Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

Framingham State University
United States, Massachusetts, Framingham
Sep 10, 2026
Company Description: Framingham State University was founded in 1839 for a singular purpose - to meet a public need and promote the public good. At our founding as the nation's first public normal school, that need was for comprehensively educated public school teachers who would, in turn, promote an educated citizenry. FSU continues to offer exceptional teacher education programs, and while we are proud of our roots as a teachers' college, we have grown far beyond them. Public need continues to evolve, and FSU right along with it. Our students and alumni are making waves in the fashion industry, designing nutrition plans for professional athletes, writing for major media and news organizations, working for Fortune 500 companies right here in Framingham, and so much more. FSU is a proudly public and truly transformative institution offering accessible, affordable educational opportunities that integrate an academically challenging liberal arts education with workforce preparation programs in a highly personalized teaching environment. Our programs have expanded, but our purpose and commitment to public education for the public good remain steadfast. FSU currently enrolls about 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students across 60 undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and humanities, behavioral and social sciences, and professional fields. Approximately 49% of undergraduate students identify as students of color and 51% identify as first-generation college students. We are deeply committed to inclusive excellence and strive to promote a culture of equity and antiracism as part of our mission to democratize access to a first-rate education. This commitment has earned FSU eight Insight Into Academia Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Awards and led to our recognition in the Great Colleges to Work For program. We encourage applications from those who share our commitment to promoting a diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community. FSU is ideally situated between Boston and Worcester on land originally stewarded by the Nipmuc people for thousands of years. FSU and the surrounding area are steeped in history, achievement, and innovation, and provide access to urban hotspots, verdant landscapes, natural and cultural amenities, and diverse communities. Our founding motto, LIVE TO THE TRUTH, was said at the end of each class by our first principal, Cyrus Peirce, who sought to discover and teach "truth in theory and principle...truth in spirit and motive...truth in manner and form...truth intellectual and truth moral." Early leaders found this motto "speaks of sincerity of spirit...of intensity of effort, of resolution to succeed, of joy in achievement." LIVE TO THE TRUTH aptly reflects our past and our pledge for the future as it continues to guide our institution in practice and endeavor. If you share in this quest for truth and a commitment to living it fully, make the next chapter of your career the best chapter at Framingham State University. Learn more about our career opportunities at www.framingham.edu/careers. Job Description: GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Vice President for Equity and Inclusion is a strategic leader, campus practitioner, and organizational capacity builder who advances equity, inclusion, and belonging through institutional strategy and direct engagement with the university community. The Vice President advances a clear vision and priorities; builds structures, partnerships, and capacity to advance that vision; and remains actively engaged in the day-to-day work of listening, facilitating, responding, problem-solving, and helping the university navigate complex challenges. The successful candidate will be an influential and highly relational leader who can advance a compelling vision while also doing the work necessary to bring that vision to life. They will be equally comfortable advising senior leaders, building collaborative relationships with faculty and staff, meeting with students, facilitating difficult conversations, mediating conflict, leading workshops, responding to emerging campus concerns, and connecting the University to expertise or resources beyond their own. They will understand that their role is not to personally solve every equity challenge, but to build the structures, relationships, knowledge, and capacity that enable the entire University to take shared responsibility for fostering an equitable and inclusive community. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports to the President of the University SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Directly supervises an Executive Assistant and the Director of the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE). Indirectly supervises the CIE Program Coordinator and other CIE staff. Provides direction and oversight to faculty participating in fellowships within the division. Supervises other staff as assigned. EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership Advances a clear, actionable vision for equity, inclusion, and belonging grounded in evidence-based practices, relevant scholarship, existing institutional frameworks, and the needs and experiences of the university community. Translates institutional commitments into sustainable structures, priorities, policies, practices, partnerships, and accountability mechanisms. Provides leadership for integrating equity, inclusion, and belonging into the University's strategic planning process, including the development, implementation, assessment, and ongoing refinement of strategic priorities and initiatives. Influences organizational change, builds consensus, and advances complex institutional priorities across organizational boundaries. Provides strategic leadership for the Center for Inclusive Excellence (CIE), communicating its identity, purpose, priorities, service model, organizational structure, and approach to resource allocation, including identifying and developing appropriate partnerships across university departments to ensure the division has access to the resources, expertise, and institutional support needed to effectively carry out its work. Campus Practice Maintains a visible and active presence throughout the university community and regularly engages directly with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners. Builds trusting, collaborative, and productive relationships with faculty and academic leaders and partners to strengthen inclusive teaching, learning, scholarship, departmental culture, faculty development, and faculty engagement. Collaborates with university offices and divisions in identifying and leveraging internal expertise, conducting needs assessments, and designing professional development opportunities. Personally facilitates complex conversations and provides consultation, mediation, and problem-solving support when conflicts or concerns arise related to equity, identity, inclusion, belonging, and organizational culture. Brings demonstrated skill in listening, facilitating dialogue, negotiating across differing perspectives, and helping individuals and groups move toward constructive resolution. Provides informed, timely, collaborative, and thoughtful leadership in response to emerging campus concerns and incidents affecting members of the university community. Exercises sound judgment in determining when issues require immediate intervention, consultation, communication, mediation, referral, or longer-term institutional action. Organizational Capacity Building Builds the capacity of faculty, staff, students, and university leaders to recognize and address equity-related challenges, access relevant expertise and information, and take responsibility for advancing inclusion within their respective areas. Provides and facilitates educational opportunities, workshops, and training for faculty, staff, students, and University leaders to strengthen knowledge, skills, and institutional capacity related to equity, inclusion, and belonging. Exercises sound judgment regarding the appropriate role of the division and CIE, balancing direct intervention with consultation, collaboration, referral, empowerment, and capacity building to ensure that responsibility for institutional equity is broadly shared. Serves as a trusted institutional resource and connector, bringing substantial knowledge of equity-related issues while demonstrating intellectual curiosity, humility, and the ability to identify, engage, support, and mobilize additional expertise when needed. Advances an expansive and intersectional understanding of equity that recognizes the diverse experiences and barriers affecting members of the university community, including socioeconomic background, first-generation status, disability, geographic and educational access, identity, and other factors that influence opportunity and belonging. Partners with academic and administrative leaders to identify and address disparities in student access, experience, persistence, retention, completion, and belonging. Develops and supports targeted, evidence-informed interventions for populations experiencing disproportionate barriers or lower rates of retention and success. Assesses and ensures that the University's equity and inclusion efforts meaningfully address the experiences and needs of students, faculty, and staff, recognizing that sustainable institutional change requires attention to learning, workplace culture, organizational practices, and community belonging. Supports the development, revitalization, and sustainability of student and employee affinity groups and other community-building networks. Works with participants to clarify purpose, establish sustainable structures, connect groups to institutional resources, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement and collective action. Partners with University Advancement, Alumni Relations, and external community stakeholders to strengthen relationships, elevate diverse voices and experiences, and create opportunities for alumni and community members to contribute to the University's equity and inclusion efforts. As a Member of the President's Executive Team: Exhibits visible, transparent, collaborative, and caring leadership in all aspects of the work. Monitors National and Commonwealth higher education and DEI trends and developments for potential impact on the University. In collaboration with the President and executive staff members, identifies, creates, and executes the development of strategy and tactics to enhance public (municipal, state, and federal) support for the institution. Serves on and/or leads various committees or teams, as assigned. Engage regularly in professional development to support continuous individual growth and remain current on emerging research, best practices, and developments relevant. Responsible for reporting to the Equal Opportunity Officer or Title IX Coordinator knowledge or receipt of reports of discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and retaliation from students or other members of the university community. This position is designated as a Clery Campus Security Authority. Accountable for ensuring that equal opportunity, inclusion, and equity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility. Perform other duties as assigned or otherwise consistent with the purview of the position. WORKING CONDITIONS: This role performs work primarily on the Framingham State University campus. Weekend, evening, and early morning presence is required for various meetings and events. Requirements: The University seeks candidates who bring the professional experience, competencies, and personal qualities needed to thrive in this role. The qualifications below reflect qualifications that align strongly with the position. However, we recognize that talent and potential can take many forms. If you bring related experience and are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply. Substantial experience working in higher education, with a sophisticated understanding and application of the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in education. Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to equity, inclusion, organizational leadership, education, public administration, or another field that provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of the position. Demonstrable scholarship and/or thought leadership in areas relevant to the position. Demonstrable strategic, collaborative, and relational leadership experience. Demonstrable strong and effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively across backgrounds, across all levels of administration, staff, faculty, and students, and with the community beyond the university. Demonstrable knowledge of the principles, practices, and culture of public higher education. Substantial experience working with university personnel, policies, and procedures. Additional Information: This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible, non-unit position. The salary range is $175,000-188,000, commensurate with experience and credentials. Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions. Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability status, Veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law. Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply. Application Instructions: Candidates must apply online by submitting: Cover Letter, articulating your philosophy and vision for advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging at FSU. Your letter should describe how your experiences, leadership approach, and understanding of equity and inclusion would inform your work in this role. Resume/Curriculum Vitae, Names and contact information for three (3) professional references (references are not contacted automatically upon submission of application). For best consideration, please submit application materials by October 8, 2026. The review of applications may continue beyond that date and until the position is filled, at the discretion of the search committee. Framingham State University only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail, email, fax, or hand delivery. If you experience technical issues with the online application process, please submit a helpdesk ticket. Framingham State University understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance, please contact the Human Resources Office at 508-626-4530 or humanresources@framingham.edu. PI286952558 Job distributed by JobTarget. Requirements: The University seeks candidates who bring the professional experience, competencies, and personal qualities needed to thrive in this role. The qualifications below reflect qualifications that align strongly with the position. However, we recognize that talent and potential can take many forms. If you bring related experience and are excited about the opportunity, we encourage you to apply. Substantial experience working in higher education, with a sophisticated understanding and application of the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in education. Advanced degree in a discipline relevant to equity, inclusion, organizational leadership, education, public administration, or another field that provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of the position. Demonstrable scholarship and/or thought leadership in areas relevant to the position. Demonstrable strategic, collaborative, and relational leadership experience. Demonstrable strong and effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively across backgrounds, across all levels of administration, staff, faculty, and students, and with the community beyond the university. Demonstrable knowledge of the principles, practices, and culture of public higher education. Substantial experience working with university personnel, policies, and procedures. Additional Information: This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible, non-unit position. The salary range is $175,000-188,000, commensurate with experience and credentials. Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions. Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability status, Veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by law. Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply. Application Instructions: Candidates must apply online by submitting: Cover Letter, articulating your philosophy and vision for advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging at FSU. Your letter should describe how your experiences, leadership approach, and understanding of equity and inclusion would inform your work in this role. Resume/Curriculum Vitae, Names and contact information for three (3) professional references (references are not contacted automatically upon submission of application). For best consideration, please submit application materials by October 8, 2026. The review of applications may continue beyond that date and until the position is filled, at the discretion of the search committee. Framingham State University only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail, email, fax, or hand delivery. If you experience technical issues with the online application process, please submit a helpdesk ticket. Framingham State University understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance, please contact the Human Resources Office at 508-626-4530 or humanresources@framingham.edu.