JOB DESCRIPTIONJOB 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.
QUALIFICATIONSRequired:- 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 CHARACTERISTICSThe 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.
