Chief Diversity Officer Position Description

Chief Diversity Officer Position Description University of Alaska Anchorage

The University of Alaska Anchorage is a multi-campus university that serves almost 18,000 students each year, 91 percent of whom hail from Alaska. UAA is the largest university in the state and one of three universities in the University of Alaska Statewide System. For a young institution, UAA has an extremely complex history. The present university was created in 1987 following a statewide reorganization that merged a university with several community colleges. These institutions have offered educational opportunities to the communities of southcentral Alaska since the 1950s. In addition to the Anchorage campus, UAA is also comprised of Kenai Peninsula College, Matanuska Susitna College, Kodiak College, and Prince William Sound College, all located in some of the most beautiful places in Alaska.

With almost 1,200 faculty teaching across all campuses, UAA offers instruction ranging from adult basic education to graduate and professional education, serving both traditional and nontraditional students. The Anchorage campus offers a full complement of programs and courses, including in high-demand fields such as engineering, health, business and education, as well as in the liberal arts and sciences. UAA career and technical education programs are closely aligned with Alaska's core industries, such as aviation, oil, and gas. Many courses are designed with flexibility to accommodate students who work or have a family, and the campus houses a range of student success and support centers. The UAA campus has an award-winning library that serves both UAA and the neighboring private Alaska Pacific University.

UAA is accredited by the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Many individual academic programs have additional specialized accreditation from professional associations and other external entities. UAA is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a public Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs, with a special classification for Community Engagement. Distinctive educational opportunities include undergraduate research, national and international exchanges, and study abroad programs. In 2017, Victory Media designated UAA a Military Friendly School for the eighth consecutive year. Fiscal year 2017 revenues were approximately $293 million, with state appropriations accounting for 40%, tuition and fees 26%, a combination of auxiliaries, gifts and other sources 18%, and restricted grants and contracts 16%.

The mission of UAA is to discover and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, engagement, and creative expression. This mission recognizes the University's commitment to instruction at a number of academic levels, success of all students regardless of their higher education goals, and service to the diverse peoples and communities of the state. It honors the community college and the baccalaureate, graduate, and research roots of the institution.

As the University comes to the end of its UAA2020 strategic planning process and looks ahead to the future, UAA is poised for continued excellence and committed to student, staff, and faculty excellence at all levels.

Diversity at UAA

UAA serves over 2000 Alaska Natives, American Indian, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students. UAA graduates over 250 Alaska Natives/American Indian students each year in over 25 degree programs. The Anchorage, Mat-Su, Kenai, Kodiak, and Prince William Sound campuses are located on the traditional homelands of the Dena'ina and Ahtna Athabascan, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, and Eyak peoples.

UAA recognizes and values the diversity of its unique location in Southcentral Alaska. Anchorage is sometimes affectionately called "Alaska's largest village" and has been identified as the city with the highest percentage of Alaska Natives and American Indians in the United States. UAA offers a variety of Alaska Native programs, services, and opportunities. UAA honors diverse experiences and perspectives - including differences in ideas, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, culture, nationality, age, disability, veteran and socioeconomic status - and endeavor to create welcoming and inclusive learning environments where all are treated with respect. UAA strives to support its unique and diverse community by employing faculty who come from a myriad of different backgrounds.

UAA initiated a process to create a Diversity Action Plan in 2016. UAA recognizes the significance of having a Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, and believes that it will have positive impacts for the University and the community. Alaska has a rich multi-cultural base and our University's student body reflects this. The goal is to create an approach that integrates all voices and constituencies in order to promote a platform for Diversity and Inclusion at UAA. The plan will strive to emphasize social inclusion and equity through purposeful involvement and engagement of the full range of campus and community stakeholders. These efforts are designed to contribute to and enhance the rich, diverse and inclusive environment at UAA where all are welcome and encouraged to thrive.

At UAA, valuing diversity is integral to excellence. Diversity maximizes potential for creativity, innovation, educational excellence, and outstanding service to our communities.

University Leadership - Chancellor Sandeen

Dr. Cathy Sandeen is an educational leader who is committed to providing opportunity for more Alaskans to earn degrees and credentials through strategic innovation. She began serving as chancellor of the University of Alaska Anchorage in September 2018.

UAA's core missions are excellence, student success and workforce development. With campuses in Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Palmer, Soldotna, and Valdez, as well as Middle Colleges for high school students in Anchorage, Palmer, and Eagle River, UAA is Alaska's largest postsecondary institution.

Prior to joining the University of Alaska system, Sandeen was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW-Extension for four years. As vice president for education attainment and innovation at the American Council on Education, she led ACE's nationwide effort to increase post-secondary educational attainment.

She also held leadership positions in the University of California system including at UCLA, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco.

Sandeen earned a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration degree from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. She was named an American Council on Education Fellow in 2010-11.

A prolific writer and speaker, Sandeen has published and presented widely on the issues surrounding educational innovation and nontraditional students.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chancellor, the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) is a new cabinet-level position responsible for cultivating a learning and work environment that encourages and supports diversity at University of Alaska Anchorage, across all its campuses.

The Chief Diversity Officer will actively engage students, faculty, and staff to further behaviors, attitudes, and policies that support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Working collaboratively with Human Resources, Equity and Compliance, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Alaska Native programs, Multicultural Center, the Diversity and Inclusion Action Council, and other internal stakeholders, the CDO will oversee implementation of UAA's Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan as well as compliance with state and federal affirmative action and equal employment opportunity and other requirements.

The CDO will serve as a principal advisor to the Chancellor and Cabinet on diversity matters.

The CDO will lead the institution's efforts to transform programs, services, and processes to support a vibrant campus life, a positive and respectful culture, a diverse curriculum and the meaningful inclusion of UAA's diverse population of students, staff and faculty.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong analytical/problem solving skills, demonstrated success in driving complex strategies and projects, outstanding cross group organizational skills and agility
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, detail orientation, and proven project management skills
• Flexibility and willingness to perform varying duties depending on the shifting needs of the university and chancellor's office
• Experience in strategic planning and execution of plans
• Ability to actively form productive relationships across various stakeholder groups
• Ability to work under pressure and deadlines, with a strong ability to manage ambiguity and uncertainty, while driving clarity
• Ability to work across organizational boundaries to build alignment and achieve closure on issues and results on initiatives and plans
• Strong business acumen and mental agility to ramp quickly across UAA's dynamic and diverse university structure and programs
• Experience in grant-writing and obtaining external funding
• Passion for participating in leading people through organizational transformations
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion and creating a safe and caring environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• High level of integrity and personal accountability
• Ability to supervise and provide leadership to staff
• Ability to manage budgets

Required Experience

• At least seven years of experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education or a similarly complex organization, including affirmative action and EEO compliance

Typical Education

• A master's degree from a regionally accredited university in social justice, educational leadership, sociology, law, public administration, human resource administration or other closely related field is required. Preference may be given to candidates with a doctoral degree in a related field.