Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success (AVP)

Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success (AVP)

Position Information

Position Title: Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success (AVP)
Department: Office of the Vice President for Student Life
Posting Link:
Job Type: Full-Time

Posting Detail Information

Position Summary

The Division of Student Life invites applications for the Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success ( AVP ) position. In this role, you will serve as a senior executive leader within the Division of Student Life, responsible for advancing institution-wide student engagement, belonging, retention, career readiness, and post-graduation success. The AVP serves as a strategic advisor to divisional and university leadership, influencing policy, resource allocation, organizational effectiveness, and student success outcomes across academic and administrative divisions. You will provide leadership to several units within the division including Orientation and Transition Programs, Residential Life, Student Engagement, StartUp and Innovation Collaboratory (entrepreneurship), and the Career Design Center.

Your duties will include:

• Create an overarching vision and provide strategic leadership to create a campus culture that promotes students academic learning and career development, provides a safe, healthy, nurturing and welcoming campus environment for a diverse student body, and create a sense of community and connection.
• Leads division-wide student success initiatives that measurably improve retention, persistence, graduation, experiential learning participation, and postgraduate outcomes through evidence-based interventions.
• Serves as a senior liaison with Undergraduate Education, Graduate School, Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, Advancement, and other external campus partners to align curricular and co-curricular ecosystems that advance student success.
• Support student engagement initiatives within the Student Engagement and Success portfolio by working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and campus and community partners.
• Develop systems and processes to measure and assess the effectiveness of services for how you impact retention, graduation, engagement, outcomes, and student/alumni learning objectives.
• Develop and disseminate key performance indicators and accompanying reports on student success and career metrics.
• Adjust programs and services as needed to improve outcomes and impact.

The successful incumbent is a strong, strategic and transparent leader, with the ability to motivate self and others through building consensus. They will have the ability to work collaboratively with other members of the Vice Presidents leadership team to develop and align planning, policies, budgets, and communications.

Our team recognizes the advantages diverse perspectives and backgrounds bring to the workplace. We are particularly interested in candidates who share this value and will work to achieve the universitys goals of inclusive excellence.

About Student Life
Student Life is dedicated to creating a student-centered environment that fosters engagement, well-being, and success. Guided by four strategic priorities-student engagement, health and wellness, personalized support, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice-we provide transformative experiences that empower students to grow, lead, and thrive. As a member of Student Life, youll join a team of passionate professionals united by shared values and a commitment to student success. We think big, act boldly, and pursue excellence with purpose. Together, we build inclusive communities, champion discovery, and celebrate the achievements that shape the UB experience.

Learn more:

• Our benefits , where we prioritize your well-being and success to enhance every aspect of your life.
• Being a part of the University at Buffalo community.

University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree
• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in higher education within student affairs/success, student engagement, or a relevant field.
• Demonstrated record of leading innovative and equity-focused student success initiatives in a higher education setting
• Proven knowledge of trends and best practices in higher education as they relate to career and professional development
• The ability to persuasively present data and advocate for decisions based on best practices; and a record of professional accomplishment.
• Demonstrated experience in support of a diverse working environment dedicated to principles of social justice, inclusivity and equity.
• Demonstrated experience in personnel management to include hiring, supervising, and coaching employees, as well as experience providing leadership and direction in programmatic, budgetary, and operational functions.
• Organizational skills to set goals, prioritize assignments, monitor performance, and exceed set deadlines.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with experience creating and delivering presentations to small and large diverse groups.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches, techniques and procedures to provide more efficient services.
• Ability to demonstrate critical thinking based upon in-depth data, substantiating information, while considering and respecting others input, personal values, and ethics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Terminal degree preferred

Physical Demands

Salary Range
$170,000 - $190,000

Special Instructions Summary

Is a background check required for this posting?
Yes

Contact Information

Contact's Name: Kesha Foster
Contact's Pronouns:
Contact's Title: Director, Student Life Human Resources/Unit Diversity Officer
Contact's Email: [email protected]
Contact's Phone: 716-645-2376

Posting Dates

Posted: 06/25/2026
Deadline for Applicants:
Date to be filled: 09/10/2026

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