Housing and Residence Life Expertise

• Experience with housing & residence life operations, including staff supervision, policy development, and facilities management
• Proven ability to develop and implement programming that fosters student engagement, safety, and community building
• Experience with occupancy management, budget forecasting, and strategic planning for housing operations

Mental Health and Wellness Experience

• Experience managing contracts with mental health service providers and coordination of wellness resources
• Understanding of crisis intervention protocols and referral processes for students in distress
• Familiarity with current trends and best practices in college student mental health support services

Collaboration and Leadership Skills

• Exceptional ability to build relationships across campus constituencies, including faculty, staff, and administration
• Experience coaching and developing staff members to achieve departmental and institutional goals
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive team environment that values diverse perspectives

Campus Partnerships

• Experience in developing and maintaining effective partnerships with academic affairs, enrollment management, and other campus stakeholders
• Experience serving on university-wide committees and task forces addressing student success initiatives
• Track record of collaborating with community partners to enhance student support resources

Technical Proficiency

• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with student information systems including Star Rez, Banner, Peoplesoft, Maxient, and ERPs
• Familiarity with card access systems and other technology platforms that support residence life and student services
• Ability to utilize data from these systems to inform decision-making and strategic planning

Residency Requirement

• Must establish and maintain residence within a 30-minute commute of FVSU Main campus to ensure availability for campus emergencies

Flexible Work Schedule

• Willingness and ability to work a non-traditional schedule including late evenings and weekends as required
• Understanding of on-call responsibilities and availability to respond to student crises
• Commitment to attending and supporting student events and programs outside regular business hours

Additional Responsibilities

• Flexibility to assume other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management
• Willingness to adapt to emerging needs and priorities within the division
• Ability to represent the university at professional conferences and community events as needed

CAMPUS LIFE RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Advocacy

• Serves as the primary advocate for the student experience, actively representing student interests and concerns to university administration
• Campaigns for students on issues related to co-curricular education, leadership development, campus safety, housing assignments, and other areas impacting student life
• Develops strategies to build and sustain trust with the diverse student population through regular engagement, open forums, and accessible communication channels

Programming Leadership

• Provides strategic leadership for campus-wide programs and events, including major traditions, late night/ weekend programming, and weekly activities
• Ensures programming aligns with institutional mission and strategic goals while meeting diverse student needs
• Directs assessment efforts to measure program effectiveness and impact on student engagement and satisfaction

Summer Operations Support

• Contributes to registration logistics, facility coordination, and operational support for non-academic programming during summer sessions
• Ensures summer programming upholds university standards and provides positive experiences for external constituents
• Collaborates with housing, facilities, and dining services to create seamless summer operations

Professional Development

• Provides training and resources for university faculty and staff on effectively managing student behavioral issues
• Educates campus stakeholders on student rights and responsibilities within the university community
• Develops workshops and materials on topics such as conflict resolution, student support strategies, and appropriate intervention techniques
• Serves as a resource for colleagues seeking guidance on complex student situations

Student Activities Engagement

• Actively engages with and provides support for diverse student-led activities, organizations, and initiatives
• Attends student events regularly to demonstrate institutional commitment
• Allocates resources effectively to support vibrant campus life and student-directed programming
• Fosters student leadership development through mentoring, training, and creating opportunities for meaningful campus involvement

Student Conduct

• Experience with judicial procedures and policies FERPA, and Title IX, as well knowledge of best practices in risk management
• Able to assess and support the developmental needs of all college students across a broad spectrum of diverse lived experiences and backgrounds.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills and the ability to handle conflict resolution issues is important; strong analytical and human relations skills needed to negotiate solutions to complex student issues and concerns.
• Provide yearly review of conduct proceedings, edits, and disseminates the Student Handbook by July 1st annually.
• Knowledge of college/university best practices in risk management

Mental Health and Wellness/Outreach

• Mental health and wellness experience, including crisis response and conflict resolution experience.
• Engages and collaborates with institutional community partners.
• Ability to help students navigate life away from their homes and community

HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE

Strategic Planning

• Utilizes residence hall assessment data, occupancy trends, and student feedback to inform long-range strategic planning
• Develops comprehensive budget forecasts that align with institutional priorities and enrollment projections
• Make data-driven decisions about facility improvements, staffing levels, and programming investments

Leadership Presence

• Serves as a visible, present, and approachable leader within the Residential Living Office
• Functions as a critical member of the Student Life and Leadership Team, providing strategic direction
• Oversees all day-to-day residence life operations while serving as functional lead across housing areas

Facilities Management

• Assist in leading residential master planning initiatives, including development of proposals for new construction
• Implements ongoing strategies to modernize existing residential facilities and enhance living environments
• Collaborates with facilities management to ensure timely maintenance and capital improvements

Crisis Response

• Ensures proper implementation of comprehensive crisis management protocols throughout residential facilities
• Leads departmental responses to high-level crises including student deaths, health emergencies, and safety threats
• Coordinates cross-departmental responses to contagious illness concerns and other campus-wide emergencies

ABOUT FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

Fort Valley State University (FVSU) is a public, historically Black university located in Fort Valley, Georgia. Established in 1895, it is the state’s 1890 land-grant institution and a member of the University System of Georgia. FVSU offers over 50 undergraduate and several graduate degree programs, with notable strengths in agriculture, veterinary technology, and STEM fields.

The university’s 1,365-acre campus is the second largest in Georgia by area. Approximately 90% of its student body is of African-American descent. FVSU is recognized for its affordability, research opportunities, and commitment to student success. It has been ranked as the #1 public HBCU in Georgia for seven consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.

The university’s mission is to provide excellent academic programs that integrate quality instruction, research, extension, and student learning experiences responsive to the needs of a culturally and economically diverse student population.

ABOUT FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA

FSVU is in the Central Georgia metropolitan area, which encompasses the state’s fourth largest city, Macon, as well as several growing cities and progressive small towns. Other features of the area include Robins Air Force Base, one of the state’s largest employers; the #11 rated public school in Georgia, the Academy of Classical Education; the nationally recognized Houston County School System; and outstanding healthcare along with the second largest hospital in Georgia.

Central Georgia offers endless activity opportunities for families and individuals alike. A wide range of fine and casual dining, live music venues, festivals, water parks, golf courses, museums, historical sites, farmer’s markets, touring Broadway shows, kayaking, indoor rock climbing and more provide an appealing quality of life.

The City of Fort Valley has been honored as one of 10 Georgia “Cities of Excellence,” and it is considered one of the state’s “best managed and most livable cities.” It offers tree-lined streets and beautiful historic homes and boasts a cost of living below the state and national average.

Beyond the Metro Central Georgia area, Atlanta, one of the nation’s largest cities and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is easily accessible by I-75. If looking for time at the beach or enjoying the cool mountain air, the Georgia coastline or Blue Ridge Mountains are only a three-hour drive away.

ABOUT TM² EXECUTIVE SEARCH

TM² Executive Search specializes in providing exemplary executive talent acquisition consultation for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), predominantly Black institutions (PBIs), and other organizations looking to attract highly qualified, motivated, accomplished diverse candidates at all levels of the administration. TM² Executive Search is committed to supporting the Black college community and developing the future of HBCU leadership. We use our combined experiences in higher education and executive search to partner with institutions to build highly effective and functioning leadership through increasing the quality of talent acquisition and developing strategic leaders. TM² Executive Search serves as the official educational talent search subsidiary of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. For more information about TM² Executive Search, visit tm2search.com.

How to apply

In addition to submitting your resume, cover letter, and three professional references, all candidates for the Dean of Students position at Fort Valley State University must provide a detailed abstract (500-750 words) describing an innovative atfter-school hours programming initiative that you have either developed independently or in which you played a substantial leadership role. Your abstract should include: (1) a concise overview of the program’s purpose and target student population; (2) specific details regarding the program’s structure, implementation strategy, and resource allocation; (3) measurable outcomes and assessment methodologies utilized; (4) challenges encountered and how they were addressed; and (5) evidence of the program’s impact on student development, campus culture, or community engagement. The abstract should demonstrate your capacity for creative problem-solving, student-centered programming, and effective leadership in co-curricular initiatives. This submission provides the selection committee with tangible evidence of your ability to develop and execute innovative student engagement strategies that align with FVSU’s mission of fostering student success beyond the classroom.

To assure full consideration, application materials should be received by May 30, 2025.

Please direct nominations and inquiries to:

Dr. Will Anyu Associate Principal TM2 Executive Search [email protected]

Jessica Horton, M.S. Associate Principal TM2 Executive Search [email protected]