a developmental and student-focused approach that prioritizes equity, holistic growth, accountability, and transformational leadership. Oversee and assures the revision and production of the PLNU Traditional Undergraduate Student Handbook. Collaboration and Community Building Collaborate with the Vice President for Intercultural Engagement, Retention, and Community Success Initiatives to foster a campus climate shaped by belonging, equity, and shalom. Collaborate with the Provost and Chief Academic Officer to assure continuity between academic programs and Student Life and Formation programs. Lead efforts to promote cross-divisional alignment of support and services in collaboration with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, and other university divisions, ensuring a holistic student experience across the student lifecycle. Strategic Planning and Stewardship Lead the development and assessment of co-curricular strategies aligned with institutional goals, student learning outcomes, and data-informed practices. Steward budgets, personnel, and resources responsibly, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainability in alignment with the university’s financial vision. Contribute to institutional planning processes and university policies that enhance the overall student experience and support the fulfillment of the university's mission. General Establish measurable goals and objectives for each area of responsibility. Supervise and provide appropriate job descriptions, standards of performance, evaluations, and opportunities for professional growth and development of Student Life and Formation personnel. Ensure the university maintains effective protocols for student safety, crisis response, and behavioral intervention, including oversight of student conduct processes and student crisis response. Work closely with Legal and Compliance, Campus Safety, and Risk Management Offices to ensure coordinated, ethical, and legally sound practices. Provides the President with accurate and timely reports on Student Life and Formation programs and services. Performs other duties as needed in dialogue with the President. Qualifications and Characteristics Education & Experience An advanced degree is required (Doctorate preferred) in higher education administration, theology, educational leadership, student affairs, counseling, or a related field. Proven success in team leadership, budget management, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational development. Demonstrated significant leadership experience in student affairs, campus ministry, Christian Higher education, or related areas with similar complexity. Strong understanding of higher education regulations (e.g., Title IX, ADA/504, FERPA, state/federal law) and student conduct protocols. Understanding of student development theory and its application in student affairs. Experience in crisis management and ability to lead student emergency response protocols. Spiritual & Missional Alignment Deep personal faith in Jesus Christ with a life rooted in spiritual maturity, discipleship, and service. Acknowledgement of belief alignment and agreement to live according to PLNU’s Community Life Covenant. Strong theological understanding and commitment to the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition and the mission of the Church of the Nazarene. Active participation in a local church and ability to mentor others in faith and leadership. Leadership & Interpersonal Strengths A servant leader who fosters a culture of trust, accountability, and care. Emotionally intelligent and interculturally competent, with the ability to build bridges across diverse student and employee communities with students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds and of varying abilities. Visionary and strategic thinker, balanced by the practical wisdom needed for day-to-day university operations. Engaging communicator and relational leader, with a heart for students and a collaborative spirit Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
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Residential life and student housing Student conduct New student programming Student leadership development Student government Transfer and commuter student services Multicultural engagement and education Medical and counseling services Behavioral Intervention Team Study abroad Spiritual formation programming (chapel, worship, service opportunities, and short term missions) Supervise and develop the leadership team involved in student affairs functions, supporting their professional growth, program effectiveness, and operational efficiencies.
Champion a developmental and student-focused approach that prioritizes equity, holistic growth, accountability, and transformational leadership. Oversee and assures the revision and production of the PLNU Traditional Undergraduate Student Handbook. Collaboration and Community Building Collaborate with the Vice President for Intercultural Engagement, Retention, and Community Success Initiatives to foster a campus climate shaped by belonging, equity, and shalom. Collaborate with the Provost and Chief Academic Officer to assure continuity between academic programs and Student Life and Formation programs. Lead efforts to promote cross-divisional alignment of support and services in collaboration with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, and other university divisions, ensuring a holistic student experience across the student lifecycle. Strategic Planning and Stewardship Lead the development and assessment of co-curricular strategies aligned with institutional goals, student learning outcomes, and data-informed practices. Steward budgets, personnel, and resources responsibly, ensuring operational efficiency and sustainability in alignment with the university’s financial vision. Contribute to institutional planning processes and university policies that enhance the overall student experience and support the fulfillment of the university's mission. General Establish measurable goals and objectives for each area of responsibility. Supervise and provide appropriate job descriptions, standards of performance, evaluations, and opportunities for professional growth and development of Student Life and Formation personnel. Ensure the university maintains effective protocols for student safety, crisis response, and behavioral intervention, including oversight of student conduct processes and student crisis response. Work closely with Legal and Compliance, Campus Safety, and Risk Management Offices to ensure coordinated, ethical, and legally sound practices. Provides the President with accurate and timely reports on Student Life and Formation programs and services. Performs other duties as needed in dialogue with the President. Qualifications and Characteristics Education & Experience An advanced degree is required (Doctorate preferred) in higher education administration, theology, educational leadership, student affairs, counseling, or a related field. Proven success in team leadership, budget management, cross-functional collaboration, and organizational development. Demonstrated significant leadership experience in student affairs, campus ministry, Christian Higher education, or related areas with similar complexity. Strong understanding of higher education regulations (e.g., Title IX, ADA/504, FERPA, state/federal law) and student conduct protocols. Understanding of student development theory and its application in student affairs. Experience in crisis management and ability to lead student emergency response protocols. Spiritual & Missional Alignment Deep personal faith in Jesus Christ with a life rooted in spiritual maturity, discipleship, and service. Acknowledgement of belief alignment and agreement to live according to PLNU’s Community Life Covenant. Strong theological understanding and commitment to the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition and the mission of the Church of the Nazarene. Active participation in a local church and ability to mentor others in faith and leadership. Leadership & Interpersonal Strengths A servant leader who fosters a culture of trust, accountability, and care. Emotionally intelligent and interculturally competent, with the ability to build bridges across diverse student and employee communities with students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds and of varying abilities. Visionary and strategic thinker, balanced by the practical wisdom needed for day-to-day university operations. Engaging communicator and relational leader, with a heart for students and a collaborative spirit Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
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